Stacey Field scored for the fifth match running to give Aylesbury a narrow derby and cement their fifth place credentials following a hard fought encounter with their nearest challengers Tring Athletic.
With Paul Edgeworth injured and Tom Barnett unavailable (named as a sub but not physically present), United’s squad was down to the bare bones and Craig Townsend provided the only name on the bench alongside manager Tony Joyce and backup keeper Craig Timberlake.
In the end though, no substitutes were needed as the Ducks gave a remarkably tireless display given the sheer volume of games played, where recent second half woes were banished.
Midfielder Russell Clark came in for his full debut and had a tidy game, sweeping up in front of the defence.
After an even opening, it took until the 17th minute before the night’s first chance arrived. A quick throw in was worked by Joey Acheampong into Field who squared for the arriving Warren Garcia but he blazed over from inside the box.
It was to prove a first half of limited chances as Aylesbury struggled to break down a supremely organised Tring side, whilst the visitors were unable to find a way past a determined Ducks defence with John Mulholland once again in inspired form, Jack Wood his normal self, and the improving Joe Donaldson all proving impenetrable as United kept a clean sheet for the first time in a month.
On the half hour mark a fine free-kick delivery from Daniel Jones was headed high and wide by Mulholland, before a minute later Tring had the first half’s best chance. A ball out of defence released the pacey George House from the United defence, and he tried his luck with a lob from a tight angle which dropped onto the top of the goal.
Aylesbury came again and from a flicked on throw-in Acheampong somehow got the better of the defence but his low cross-shot was well held by Mike Underwood under pressure from Field.
Field himself then produced a moment of magic to beat his man on the left, and his cross was flicked goalwards by Acheampong and well saved by Underwood. Ben Baines rounded off the first half with a rising drive from distance which just crept over the bar.
Half-time: Aylesbury 0-0 Tring
It could be argued that United have been a ‘first half team’ for several matches now, dropping off badly but doing enough to get the job done.
The same couldn’t be said of this game, however, as Aylesbury grew in stature before eventually getting their reward.
The Ducks threatened as early as the first minute when Sam Slatter cut inside and slid the ball through for Field who beat three defenders but crashed his shot over the bar.
A superb flowing move down the left then should have resulted in the opener, the arriving Slatter guiding the ball wide with the goal gaping having been played in by a clever flick from Field on the end of Jones’ cross.
Within seconds it was Tring’s turn to feel aggrieved at not being in front. Not for the first time a quick throw-in caught Aylesbury sleeping, fortunately for the Ducks Graham Hall pulled his shot all the way across goal and wide from inside the box.
Clark and Garcia both had volleys fly off target, either side of Mulholland making a strong defensive block to deny a fierce shot after a free-kick had been allowed to come too far into the box.
Both sides had spells in the ascendency, and the visitors put United under a spell of pressure as they forced a succession of throw-ins. From the last, former Aylesbury youth team Chris Salmon couldn’t get hold of a shot as he would have liked, and Sillitoe was able to easily claim.
A couple more efforts followed for the Ducks as Field turned quickly but fired just over, and Donaldson fancied his chances with an ambitious effort which floated well wide.
Tring made a double substitution, introducing Vinnie Iannone as a replacement for aging former Aylesbury top scorer Mick Swaysland – who had barely had a kick – and Sam Mitchell for George House.
Their lone striker continued to cut an isolated figure though, and it appeared to many as though the visitors were settling for their point.
If that was the case then it was a ploy that backfired, as Field shot Aylesbury ahead with ten minutes remaining. Joe Donaldson provided a well directed cross-field ball into the area, which Acheampong levered down, and as the defence stood motionless Field finished clinically into the bottom corner for his 20th league goal of the season.1-0 Aylesbury
Almost immediately, Tring hit back and Jack Sillitoe was called upon to make his first meaningful save of the night when Jack Thomson wound up a long shot which Sillitoe saved well down low.
Sam Joliffe and Paul Jeffrey, another former Aylesbury youth player, both had ambitious efforts fly wide late on. Tring did force some stoppage time pressure with one shot from Mitchell which was well blocked amongst some desperate defending, but United held on for the win.
With Haringey surprisingly defeated at the hands of Hertford the night before, the prize of 4th spot is very much still up for grabs now.
