On the road again, and after Saturday's 0-0 draw with Heybridge, it was hard to predict how Aylesbury would fare against Bishop's Stortford. However, even the most imaginitive of fan would have struggled to forecast the outcome of this match!
Featuring only one change from Saturday's game, in Dean Powles replacing Daniel Mead at left-back, Paul Curtis continued with Ryan Wiffin up front supported by Rory Hunter.
Having Hunter up front paid off early on in the game, as Aylesbury took a ninth minute lead. Somewhat against the run of play, Wiffin played an excellent ball through to the advancing Hunter, who calmly dinked to his right, before slotting the ball past Micky Desborough. 1-0 Aylesbury
Almost instantly, it could have been 2-0. A free-kick was swung in from the right-flank, but Adam Garner just failed to connect with a towering header.
United's lead only lasted five minutes. Rather predictably the Ducks were undone by a corner, which having not been dealt with a the first time of asking, was turned in by James Bunn. 1-1
One became two for Stortford just three minutes later. A rash challenge by an Aylesbury player (Difficult to see from the other end of the pitch, but I believe it was Giscombe) just inside the penalty area, resulted in a penalty being awarded. Glenn Southam stepped up to score his 50th goal on his 200th appearance for Stortford. 2-1 Stortford
Things got even worse a minute later, as the home side increased their lead. A low cross was sent home by ex-Wycombe giantkiller Roy Essandoh. 3-1 Stortford
At this point it seemed a case of how many the home side could add before half-time, as they simply over-ran a ragged looking Aylesbury side. Their appeared to be little structure to the Ducks' team, and they struggled to get the ball, let alone out of their own half.
Stortford had a number of chances to add a killer fourth before half-time, including a shot over, and an audacious bicycle kick, which was blocked en-route to goal. Essandoh headed a Gareth Gwillim cross wide of the post, when he might have done better, and Dave Rainford drilled a shot wide.
Half-time: Bishop's Stortford 3-1 Aylesbury
There seemed little cause to believe a comeback was possible from Aylesbury - indeed it seemed Stortford would only increase their lead in the second half, as an early run and shot flashed wide of the post.
However, nine minutes into the half, Ryan Wiffin gave the Ducks real hope. The big man's persistance paid off, as having failed to connect with the initial cross, he superbly hooked an overhead kick into the goal, off the post and over the line. Wiffin was extatic - his first league goal for the club, and his first goal of the season. 3-2 Stortford
Six minutes later, and hope of drawing level became reality, with perhaps our best counter-attacking goal of the season. A cross from Stortford was cleared up field to Jay Gould. Gould's touch was fantastic, allowing him time to pick out Wiffin with a raking pass. Wiffin showed his ability with a surge forward, and a shot of venom from 15-yards, which Desborough couldn't keep out despite getting two hands to the shot. 3-3
The excellent work done so far by the Ducks seemed to knock the stuffing out of a number of the team members, and Stortford hit back with a vengence. Aylesbury escaped a strong penalty appeal, after a striker was apparently hauled down in the box. Jack Rashid then made a top class save, after being caught wrong-footed by a shot across goal after a corner.
As the game reached, and pased the midway point of the second half, the Stortford pressure was intense. Manager Martin Hayes went for broke, by replacing left-back Gwillim with Alex Martin. The move paid off, as the fresh impetus up front for Stortford brought about a goal to break Aylesbury hearts. Martin was given time and space to drill a good, low shot into the net past Rashid. 4-3 Stortford
On another day the goal would have spelt the end for Aylesbury, but tonight they were determined to get something out of the game. After having two seemingly valid penalty shouts turned down by Mr Sandell, all appeared lost.
Then, Aylesbury earned a free-kick, two minutes into stoppage time - one last throw of the dice. The ball was delivered with precision, challenged for by Lewis Pritchard, and then...then came Rory Hunter. The midfielder stabbed the ball goalwards, and taking a massive deflection it veered towards the post, before bouncing off the upright and into the net. Bedlam ensued. Aylesbury had done it! 4-4
The final whistle was blown shortly afterwards, to end what had been an epic encounter. This match had been truly amazing, and a reminder of all that's good about following Aylesbury United. To recover from a two-goal deficit in the second half looked unlikely to say the least, but to then come back again really was special, and will be remembered for some time to come.
