After Saturday's disappointment at Halesowen, tonight was a chance to put things right and impress the Aylesbury faithful as they took on near neighbours Hitchin Town. After last season's 4-1 mauling, revenge was the dish of the day.
Greg Williams returned to the side after injury, with
Dean Powles moving into midfield,
Paul Edgeworth moving up front, and
Meshach Cole moving to the bench.
Leon Gutzmore signalled his intentions early on with a half-volley just wide. For Hitchin James Kidd fired a free-kick wide, before the visitors took a 12th minute lead. Neil Champelovier made a poor challenge, for which he was booked, and the resultant free-kick was swung in by Stuart Maynard and headed home by Paul Covington. 1-0 Hitchin
United were then lucky not to conceded a penalty - amid furious protests from the Hitchin players, as Kai Ridley tangled with his man in the box. Jack Rashid was forced to make a smart close-range save from Josh Sozzo, and Darren Hay tried an effort which went well wide, before Aylesbury had started to play.
The confidence boosting moment came in the 23rd minute - and came from Gutzmore. Receiving the ball the striker looked up, and tried to curl the ball into the far post, narrowly missing the target. Two minutes later and the Ducks were level. Some neat interplay in the box unlucking the Canaries' defence, and Paul Lamb managed to smuggle the ball home. 1-1
Sozzo then had an excellent chance to level the match, following an uncharacteristic mis-kick from Rashid. Presented with an open goal the ex-Aylesbury forward lobbed the ball over the bar.
Two minutes before half-time, and United had completed their comeback, and in impressive style too. A mesmorizing dribble from Daniel Mead saw him twist one way, then the other, before he was brough down outside the area. His speed of thought brought about an excellently taken quick free-kick, which released Paul Edgeworth who delightfully lobbed Neil Cheek in the Hitchin goal. 2-1 Aylesbury
Half-time: Aylesbury 2-1 Hitchin
From the start of the second half Aylesbury were in complete command of the game, and Hitchin crumbled under the pressure. Dean Crakcnell went close, before Gavin Jaggard missed an easy opportunity to level for Hitchin.
United then scored their third and fourth in a mad three-minute spell. The third was the result of Dean Powles snapping in to collect a loose ball in midfield, before feeding Champelovier. The tricky midfielder kept his cool to sidestep Cheek and slot the ball home. 3-1 Aylesbury
Leon Gutzmore got in on the act soon after, easily waltzing through Hitchin's defence, before picking his spot. 4-1 Aylesbury
At 4-1 the game looked to be, and should have been, dead and buried. Three points safe for the Ducks. Alas no, as Hitchin dug deep and somehow contrived to pull themselves back into the game. After Aaran Cavill fired a shot wide, Hitchin got their first back. An excellent cross in was converted by the diving header of Darren Hay. 4-2 Aylesbury
4-2 - still not a major problem, but there was more to come from the Canaries as Hay scored again, being given time and space in the box to fire home. 4-3 Aylesbury
Hitchin pressed forward looking for the equaliser they craved. Rashid was made to dive and hold onto a long range effort, and Sozzo had an effort saved by the Aylesbury goalkeeper.
The final dramatic action of an eventful 90 minutes was to come right at the death though. Rashid came racing out of his goal to meet a Hitchin forward, and the linesman ruled that the goalkeeper had upended his man, resulting in a 89th minute Hitchi penalty. Stuart Maynard, once Aylesbury hero, re-gained his status as he saw his spot-kick sensationally saved by hero Rashid.
The penalty save shattered Hitchin's hopes, and the referee eventually ended an agonising finale by blowing for full-time. Aylesbury United recorded their first three points of the season - lets hope the next aren't in quite as nervy circumstances.
