Aylesbury earned a first league point at The ASM Stadium since August with a 2-2 draw against Uxbridge in an entertaining encounter that defied the wet conditions.
The Ducks made a good start and were rewarded with an eleventh minute opener. Full debutant Luca Seminerio was played in down the left by Sean Immanuel, and his low cross was turned in for an own goal by Dave Thomas. 1-0 Uxbridge
Seminerio’s inclusion came as one of five changes to the Ducks team, but the hosts were gelling quickly and could have had a second five minutes later when Stacey Field received Jack Wood’s ball before crossing to Seminerio who turned it wide beyond the far post.
A long range chip from Paul Lyon briefly threatened Uxbridge goalkeeper Paul McCarthy after he latched onto a clever flick from Immanuel, but was caught in the end, whilst an attempted overhead kick from Williams was penalised as a foul by the referee after Field had delivered a swirling cross.
To that point Uxbridge’s best effort had been a seventh minute rising effort from Reece Grant which was always clearing the crossbar, but that changed when the same player saw an effort superbly blocked by Jack Wood as Aylesbury struggled to clear their lines.
Two minutes later and the Reds were back level in the game, United’s corner kick fragilities coming back to haunt them yet again. Thomas’s set piece was headed goalwards, and amongst a brief scramble stalwart Warren Carter managed to find the net from close range. 1-1
Greg Williams was close to re-establishing United’s lead when Field touched the ball off to him in the area but he could only guide a shot just past the upright.
Uxbridge’s leading scorer Matt Woods had a fine chance to score shortly before the interval when he ran onto a long, straight ball but could only fire wide with only Zaki Oualah to beat.
A strong end to the half by Aylesbury saw Williams – who, with the security of Lyon behind him, enjoyed his attacking forays – have a shot tipped over he met French’s cross, before Seminerio fired a low effort wide after French’s corner kick was headed out to him on the edge of the box.
Half-time: Aylesbury 1-1 Uxbridge
The Ducks kept up the pressure into the second period, and were only denied an early advantage by the post and crossbar in one move as French’s long range effort came back off the upright to Williams who could only power an effort against the bar.
It was a letoff for Uxbridge, but Aylesbury weren’t to be denied again, taking the lead with their next attack. Immanuel broke down the right and delivered a teasing cross which was perfect for Field to guide into the net. 2-1 Aylesbury
This time the lead lasted barely two minutes as a long, floated cross from the left found Carter at the far post who volleyed the ball in off a defender to restore parity. 2-2
The heavily involved Seminerio was then guilty of a catastrophic miss just past the hour mark. Immanuel did superbly to wriggle clear of two challenges, and with Uxbridge’s defence left flailing he managed to square for Aylesbury’s new winger who, with nobody within 10-yards, completely fluffed his lines and the ball ran away.
It was nearly a miss that cost United dear when Jake Bewley gifted the ball back to Uxbridge in the box, where it was worked to the usually reliable Woods who could only crash a shot over.
The latter stages saw the spent Seminerio replaced by Shaun Owens in midfield, whilst Ollie Hogg made his long awaited competitive debut having been coaxed back to the club after recent spells with Tring Athletic and Leighton Town.
Carter missed the chance of a hat-trick when he headed a deep corner wide with nine minutes remaining, but there was nearly a goal from the most unlikely of sources when goalkeeper Paul McCarthy’s punt downfield was caught by the wind and only just cleared the crossbar.
Aylesbury had to produce some resilient defending as the game wore on and Bewley made a game-saving last ditch challenge in the box after the ball fell to Uxbridge from an Oualah save, whilst Jack Wood also made a stupendous stoppage time block to deny a Woods effort.
At the other end, another great chance for United went begging as Immanuel was put clean through on goal and although his attempted chip was saved by McCarthy, the ball fell kindly for substitute Jamie Nicholls who couldn’t finish in front of an open goal.
There was still time for one more major talking point when, in the 91st minute, Woods went down under a sliding challenge from Collard in the box for what looked like a clear penalty, but referee Mr Evans was unmoved and the Ducks survived for a point, when anything less would have been very harsh.
