The much anticipated Aylesbury-Chesham derby returned to Buckingham Road for the first time in two-years, following the General's relegation, and the day more than matched up to the pre-match expectations. A heavy frost was cleared by the excellent groundsman work of Peter Ash, assisted by John Newman, both doing a great job ensuring the game went ahead.
The last meeting between the sides at The Meadow in April 2003 was a fiery affair - but only Greg Williams for Aylesbury, and Nathan Bowden-Haase and Andre Scarlett for Chesham remained from that day. All three had important roles in the story that was to unfold.
The first chance went the way of the home side, with some good work from Drew Roberts enough to allow him to release Gavin Jaggard. Breaking from midfield, Jaggard saw the ball cleared back to goalkeeper Jamie Jackson by a recovering Chesham defender.
Aylesbury stormed into an early lead with just 14 minutes on the clock. Bowden-Haase's pass out left was easily intercepted by Paul Edgeworth, and the former Newport Pagnell player sprinted forward with the ball. As the Chesham defence backed off, he played a through-ball excellently into the path of Leon Gutzmore, who took one touch to control, and calmly slotted the ball past Jackson. 1-0 Aylesbury
Another good chance followed four minutes later. A hand-ball decision against Danny West was turned into a quickly taken free-kick by Roberts, showing great vision to play Edgeworth through. Jackson was alert to the danger, quickly out of his goal to close down the striker's effort.
Chesham's first effort of note came on the twenty minute mark. Former Aylesbury hero Peter Clifford almost turned villain, climbing highest but heading over from a corner-kick.
Ten minutes later Jack Rashid was called into action for the first time, diving to hold onto a curling free-kick. As Chesham looked to get themselves back in the game, Simon Sweeney came forward with the ball from defence, eventually placing a shot wide of Rashid's far-post.
The Generals then went close to gifting Aylesbury a second-goal. Good link-up between Gould and Roberts on the right-wing eventually resulted in a low cross from Roberts, which was turned just over the bar by the hapless Greg Deacon.
Andre Scarlett was having an ever-increasing influence in the game, and it was he who mis-cued a volley, which could have been either cross or shot, but went wide whatever its intention. Three minutes before the break Deacon floated a free-kick harmlessly over the bar.
The Ducks had two more great chances to increase their advantage just before half-time. Jay Gould broke forward from midfield to latch onto a high-ball, firing his shot in early, but just wide of the post. Then Liam Folds connected with a free-kick from the left-flank, back-headering the ball goalwards, producing a good save from Jackson.
Half-time: Aylesbury United 1-0 Chesham United
The second half began with another chance for Aylesbury. A free-kick played in by Gould dropped to Jaggard, having fallen too high for Gutzmore, but the former Hitchin man fired just wide. Minutes later a poor clearance from Jackson fell to Roberts, and he tried a cheeky early effort, which Jackson managed to pluck out of the air.
As the game continued in eventful fashion, the Paul Edgeworth had a goal disallowed, after a ball played in had run all the way through to him. His rolled finish was ruled out for an apparent push by Gutzmore. Edgeworth then hit a screaming volley, after Daniel Mead's excellent cross was flicked on to him by Gutzmore. Unfortunately the 'goal of the season' headlines will have to wait, as the ball shaved the top of the crossbar.
Bizarre close-range misses were the talking point on the hour-mark for both sides. The first guilty man was Aylesbury debutant Luke Graham, who placed a shot wide from 2-yards out. A good cross from Gutzmore was controlled by Edgeworth, who eventually managed to feed Graham, but he missed when it was easier to score. Secondly John Richardson headed wide from 3-yards for the visitors.
Following the withdrawal of Greg Williams, Chesham began to find more space in the midfield, and subequently started to take the initiative and create some good chances for themselves. Dave Fotheringham drew a top-class save from Rashid, having drilled the ball towards the top-corner from 25-yards.
A minute later though, Danny West broke Aylesbury hearts with an equalising goal for Chesham. Scarlett's dangerous shot went all the way through a crowded penalty area, before being touched in by West at the far-post. 1-1
The Ducks looked to hit back immediately, and Folds headed over Gould's free-kick a minute later, whilst Richardson saw an effort well saved by Rashid at close range, and Fotheringham lashed a shot wide of the target. Chesham's final effort of a conserted spell of pressure saw Richardson played clean-through, and as he lifted the ball over Rashid it looked a certain goal, but the ball rebounded off the post and away to safety.
With six minutes remaining, and having weathered the General's seige, Aylesbury took the lead again. A superb flowing move saw the ball played forward down the left, and a pacey low cross was buried with no hesitation by Gutzmore - his tenth goal of the season. 2-1 Aylesbury
Chesham were not completely finished though, and they ensured a nervy end to the game for the home side. Deacon went close, having dribbled his way into the box, but eventually shot well wide. Mead was once again the hero - clearing a shot off the line in similar fashion to his effort at Staines recently. Finally, substitute Stuart Hole's cross was headed just wide.
Aylesbury were able to relax in the closing moments, launching an attack of their own after they managed to reclaim the ball. Dean Cracknell took the ball forward, before spreading it to Gutzmore, who went in search of his hat-trick, but couldn't direct his shot on target.
The final whistle was blown shortly afterwards, and Aylesbury could look back on a hard-fought but deserved victory over Chesham United.
