• Matches
• Table

loading...

loading...

Aylesbury's worst start to a season for 21 years continued, and for once nobody could say it was underserved as they were outclassed by an as-yet unbeaten Rothwell Town side.

With Jon Montgomery still feeling the effects of the injury sustained in Saturday's defeat to Atherstone Town, Manny Richardson came in for his full debut. He was joined in the line-up by another full debutant Abdul Yoki with Matt Kimani dropping to the bench.

But even with a faint air of familiarity about United's defensive areas, the same old problems still came back to haunt and in nine minutes they were a goal behind. Chris Reed was disposed trying to bring the ball out of defence by Brett Darby who crossed for the unmarked Dom Hallows to head in across goal. 1-0 Rothwell

It was another explosive start to an Aylesbury match and it continued as such when the home side levelled five minutes later with a rare moment of quality.

Ashleigh James cleverly beat two defenders with a shimmy on the ball before driving a low effort across goal which was too hot for Lee Crockett to keep out. 1-1

Rothwell saw plenty of the ball and fashioned plenty of chances from that point on, and with Aylesbury's erratic defending taking centre stage, half-time came as something of a relief.

On 18 minutes a low whipped ball was met by Robbie Maddox at the near post but his shot hit one of his own team mates and flew behind for a goal kick.

Aylesbury did have chances, Daddy Moses' pace as usual causing problems, and he beat the keeper to a flick-on but his headed effort rolled just wide of the target.

On the whole though the Ducks were finding Rothwell a tough nut to crack. They looked a well organised defensive unit and were a threat going forwards, even more so when livewire striker Kevin Byrne was introduced for the injured Darby just past the half-hour mark.

United's last half-chance of the opening period came from a free-kick which Abdul Yoki hit straight into the wall, before squaring at the second attempt for Manny Richardson who drilled a shot wide.

Most of the action was coming at the other end of the pitch, Sillitoe doing well to get down and save on his line following a scramble after a free-kick, Tom Mills then somehow headed wide when left completely unattended at another free-kick moments later.

Mills had another effort go wide after he peeled off his marker but could only fire off target from range as the Ducks survived until half-time.

Half-time: Aylesbury 1-1 Rothwell

It didn't take long before Rothwell found their groove and began an all out assault on Aylesbury's goal after the restart. An early shot went all the way across goal and wide and five minutes later Chris Dean cleared Byrne's low effort off the line.

The goal Rothwell deserved duly arrived on 56 minutes. A through ball caught out the Ducks defence and with Sillitoe committed Byrne took the ball round him and rolled into the empty net. 2-1 Rothwell

As has been the case so far this season, when chasing the game United began to play. On the hour mark Moses rattled the crossbar with a fabulous dipping shot that had Crockett beaten. Seconds later he was on hand to turn Calvin Thomas' low cross just wide on the volley.

Crockett was suddenly finding himself kept very busy as he next did well to tip over another excellent free-kick from Chris Dean, and from the resulting corner had to be alert to get across and tip wide Yoki's goalbound near-post delivery.

But any thoughts of Aylesbury taking anything from the game were ended in a blink of an eye when that man Byrne turned sharply inside the box and struck a thunderous effort across goal which nestled just inside the post, giving Sillitoe no chance. 3-1 Rothwell

It was game over as far as the result was concerned, but the Ducks went close again when Bernard headed Dean's delivery just wide.

But United's soft belly was to cost them again when the visitors added a fourth through Jason Turner who became the latest attacker to be left unmarked in the box, and he stooped to meet Hallows' free-kick delivery and guide the ball into the net. 4-1 Rothwell

With the best part of twenty minutes to play and United heads well down, fears were growing that a score more suited to the next-door cricket club might have been on its' way, but that never truly materialised.

After a couple more efforts from Rothwell, Byrne missing a chance for a hat-trick by firing well over, and Sillitoe off his line quickly to save at Turner's feet, it was the Ducks who added the next goal to reduce arrears.

James played the ball to substitute Matt Kimani in the area and as he tried to cut inside his marker found his legs taken away, an easy decision for Mr Tonks in pointing to the spot. Dean Thomas stepped up to crash home his second goal in two games. Aylesbury 2-4 Rothwell

In reality it was scant consolation, and was quickly forgotten when Rothwell added a fifth late on in frustrating circumstances. A corner kick was taken near post and was just about scrambled behind by the Ducks in the first instance. Sadly, the greens didn't learn and as Rothwell repeated their trick and Tom Mills was on hand to flick the ball past Sillitoe at the near post. 5-2 Rothwell

It was a disappointing end to a disappointing night, leaving Aylesbury to hope for better fortunes in their upcoming FA Cup tie with Potters Bar Town.