After what seems like a non-existant summer break for Aylesbury United, the 2003-04 season has started with a bang here at Buckingham Road this afternoon...And if today is anything to go by, it's going to be another emotional rollercoaster for Ducks fans yet again!
The match started well for the Ducks as they seemed to have got off to a flying start as Chris Bangura nodded the ball home from a free-kick scramble, after twelve minutes. Unfortunately the goal was disallowed for offside by the linesman.
Not to be outdone, Aylesbury pressed for an early goal, with Dean Coppard arriving late to power a header wide from an Alvin Bubb corner. Soon after Dean Canoville turned and got a shot away, which was deflected out to Matt Hayward. The defender's lob dropped just over the bar.
After nearly twenty minutes there was only one team in it, with United pushing for a goal. Bangura held the ball up and laid it to strike partner Canoville, who shot over. Billericay then scored with their first meaningful venture upfield. The ball fortuitously broke to Danny Hockton, who hit an excellent shot towards the top corner. A superb finger tip save by Adam Wheeler turned the ball onto the post, and the follow up was somehow placed wide by Gary Ansell following in.
Two minutes later though and the Essex side did take the lead. A coming together of Danny Gray and Wheeler in the box seemed to have been dealt with, as the Ducks keeper claimed the ball. However, it somehow span free right into the path of Hockton, who couldn't believe his luck. 1-0 Billericay
Billericay were now in the ascendancy, and a good break saw a deep cross met by Jamie Dormer, but he could only find the side netting with his effort. At the other end keeper Chris Howard lost the ball in flight, and Bangura was on hand to hammer the ball towards goal. The ball deflected off a player on the line for a corner. A Matt Hayward header from the corner was kept out with a good stop by Howard.
Half-time: Aylesbury 0-1 Billericay
The second half began in disastorous fashion for the Ducks. In less than a minute the visitors were two-goals up. A mis-understanding between Ready and Wheeler saw the ball left for no-one, and Ansell was left with an open goal to shoot for. 2-0 Billericay
Aylesbury didn't let their heads drop in the face of adversity though, and went in search of a goal for themselves. A mild penalty appeal was weathered by Billericay. Bangura had a great chance after some excellent work by Coppard on the wing, but the striker tried to roll the ball in, instead of blasting it home.
Chris Boothe made a tactical change with 25 minutes remaining, replacing Danny Gray with Warren Williams and switching to a 3-5-2 system. It certainly paid off...
With Williams' first touch he delivered an excellent cross for Alvin Bubb, who's header was over the bar. Coppard then had a tame header held by the keeper. Billericay had chance to increase their lead, as Hockton broke free from the backline but shot wildly over the bar. He then repeated the act thirty seconds later.
With twenty minutes remaining, quiet optimism was turned into serious hope. Chris Bangura was hacked down from behind, and the referee had no hesitation in awarding a penalty. Karl Ready had no hesitation in stepping up and hammering the penalty into the net at 150mph (estimation). 2-1 Billericay
With their tails up and renewed belief in themselves, an equaliser was certainly on the cards. Waves of attack were piled upon the Billericay defence, and they eventually crumbled. A weaving Warren Williams run unlocked the visitors' backline, but his shot was poor in the end.
Roni Joe then had a superb run down the right wing, and he squared the ball to Canoville. The debutant striker's effort was well parried by Howard, with the rebound just out of Bangura's reach.
With fourteen minutes to go, the equaliser arrived. An excellent run by youngster Rory Hunter got a fortunate deflection through to Bangura, who kept his head to finish past Howard. 2-2
Supporters hardly dared to dream that the home side might actually win the match at this point, but the attacks from Aylesbury kept coming. A Bangura shot on the turn went over, before the moment everybody was waiting for.
A forward move saw the ball run into the box by Canoville, with Bangura also involved. The ball broke loose on the edge of the area, just in the right spot for Danny Grieves to curl in a sweet shot which went in off the post. Brilliant! 3-2 Aylesbury
Adam Wheeler then attoned himself for his earlier problems by making a top drawer save from a dipping effort, which he just tipped over the bar. Bangura also had one final chance to score before the referee blew the final whistle and brought an end to a truly extraordinary match.
If Aylesbury can show this kind of character and determination in every game, then the season should be great fun indeed. Despite being seemingly dead and buried the team kept going, worked hard, and got their reward - 3 points to start the season.
