s expected the squad of sixteen was made up of players from the reserve team squad. This was no comment on our opponents, rather a reflection of the fact that the squad faces two Ryman Premier League games in the next five days.
The weather conditions were almost ideal. A slight drizzle, but the playing surface was (as usual) in excellent condition. The Ducks kicked off the first half towards the Buckingham Road end.
The game started nervously, with the visitors moving the ball around well, Flackwell were not afraid of ambitious passes. Lee Worgan, returning to the Ducks goal, needed to be vocal early on, and was. The first real chance of the game fell to the visitors, Worgan making a fine close range save, when a goal mouth scramble ensued.
Joe Baker immediately took the ball down the other end and fired wide. Baker made regular excursions into the visitors half, frequently linking up with Adam Campion, who had a good game on the left hand side. In fact, of the first team regulars on show tonight, it was these two who impressed the most. The game, otherwise, belonged to the young reserve team players.
The Ducks won a couple of corners in the first quarter of an hour, but the deadlock was broken on 15 minutes. A shot from Campion was deflected off the keeper, and the ball was sent home by Lewis Pritchard. Pritchard's goal on his first team debut was his 23rd for the club this season... 1-0 Aylesbury
This kick started the game into life. Flackwell Heath continued their policy of moving the ball forward well, but they lacked any real fire power in the final thired. The game continued in end to end fashion.
A corner on 18 minutes led to the second Ducks goal. The ball was crossed in from the right (after being beaten out at a corner), and Bangura placed a lovely header just wide of the outstretched Knott in the visitors goal. 2-0 Aylesbury
This opened the game up even further, the young home side growing in confidence. Ryan Wiffin was winning everything in midfield, Pritchard and Gray were finding plenty of space off the good linking work of Baker and Campion.
The tie was further secured on 25 minutes when Pritchard got his second, tapping in a Campion cross from close range. The cross from Campion had come from the left after he found good space for himself. 3-0 Aylesbury
The fourth went in on 42 minutes. The Ducks pressed the ball in midfield, won the ball, exchanged three passes before playing Ryan Wiffin in. The big striker used his pace to get clear of the defence, before slotting the ball home from the edge of the area. 4-0 Aylesbury
Half-Time: Aylesbury 4-0 Flackwell
The second half saw two substitutions: Flint came on for Murnagh for the visitors, and John Marsh came on for Bangura, captains duties falling to Joe Baker.
The second half was played at a more sedate pace, the visitors enjoying a bit more possession, but still lacking a strong strike force to make it count. For the Ducks Corcoran was solid in the midfield, holding his position well. Pritchard showed further signs of his quality, working hard to chase everything through the middle. Danny Gray, on the right hand side was marvellous. He chased everything down and showed a real determination. Ryan Wiffin too showed promise making space for himself.
In fact all the reserves who played tonight showed they were up for this game and tried to impress the manager. Certainly one or two will have done their cases for first team football no damage at all. And with our current uncertainties in front of goal, who's to say a youngster won't get a runout against Braintree on Saturday? The only thing to mar the second half was the sligt fraying of the visitors nerves late on in the game which resulted in a few rash tackles.
Kezie Ibe made a late appearance, replacing Campion on 81 minutes, and apart from blowing a couple of late chances did very little.
Well done to Flackwell who made a fight of it and battled well, never givng up, despite the scoreline. A young Ducks side did enough to win a bright, entertaining game with no cards of either colour, and more importantly no injuries.
