Aylesbury’s FA Cup exploits were ended for another season North Leigh won the Preliminary Round Replay 4-2 despite a late seige to the Oxfordshire side's goal.
As in the first match on Saturday, it took until the last third of the game before the Ducks truly found themselves. But on this occasion they were already 4-0 down and climbing such a mountain was just too big an ask.
The Ducks lined up with Melford Simpson leading the attacking in a 4-5-1 system which saw Craig Townsend recalled to the starting eleven, as Hateley Mercer and Paul Edgeworth dropped to the bench.
The visitors suffered an early blow of losing the injured Stacey Field, who took a blow to the face, and whilst reduced to 10-men North Leigh took full advantage by taking control of the game.
Their opener arrived as early as the 12th minute when Stuart Hole made up for his weekend penalty miss by drilling a low and hard free-kick all the way through the wall, across the area, and into the net at the far post. 1-0 North Leigh
It was a poor goal to concede, and things got even worse for United when, eight minutes later, a deep cross from the right picked out the unattended Michael Hopkins, and his looping header back across goal dropped over Sillitoe. 2-0 North Leigh
Paul Edgeworth came on to replace the stricken Field, but United persisted with their one up front system and as North Leigh continued to have most of the play it looked a long way back already.
Eight minutes before the break Andy McCabe went close with a lofted shot having seen Sillitoe a fraction of his line, but seconds later he did have a goal to his name. Sillitoe made an awful misjudgement when haring out of goal, missing the ball completely, allowing McCabe to walk into the empty net for number three. 3-0 North Leigh
Tom Franklin headed a stoppage time corner kick wide, before half-time arrived and Aylesbury were given opportunity to regroup.
Half-time: North Leigh 3-0 Aylesbury
A double Ducks substitution came at the break, with Mercer and Acheampong both entering the fray in place of Jones and Townsend, but the match still belonged to North Leigh as an early free-kick from Hopkins was clawed wide by Sillitoe.
Just six minutes in and the yellows had added a fourth. A well flighted cross from the right was met by Tom Franklin who had got ahead of his man to power in a header. 4-0 North Leigh
Following a rash challenge from Acheampong which resulted in him being booked, United suddenly sprang into life when Ben Baines was desperately unlucky to see a fine effort crack against the upright, following which Acheampong could only guide the rebound wide.
Two minutes later and Baines went close again, firing over the bar after King’s long throw in had come all the way across to him in the box.
North Leigh still carried an obvious threat, and they very nearly added a fifth when good interchange between Osborne-Ricketts and Hopkins ended with a low ball across the box being stabbed wide at the back stick, and another well crafted move ended with Osborne-Ricketts curling over from the edge of the box.
When another Aylesbury effort, from Mulholland this time, went sailing over the bar it really looked like it wasn’t the captain’s night. But when Edgeworth received Simpson’s flick on and scored with magnificent volley, there was at least some hope. 1-4
Four minutes later and he was at it again when the ball was teed up to him in the box, Edgeworth hooked it in and it really was ‘game on’ again. 2-4
Aylesbury then laid siege to the North Leigh goal, and in surreal style, could count themselves rather unfortunate not to have added to the scoring – twice hitting the woodwork and once denied by a superb Worrell save.
It was Acheampong showed a great turn of pace in the 78th minute to beat his man and smash a shot which ricocheted back off the crossbar. Then, a minute later, Barnett hit a 25-yard screamer which called upon Worrell to extend himself and brilliantly tip it away.
Another long ranger from King was rather more comfortably held, before Garcia became the second unlucky man when his dipping header just didn’t dip enough and hit the bar. In the ensuing melee two Ducks players had shots well saved by Worrell, who was certainly making a name for himself late on.
A late penalty appeal when Baines was sent sprawling in the box was waved away, whilst the home side wasted a great chance of their own when Roberts was denied in a one-on-one by SiIllitoe, who recovered himself to also save the rebound.
Time ran out on Aylesbury and the dream comeback remained just that, and it was North Leigh who progressed to the 1st Qualifying Round and a fixture at Ryman League Leatherhead.
