Aylesbury United finished their pre-season campaign with a trip to Leighton Town, but returned with a disappoiting 3-4 defeat to the Eastern Division Side.
Featuring what could well be the starting line-up at Halesowen next week, the Ducks found themselves 3-0 down in less than thirty minutes, and were always set to struggle after that. The three Leighton goals were all down to catastrophic defending by the visitors. Firstly a lack of communication between defence and goalkeeper saw Andy Partlow miss the ball completely, before seeing it easily sent home. The second, after seventeen minutes, was down to a lack of marking as a striker stole in the nestle the ball home. Thirdly, with Partlow miles out of his goal the ball was inadvertantly nodded back by Matt Hayward and fired home.
Despite the three goal margin, the Ducks fought back well, as they started to play their passing game. Three minutes before half-time their efforts were rewarded, as Meshach Cole tumbled in the box, Paul Lamb converting the resulting spot-kick. Then right on half-time Lamb's deep free-kick was headed down by Matt Hayward, before the veteran defender fired home to make it 3-2 at the break.
The second half was much better, with Aylesbury showing glimpses of Tuesday night's performance. Daniel Mead saw a superb free-kick saved, and Cole had an effort cleared off the line.
Unfortunately though, the Ducks just couldn't score, and it was Leighton who seized the initiative. Substitute and ex-Duck Enzo Silvestri capitalised on more poor United defending, this time Kai Ridley the culprit, as he headed the ball back across the box. Silvestri managed to nip in and fire home.
Aylesbury rallied in the closing stages, and a minute later reduced the defecit. Dean Cracknell collected the ball just inside the are, shimmied, and crashed the ball home. It was too little too late though, and the match ended 4-3 to Leighton.
