loading...

Aylesbury were dumped out of the Challenge Trophy by Division One side Crawley Green after a dramatic match at Sharpenhoe Road.

Things seemed to be heading for extra time as the Ducks fought back from a two-goal deficit to level just before full-time, but Crawley had other ideas and Jermaine Hall drove home a crisp low shot in stoppage time to win the tie.

The opening stages had looked very promising for United as they pressed early on and were nearly rewarded straight from the kick off as they won a free-kick from which Edgeworth?s initial effort hit the wall, his follow up going wide.

Two minutes later Joey Acheampong easily outpaced the defence to go clean through but could only shoot low across goal.

In the first ten minutes alone there had been five corners for the greens but they were mostly going to waste despite decent deliveries from Jack Wood, Mulholland going closest with a header wide.

The best of all the chances fell to Acheampong though. A pinpoint through ball set him away and he showed great skill to take the ball around Dean Bull but found Craig Savage on hand to scramble the ball off the line at the very last moment.

Bull was called upon to make a fine save and turn Edgeworth?s half volley wide moments later, before a Nash mis-hit cross dropped just over the bar, as the home side?s goal remained intact.

As has been the case on more than one occasion already this season, Aylesbury were made to rue their missed opportunities and Crawley began to impose themselves on the game more. They had their first effort on 15 minutes which they should have scored from when a right-wing cross was flicked wide by the unattended Peter O?Donnell.

Three minutes later and the experienced Robbie O?Dell made no mistake when he found himself played in behind the defence, and cracked a firm shot past the helpless Sillitoe. 1-0 Crawley Green

Conceded goals seem to come in pairs these days for United and for the third successive match they?d conceded a second goal within four minutes of the first ? on this occasion just two minutes later.

A corner kick was only partially cleared before being crossed back in from the left where the ball struck former United captain Nick Leach and fell kindly to Lee Hayward who really couldn?t miss. 2-0 Crawley Green

United had reason to feel the scoreline was slightly harsh on them, and they kept plugging away but as half time approached their attacking play was more hopeful than productive. Ben Baines had a turn and shot straight a the keeper, then Townsend fired wide from range after good linkup with Edgeworth.

It was at the other end where the better chances came with Sillitoe having to be off his line quickly to keep out a lobbed effort, then a player heading wide when unmarked at a poorly defended corner kick.

The half ended as it had started with another chance for Acheampong, who this time could only dive in to head over the bar from Gordon?s teasing delivery.

Half-time: Crawley Green 2-0 Aylesbury

Aylesbury made a double substitution at half time with Lea Coulter and Carl Clay entering the fray, and it was they who had the first chance. Baines did well to pick out Edgeworth who went through on goal but somehow lifted his shot over the bar despite Bull having gone to ground particularly early.

The pressure from United was mounting but they were repeatedly finding things going against them, including the refereeing decisions, with a brazen shirt pull in the area on Lea Coulter the biggest miss by the men in black.

Another couple of corners came and went, although the second had to be cleared off the line as Acheampong flicked the ball goalwards at the near post.

United then introduced Jimi Emefuna and with all of their recognised strikers now on the pitch the bombardment to the Crawley penalty area eventually had to pay dividends.

After a scuffed effort wide from Baines, United finally did pull a goal back. Baines yet again won his header to flick the ball on and Acheampong ran through to poke the ball past Bull. 1-2

Aylesbury?s assault on goal continued, and as the minutes ticked by it still looked likely they would find a way through eventually with Coulter going close.

The equaliser arrived in the first minute of stoppage time. Baines just beat the offside trap to receive a clipped ball over the top, and was coolness personified when faced with Bull as he fired home with aplomb. 2-2

Still the match wasn?t over and although time was very much against them, both sides looked for a winner. Dickson blazed over at one end, before Edgeworth had the ball in the net at the other only to have his effort ruled out for offside.

Just as extra time was beckoning, Crawley Green broke at pace ? as they had been doing throughout the match ? with Bull?s pinpoint clearance finding substitute Henry Mungwira. He held the ball up well before rolling in Hall who sent the Ducks crashing out of the competition. 3-2 Crawley Green

In the last mad few seconds Aylesbury forced one more corner and as everyone piled in a header nearly found its way into the net, but it wasn?t to be and the Ducks disappointingly exited the competition.