Aylesbury recorded another pleasing result by chalking up a 3-0 home win over Hertford Town, whose 100% losing record in the league so far continued.
The Ducks’ new signing Melford Simpson only made the bench, but it was a new face of the summer – Vinnie Shrieves – who was handed his full debut as United opted for a three-man front line at the expense of Craig Townsend.
Once again, United were on top from the off. After a couple of early Ben Baines sighters, Enzo Silvestri was unlucky not to score with a long ranger which struck the stanchion behind the goal after good work by King had set him up.
Daniel Jones’ set piece deliveries were a menace as ever, with Mulholland seeing a header saved on the line by the goalkeeper at a corner kick, then a free-kick just begged to be put away, but Baines powered his header wide.
In the 12th minute Hertford ventured into the Ducks’ final third for the first time, as Aylesbury conceded a needless free kick allowing Chet Johnson to whip in a delivery but Mulholland was able to easily head clear.
The match continued in much the same vein, without the Ducks being able to find reward for their dominance. Jones’ fine pass forward had to be headed behind by Michael Nathan, and from the corner that followed Garcia blazed over. A similar pass from the opposite flank then picked out Baines in the area but he couldn’t generate any power in his header and Robinson was able to easily claim the ball.
The visitors’ best spell of the match came around the mid-point of the first half, as, for the first time of the night, Aylesbury went a bit flat. A decent rising drive from Lee Roberts went just over the bar, whilst dangerman Johnson could only shoot well over after the ball was only half cleared to him.
United were soon back in the thick of the action though, with Shrieves wasting a glorious opportunity from 10-yards which he sliced wide. The ball squirmed to him off a defender after great play Field had seen him chip the ball up over his marker.
Eventually the pressure had to tell, and the opener duly arrived on 35 minutes. Field won his side a corner, which Hertford stood and watched as Mulholland’s header crashed against the bar, where Silvestri was on hand to force the ball over the line. Not the prettiest goal, but they all count. 1-0 Aylesbury
Just two minutes later and the lead should have been doubled as Field this time might have done better. Finding himself clean through he elected to try and lob Robinson when a simple finish would have been the better option, the ball dropping high and wide.
It failed to dent Aylesbury’s belief in their football though, and a lovely move picked out Baines at the far post and his ball back across goal skimmed off Field’s head and wide.
A deserved second did come four minutes from the break, and what a goal it was! Baines chest trapped the ball superbly before playing it inside to Field. Without hesitation, he cut inside his marker and struck a beautifully crafted curling effort around the motionless Robinson and into the corner of the net, an effort which even had Hertford manager Scott O’Donoghue applauding. 2-0 Aylesbury
With a goal worthy of winning any match, United already looked to have done just that with Hertford offering little, but with an entire second half still to play there was no room for the complacency which at times blighted the Ducks last season.
Half-time: Aylesbury 2-0 Hertford
Hertford introduced an extra attacking presence in Tom Wade for the second half, but they couldn’t affect the pattern of the match as aside from a 47th minute free-kick which drifted all the way across goal, their presence in the Aylesbury area was a rarity.
United had a third goal before they’d even found their second half stride. Johnson conceded a free-kick for a petulant late challenge on King, and the story is becoming a familiar one for Aylesbury: Jones delivers, someone scores. On this occasion it was Shrieves, who slid in the direct the ball past Robinson. 3-0 Aylesbury
With the game wrapped up with less than an hour played, the Ducks were able to enjoy the remainder of the match. They controlled the last half hour well, never allowing Hertford a genuine sniff – Sillitoe wasn’t extended once over the 90 – whilst creating enough further opportunities that they could have increased their margin of victory.
That said, the visitors deserve credit for never throwing in the towel. But for all their efforts, substitute Reece Dobson’s daisy cutter, which was always going wide, and a decent effort from McArdle, were their only meaningful attempts.
Following the goal, Simpson was introduced and in his 25-minute cameo demonstrated enough evidence for the United faithful to believe he will be a very good signing indeed, with his intelligent flicks, passes and all round play excellent for such a big man.
Aylesbury continued to probe for a fourth: Field’s fabulous turn and 20-yard shot just flew wide of the target, before another Mulholland header hit the post, with nobody able to turn it in this time as Robinson dived on the ball.
Three minutes later Maybury very nearly put through his own net, as King’s diagonal ball was headed goalwards by the opposing number 6 but turned behind by Robinson’s good save.
As the match entered its final ten minutes, Simpson had a ‘masive’ (pardon the pun) penalty appeal turned down having showed a superb bit of skill to beat his man to get into the box before being felled. In the aftermath the ball was scrambled off the line, and a shot from fellow substitute Micky O’Farrell deflected behind. Simpson then headed the resulting corner over from point blank range.
It was Baines’ turn to go agonisingly close to a fourth next, as he turned and shot just past the post. In the final seconds another good chance went begging, as another attacking sub – underlining the strength of Aylesbury’s attacking options right now – Acheampong saw his shot saved by the keeper’s legs having played a clever one-two with Simpson.
Right at the death Mulholland was unlucky not to score when his hooked effort came back of the upright, as the Ducks had to content themselves with just the three goals.
Another very good result for United, but there will be harder tests to come. Starting with two tough looking away trips to Stotfold and Tring Athletic.
