The long trip to Bognor saw a total of 13 die-hard Aylesbury fans in adding to a home crowd ancticipating a walk in the palk for their team. In the end, the result was comfortable, but Bognor were made to work for their win.
Paul Curtis was left with a limited team, with Paul Edgeworth, John Marsh and the Bubb's unavailable due to other commitments, adding to an already large injury list. Rory Hunter was recalled to midfield, and Lewis Pritchard to attack, with management team Danny Nicholls and Paul Curtis making up the substitutes.
At Buckingham Road earlier in the season, Bognor came unstuck by playing some neat passing football, but without having the cutting edge to put the ball away. During the opening half-hour it was much a case of the same.
They did create chances though, and could have gone ahead in the sixth minute. A long-shot from a Bognor player was spilled, and Aylesbury were fortunate to be able to scramble to ball away before it was turned goalwards. Debutant schoolboy keeper Peter Smith was having difficulty holding onto the slippery ball, and spilled Michael Birmingham's shot soon after, luckily the following in player was deemed offside.
Birmingham was proving an effective attacking outlet from his midfield role for Bognor, and he had another effort blocked by an Aylesbury defender. From a cross Smith was in the right place to easily gather a goal-bound header.
On thirteen minutes a fantastic ball over the top was latched onto by Rob Collins, and his first-time lob spectacurlarly beat Smith and appeared to be in. Actually though, it had sailed well over and landed behind the net, creating the 'net bulging' image.
Matt Russell had a couple of chances either side of midway through the first half. The first was an instant shot on the turn, which was always going over. The second saw Russell burst into the box, but his shot was smothered well by Smith.
Aylesbury had their first and only effort of the first half just past the half-hour mark. Aidie Corcoran came forward and hit a left-footed effort well wide of the near post.
With it looking like Aylesbury had weathered the storm, and might just make it to half-time without conceding, their hosts scored two quick goals, and both were somewhat controversial.
After forty-two minutes, a debatable free-kick was awarded on the far touchline. The ball was swung in and although three Bognor players went for the header, John Price jumped highest and nodded home. 1-0 Bognor Regis
Even more controversial was Bognor's second goal, in first half stoppage time. A cross was missed by the Aylesbury defence, and after seemingly controlling the ball with his hand, Matt Russell bundled the ball home. The referee even consulted his with his linesman before allowing the goal, and even a number of the home fans admitted it was hand-ball. 2-0 Bognor Regis
Half-time: Bognor Regis 2-0 Aylesbury
In the second half it was pleasing to see Aylesbury come out and really give things a go. Bognor were on the back foot for ten-minutes or so, although United couldn't make their pressure tell. Aidie Corcoran came closest, after Bognor's keeper Craig Stoner had lost a cross, Corcoran could only volley the ball over with the goal vacant.
Unfortunately, Bognor Regis hadn't packed up and gone home, and the home side continued to threaten. Guy Rutherford hit a volley well over, and then Brett Poate had a shot held after some wonderful football in the build-up.
For Aylesbury, Jamie Moss got forward down the right-flank and delivered a seemingly perfect cross. Ryan Wiffin, apparently in the perfect position to nod home, just couldn't make the desired contact.
Bognor went and added a third with fifteen minutes of the game remaining, and from another cross. This time it was Kevin Murphy, left unattended in the box could simply not the ball home. 3-0 Bognor Regis
Lewis Pritchard saw a good shot on the turn deflected wide for Aylesbury first corner of the match, in United's final attacking display of the night.
The match ended fairly uneventfully, but Bognor grabbed a fourth in stoppage time. A well-delivered corner skimmed off the head of the unfortunate Jamie Moss and into the net via the crossbar. 4-0 Bognor Regis
So the record books will show a four-nil defeat, and an apparent comfortable win for Bognor. But in reality it wasn't comfortable, and had Aylesbury been able to hang on until half-time without conceding, well we might have had a different result.
Another worrying point for Paul Curtis is the addition of another two injuries after tonight's game. Both Alex Giscombe and Jay Gould were forced out of the match, adding to the growing list of crocked players. Is the manager in line for a starting role on Saturday?
