Match Report

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Aylesbury kept up their run of good results with a 2-0 win at last season’s runners up Tring Athletic.

Despite not being at their best, the Ducks came away having done a professional job over their much changed neighbours, with a goal in each half proving enough for the three points.

The goals, when they came, were two of the highest quality once again – Daniel Jones, restored to his preferred midfield role, netting with a beautiful curling effort, and Ben Baines scoring a wonderful solo effort to seal the win.

It was United who threatened first when, after an evening opening five minutes, Field latched onto Baines’ strong flick on and flashed an effort wide with Mike Underwood rooted to the spot.

Tring then had a succession of half chances, starting with a wayward effort from Hughes after he’d been set up by danger man Tony Fields. A sloppy free-kick conceded by Hateley Mercer then caused problems for his side, Mulholland eventually sticking out a leg to divert a goalbound shot wide.

On the quarter hour mark a fine flighted pass from King was aimed in the direction of Jones, from which Aylesbury won a corner that Field could only volley wide at the far post.

Jones himself then went close with a well struck effort which zipped just over the crossbar, before Barnett tried his luck five minutes later with a shot that had the power but not the direction to see it past Underwood.

Both sides kept chipping away, but it was Aylesbury who were the sharper in possession with far too many of the home side’s passes either hopefully hit up field or simply not finding their targets.

United edge in front just before the half hour mark, with the hosts playing a large part in their own undoing. A ball into the box caused an almighty mix up between two defenders, and as it dropped to Jones outside the area he struck a peach of a curling effort past Underwood and into the net. 1-0 Aylesbury

The game went a bit flat following the goal, with the Ducks just about keeping Tring at arm’s length whilst continuing to play the better football.

It might have been two on the stroke of half time when Baines retrieved the ball on the right and crossed for Field who headed straight at Underwood.

Half-time: Tring 0-1 Aylesbury

Aylesbury were forced into a half-time substitution with Melford Simpson on to replace Stacey Field, who had taken a knock early in the game.

Tring had the early pressure with a deep free-kick into the box causing problems but Sillitoe did well to punch under extreme pressure, the follow-up effort was fired well over the bar.

But within ten minutes of the second half the Ducks should have had the game dead and buried. Firstly, Jones missed a gilt-edged chance when, with the whole goal to aim at, he fired wide of the near post having been set up by good work from Simpson and Garcia.

Then, a cross in towards Simpson was clearly and deliberately handled in the box by Hughes, who was lucky to only see yellow for his infringement. Up stepped the returning Edgeworth for the spot kick, and although it was well placed, Underwood made a stunning save. In the ensuing melee Tom Barnett slid in hard on the keeper, with Tring themselves then feeling aggrieved that the Aylesbury man hadn’t received more than his yellow card from Mr Panconi.

Although a powerful header from Simpson was well caught by Underwood, Tring were now well in the game – boosted by the bonus of Underwood’s penalty save.

They should have been level when Fields had a great chance as the ball dropped to him inside the box, but he could only blast over the bar.

Instead, Aylesbury doubled their lead against the run of play. Baines received the ball, spun sweetly past the first defender, then jinked past the second before firing a low shot across Underwood and into the far bottom corner. Magic. 2-0 Aylesbury

Tring were still well in the game, and both sides had chances to extend the scoring in the last quarter of the match. It took a saving challenge from Joliffe to prevent Baines getting a clear run at goal on the end of yet another Simpson flick.

Then at the other end a shot from Waite was deflected behind after former United man Danny Gray went down in the box, for what looked like a strong penalty shout.

Aylesbury had three shots in quick succession on the 85 minute mark when Simpson’s header was going just wide but retrieved by Mulholland on the byline. He tricked his way past a defender before teeing up Garcia whose effort was charged down. Substitute Craig Townsend then fired the rebound wide from 25-yards.

In the last minute the Ducks had a penalty left off of their own. Substitute Stewart King was bundled over by Mulholland, but Fields’ penalty crashed against the underside of the bar and back out. He had another chance with the follow up but skied it badly.

Four minutes into stoppage time, Enzo Silvestri was put clean through only to see his shot beaten away by Underwood, before the referee blew for time on another hugely satisfying result for the greens.

Minute by Minute Updates

Well I'm here, but mobile signal is very poor. Might struggle with the updates tonight but I'll persevere.

Paul Edgeworth and Hateley Mercer back in the starting lineup, and Glyn Creaser is back on the bench

Once again, Tring look 'vertically challenged'. Their team features ex-Ducks Brett Court, Chris Salmon and on the bench, Danny Gray

And we're underway at The Grass Roots Stadium

5. Very even opening first 5 minutes
7. Field flashed an effort wide from long range after Baines won an impressive flick on. Only just wide. Keeper motionless
9. Hughes effort from just outside the box drifted wide after Fields set him up. You might hear the name Fields a bit - he's Tring's main danger man it seems
12. Mercer clearance charged down by a Tring player. Mercer then fouls him right on the very edge of the box. The resulting free-kick is eventually worked back into the box where Mulholland sticks out a leg to divert a goalbound shot wide
14. Aylesbury still under pressure as Tring force a corner. Fails to clear the first man
15. Great flighted pass into the box by King, shame it was Jones underneath it but we've won a corner. Came all the way across to Field beyond the back post who wildly volley wide
16. Barnett nearly killed a man going for another bicycle kick clearance
17. Great effort from Jones flies just over after Garcia won the ball back and brought it forward
19. Baines wins a free-kick in typical fashion near the right corner flag. Too much on it from Jones
20. Ball dropped kindly for Waite, lofted shot well over
23. Throw in half cleared as far as Barnett. Well struck shot but straight at the keeper
25. Fields warned for a late challenge on Edgeworth
28. GOAL! 1-0 Ducks! Really poor defensive mess up allows Jones the chance to shoot and he curls it beautifully past the keeper
36. Game's a bit quiet - Aylesbury playing the better football and keeping Tring just about at arms length
45 1: Baines retrieved the ball and crossed for Field who headed straight at the keeper

HT: Tring 0-1 Aylesbury: The Ducks are far from at their best so far, and Tring will surely be better after the break

Half-time sub for Aylesbury: Simpson on for Field, who took a knock early on

And we're underway again for the second half

5. Baines and Simpson have both been caught offside in the opening minutes from good flicks
6. Sillitoe did well to punch a deep free-kick under pressure, the follow up blasted well over
7. Jones fired a fantastic chance wide with the whole goal to aim at. Fine flick by Simpson then pass by Garcia to set it up
8. Tring substitution: Joliffe on for Hall
12. PENALTY awarded for clear handball in the box. SAVED! Great save by the keeper from Edgeworth. Handbags now after a challenge on the keeper. Barnett the man in trouble. Booked
15. Tring sub: King on for Humphreys
17. Salmon booked for tackle from behind on Garcia
18. Powerful header from Simpson well caught by the keeper from Jones' free-kick
19. Dangerous free-kick given away by King just to the left of the area. King booked - bit harsh
21. Fields blasted shot over from inside the box, superbly placed. Should be level. Tring well on top at the moment
23. GOAL! 2-0 Ducks! Spellbinding play by Baines to take it past two defenders before finding the far bottom corner
Goal was against the run of play, Tring still on top
27. Substitutions: Townsend on for Barnett for Aylesbury, and Gray for Mitchell for Tring
34. Saving challenge from Joliffe to prevent Baines getting a clean run at goal. Another Simpson flick
35. Waite shot deflected behind after Gray went down in the box. Strong penalty appeal there.
36. The resulting corner volleyed narrowly wide at the far post
38. Another needless free-kick conceded by Aylesbury. Wood there again to clear
39. Aylesbury sub: Silvestri for Edgeworth
41. Three shots in quick succession from Aylesbury. First, Simpson's header just wide, retrieved by Mulholland who beat his man before teeing up Garcia. Shot blocked. Townsend fired the rebound wide from range
45. Stoppage time PENALTY awarded to Tring. King brought down from behind by Mulholland. Field steps up... and hits the bar!! The rebound was played back to him, but he skies it!
45 and 4 minutes: Silvestri put through, power shot beaten away by the keeper. Put the rebound over

FT. Tring 0-2 Aylesbury: A very professional win from the Ducks, despite never being at our best. Let off with the penalty though