The young Aylesbury Reserves went into this match in good spirits after recording their first victory in their previous game but were up against much sterner opposition in Hazlemere who had beaten the club’s First team in last season’s League Cup Quarter Final
United took the game to their hosts from the start though with striker Shannon MacLeod causing all sorts of problems for the home defence in the opening minutes, having an effort saved and one roll just wide of the target
Elsewhere the defensive foursome of Harriet Long, Lianne Turner, captain Jen Lambie and the impressive Elise Devanney continued to build their understanding and snuffed out any real threat from their experienced hosts
Even when the South Bucks side found a way through keeper Kerry Naisbitt was more than equal to their efforts
The Ducks got their just reward on the half hour when one such Naisbitt save was quickly dispatched. The clearance caught out the home defence and Shannon MacLeod was first to react firing her side in front
Naisbitt then produced a tremendous one handed save before United had the opportunity to increase their lead
Charlotte Knight found MacLeod again and her shot was saved and then moments later the tricky forward almost squeezed the ball in from a tight angle
Knight herself shot just over but right on half time the Ducks were nearly made to pay when Hazlemere had a clear one on one chance which was well blocked by the keeper
As we all know football can be a cruel game and the side experienced this at first hand in the opening minutes of the second period
Having deservedly leading at the break it took seven minutes to undo all that hard work as the home side reorganised and scored three very quick goals (47,48 & 52)
This could have knocked the stuffing out of the side but they continued to battle and in the end only further misfortune with a forced change between the sticks enabled their hosts to seal victory
Three goals in the final fifteen minutes (76,80 & 90) put an unfair reflection on the scoreline, but this is football and the team will learn a great deal from this experience.