Aylesbury?s second tenure in the Southern League ? 34 years after they first joined ? came to an end against Barton Rovers, but the Ducks weren?t able to go out on a high as a poor game ended with a 1-0 reverse.
For game number 48 of what has been a long and challenging campaign, United welcomed back Richard Pringle to the starting lineup after a bout of flu and he was joined in attack by Danny Nicholls who started for the first time this season.
The game itself really was the proverbial ?end of season? affair ? a dour encounter with little in the way of goalmouth action. The rock hard pitch didn?t help proceedings, but both sides lacked the necessary urgency or conviction to make for an entertaining encounter.
Barton had the first effort of the match when Ashley Daniels was afforded a free header at a corner kick but was caught off balance and could only head well wide. This was quickly followed with a miscued shot from Jon Montgomery at the other end which sailed well over.
There continued to be only slim pickings on offer and it remained tit for tat as firstly a tame low free kick from Sam Spencer was easily held by Sillitoe, with Montgomery again going for goal from outside of the area for Aylesbury with a well hit half-volley which was caught by Grant Beckwith.
Former United player Bilal Hassan has been the goal getter in chief for Barton in recent times, but he suffered an ankle injury in the warmup and was forced to sit out the game.
It was left to his fellow striker Alex O?Brien to carry the attacking lead of his team, and he by some distance looked Barton?s biggest threat but too often didn?t have the support around him ? his only effort of the half deflecting off Bartley and wide.
On the half hour mark Ben Clarke cut in from the left on one of his trademark long-legged runs and his right-footed shot deflected through to Beckwith comfortably enough and six minutes later Lewis McBride?s inswinging corner had to be cleared off the line by Andre Maltay with Beckwith beaten.
That was as close as Aylesbury were to come in the first period, as Barton finished the half on top and called upon player of the season Jack Sillitoe to make two saves before the break ? first tipping over Tom Peverall?s drive with a flying save, then just about doing enough to keep out Joe Bradbury?s effort with Spencer closing in.
Half-time: Aylesbury United 0-0 Barton Rovers
Aylesbury looked to assert themselves early in the second half and Taylor had a header easily caught by Beckwith, but it was Barton who took control of the game and scored what proved to be the winning goal after 54 minutes when a low cross was turned in by Sam Spencer. 1-0 Barton
Controversy followed almost immediately when the Ducks were denied what looked a clear penalty when Andre Maltay handled under pressure from McBride, and although Maltay was cautioned, the referee and linesman decided between them that the offence was outside the box.
Another talking point followed when Grant Beckwith went down in spectacular style under challenge from Danny Nicholls, the goalkeeper?s writhing seemingly swaying the referee?s decision to book the Aylesbury man.
Ashleigh James was the next name in the referee?s notebook seconds later as Aylesbury momentarily looked to be losing their discipline, but whilst there?s criticisms that can be thrown at United this season, losing their cool isn?t one of them and order was soon restored.
Barton had a good chance to extend their lead when O?Brien picked out Spencer with a square pass but Sillitoe was out effectively to narrow the angle and smother his shot.
Aylesbury made all three of their substitutions with Ashley Harewood, Kevin Ayodele and Tony Joyce all entering the fray as another Montgomery shot flew wide of the target. The midfielder was featuring in green & white for the last time before relocating to Belfast and looked determined to leave with his name on the scoresheet.
Rovers came again though, and Spencer wasted a gilt-edged opportunity when he passed the ball wide of Sillitoe but also the target having been played in with a square ball from O?Brien.
Going into the final ten minutes and Aylesbury finally started playing as they mounted a late charge and put their visitors under some late pressure.
A Jamie O?Grady long throw caused problems in the visiting defence, eventually hitting the bar as nobody dared touch it, with Joyce heading straight at Beckwith from the edge of the area soon afterwards.
Ashley Harewood might have done better when feeding on a Taylor flick but taking too long to get a shot away, eventually firing in a poor right footed effort which went well over, before Taylor himself headed a James cross wide.
The rally continued as the final whistle drew nearer, and some good build up ended with Taylor releasing Harewood who again couldn?t produce a decent effort, although his lobbed shot was on target and had to be clawed behind by Beckwith.
The Ducks forced two late corners for which Sillitoe was present in the attack, and from the second delivery from Joyce Kevin Mealor met the ball with a firm header which drew a superb save from Beckwith.
Once again, it simply wasn?t to be Aylesbury?s day but their supporters were left a little frustrated that it had taken 80 minutes for their team to start playing by which time the game was getting away from them. Which is a similar story to the season as a whole, on reflection.
