Aylesbury, already safe from relegation, travelled to Scraley Road hoping to get one final league win to boost their final league position. Hosts Heybridge, on the other hand, had a more urgent reason for winning ? they had to if they wanted to play Ryman Premier Division football next season. It was at least in their own hands ? a win would be enough, no matter what happened elsewhere ? but the pressure was undoubtedly all on the home side.
Steve Cordery made no less than seven changes to the side that played against Bishop?s Stortford. Coming in to the team were Greg Williams, Matt Rolfe, Danny Gordon, Rory Hunter, Julian Charles, Chris Bangura and Craig Maskell, in place of Dicker, Martin, Joe, Wiffin, Ifura, Campion and Manuella. The game marked Chris Bangura's 100th appearance for the club. Well done Baggy.
Heybridge had the better chances early on, with Aylesbury restricted to a couple of off-target long-range shots from Richard Gell in the first twenty minutes. Lee Worgan was forced into a couple of saves, the first a fairly comfortable catch after Jon Pollard?s near post header following a corner. The second was more impressive, as Worgan denied Akpo Sodje in a one-on-one situation.
The momentum turned after 25 minutes, as Chris Bangura beat a man on the left before crossing to Craig Maskell, who volleyed the ball into the back of the net from close range. Unfortunately for the Ducks, the goal was disallowed for offside against Maskell, but this moment appeared to put Heybridge on the back foot, and Aylesbury had most of the play for the rest of the first period.
The impressive Maskell curled a good shot inches wide of Heybridge?s post soon after his ?goal?, before home goalkeeper Darren Placid was forced into his first save by Rory Hunter?s volley, after Bangura?s knock down.
An awful lunge from Heybridge forward Sodje on an already strapped up Rory Hunter saw the Aylesbury fans incensed, and they were fuming even more as referee Mr. Yeo only saw fit to book the offender. Red cards have been shown for considerably less dangerous challenges.
Darren Placid was forced into another save, and it was a good one too after good work from Matt Rolfe had given Maskell another opportunity to open the scoring. Perhaps the best chance of the half though fell to Heybridge?s Paul Abrahams, who missed badly from no more than a few yards out in the closing minutes.
The second half, in contrast to much of the first, was pretty much all Heybridge, as they looked for the win that would ensure their Premier Division survival. They almost got a vital goal within a couple of minutes of the restart, as Abrahams? low shot from 12 yards was superbly kept out by Lee Worgan?s legs.
Craig Maskell?s deflected freekick was easily dealt with by Placid, and this was as good as it got for Aylesbury in the second period. Worgan was again forced into a great save, this time from Leon Hunter, as Heybridge desperately looked for a winner, backed by their vociferous home support.
Jon Pollard headed a chance over the bar following a corner, and, as Danny Barber?s left-footed free kick was easily dealt with by Lee Worgan, news filtered through that Chesham had taken a 1-0 lead at Hendon ? a result that would send Heybridge down. It was looking grim for Heybridge as time was running out and a 0-0 draw looked more than likely.
However, there was to be a twist in the tale, and a pretty horrendous one from Aylesbury?s point of view. A woeful backpass from Steve McGrath went straight to Akpo Sodje?s feet, and the striker kept his head to steer the ball past Worgan for surely the most important goal in his career. In the 87th minute, Heybridge had won it, and it was all they needed to keep them up. The goal, and the final whistle a few minutes later, were greeted with scenes of jubilation from the black-and-white clad home fans ? and who can blame them? A great day for the Essex team ? but Aylesbury will need a massive improvement in their performance if they are to win the Berks and Bucks Cup on Monday.
