Aylesbury United were pegged back from a two-goal advantage for the second successive Saturday, as this time they were held to a 3-3 draw by Beaconsfield SYCOB.
For most of the match it had looked like Aylesbury were on course for their second league win of the season, the first coming against the Rams earlier in the campaign, only for a heartbreaking penalty to go against them four minutes from time.
In terms of entertainment value, the match was right up there and right up until the final whistle spectators could ill afford to take their eyes of the action. A far cry from the drab affair served up in midweek.
Aylesbury are a far better side when Pat Sappleton is on the team sheet, and was a colossus in general play for the Ducks with numerous defensive contributions keeping things solid at the back.
Unfortunately one player cannot solve the collective defensive frailties United continue to show at set pieces, and it was once again these which proved their downfall with Beaconsfield?s goals coming from two free-kicks and the penalty.
For once, it was Aylesbury scoring the early goals as they established a two-goal lead with just sixteen minutes gone.
After a couple of Montgomery long-range sighters, the opener came in the 13th minute in somewhat comical circumstances. McCormick pressurised goalkeeper Adam Thomson to a back pass, the visiting stopper kicking the ball against McCormick and watching the rebound end up in the net. 1-0 Aylesbury
Three minutes later and the scoreline was doubled, deservedly so for Aylesbury?s strong start. Newby delivered a corner from the right which was met perfectly by Tyrone Taylor who headed into the net from close in. 2-0 Aylesbury
Beaconsfield had yet to get started in the game, but they sprung into life on 20 minutes when a cross in from the left was headed on by Papali, but with Ross Ahir closing in Newby did excellently to get the ball behind for a corner.
Things could have been even better for United had the linesman not ruled out a third ?goal? for offside. It was the result of a slick move that saw Newby backheel to Montgomery and his low cross was finished by McCormick, only for the assistant referee?s flag meaning his joy was short-lived.
The match was still inside its first quarter as United had a penalty appeal waved away as Taylor went tumbling in the area, whilst at the other end SYCOB continued to struggle in attack as Charlie Hill was played in but dwelled too long and the ball was taken away from him before he could get a shot away.
Just prior to the half-hour mark and suddenly the Ducks weren?t sitting so pretty anymore. A needless free-kick conceded on the near side allowed Chris Owens to swing in a free-kick which Papali met with a flicked header which dropped in off the upright. 2-1
The goal had come totally against the run of play but gave the visitors a brief boost and they pressed forward again with Hill playing a one-two with Papali but driving well off target to the left.
Aylesbury re-established their two-goal cushion on 39 minutes through their talisman Enzo Silvestri, through a well fashioned move. Christian swung in a deep cross from the left which was sent back across goal by Montgomery for the waiting Silvestri to score. 3-1 Aylesbury
That cushion was to count for little as the deficit was reduced again four minutes later. A free-kick from the left appeared to have been wasted by Hill who struck it straight into the wall, but the ball was redelivered from the left to Ryan Bernard who found himself completely unmarked. Probably not believing his luck, the former Duck sidestepped his man and placed a shot into the net. 3-2
More communication problems in the Beaconsfield backline saw Bennell head straight past his keeper and just miss an own-goal late on, before half-time arrived and both sets of players ? and supporters ? were granted a well earned breather.
Half-time: Aylesbury 3-2 Beaconsfield
The start of the second half was scrappy with both teams struggling to retain possession, and there were only half chances to speak of as the visitors saw a shot from the edge of the box deflected into the arms of Sillitoe, whilst McCormick capitalised on a defensive mistake at the other end but also saw his effort charged down.
Ayodele had an effort from the edge of the area, then Hill wasted another free-kick for Beaconsfield before they came close with a corner kick which was flicked across the face of goal by an Aylesbury player at the near post.
The match was to continue in similar vein with chances for both sides and Taylor nearly found the net from Ayodele?s cross, but his low drive flashed just past the far post.
Rickelle Christian then also went close with a long-range free-kick that he hammered goalwards, missing the target by a fraction.
There were some nervy moments in the home penalty area on 75 minutes when another telling Owens free-kick delivery lead to a scramble, the ball eventually cleared away. And then again moments later when Papali robbed Christian close to goal but could only fire over the bar from a tight angle.
In general though it appeared as though Aylesbury were doing enough to earn what would have been a rightful three points.
But disaster struck four minutes from time as the referee saw foul of an attempted tackle by Rickelle Christian and awarded a penalty. Amongst a melee of protesting Aylesbury players Pat Sappleton was booked, and eventually John Swift stepped up to break United hearts and level the match. 3-3
There were a couple of late moments of threat as Aylesbury sought in vain to find a late winner, the most notable seeing Taylor fire wide after a great solo run by McCormick, but it wasn?t to be.
Hopefully the result will give the team confidence going into the derby with Chesham United because the overall performance was a million miles better than against Woodford. Once again, Aylesbury deserved more.
