Aylesbury last remaining chance at cup glory was put to bed by a plucky Holyport, who advanced in the Berks & Bucks Trophy with a 2-1 win over the Ducks.
The newly promoted Hellenic League side haven’t been faring well in the league of late, but produced a performance of verve and determination – particularly in the second half – which Aylesbury were just unable to match.
The game exploded into life with two goals in the first four minutes, Holyport going ahead after just 37 seconds when Stuart Butler got the better of the defence before neatly slotting home. 1-0 Holyport
United rallied well and were level almost immediately. A right sided throw in found Paul Edgeworth, and he teed up Stacey Field to curl an effort into the net from eight-yards. 1-1
It continued to be Aylesbury who had the better chances to increase their score in the first half, but a combination of poor finishing and good goalkeeping from former United custodian Warren Carter meant they didn’t.
Joey Acheampong and Kyal McNulty both had efforts routinely dealt with by Carter, before a swift counter attack in the 13th minute ended with Holyport hitting the post when the ball was crossed to Jarmin who had time to control and shoot, but struck the woodwork.
Proceedings continued to be very open in the early stages, with Field and Acheampong finding plenty of space on the flanks. Carter made a good save to deny Baines after the Aylesbury man had charged down an attempted clearance, then almost immediately at the other end Butler should have done better for the home side when he slashed an effort wide as the ball dropped to him on the edge of the box.
Predictably, the frantic pace the game had started at slowed as the half wore on, with chances few and far between before half time.
The Ducks should have established a lead five minutes from the interval, Carter making a fabulous double save to keep out Acheampong after a low, skidding free-kick fell to him, and then Garcia with the rebound, but, from such close range, he shouldn’t have been given a chance to make the save.
From the resulting corner Luke Flood rose to meet the ball with a powerful header, but placed the ball just wide of the target. It was to be Flood’s last action as he was withdrawn at the interval and replaced by Tom Barnett.
Half-time: Holyport 1-1 Aylesbury
Aylesbury started the second half strongly again, an Edgeworth low cross into the box just missed by the arriving Baines, before Baines himself tested Carter with a shot from wide but the Holyport stopper was up to the effort and dived to claim the ball easily enough.
That was as good as it got for the Ducks for a long while though, Daniel Jones uncharacteristically blazed a free-kick over the bar in what was their only shot at goal for some time.
Holyport re-took the lead with their first foray into the Ducks half, after 53 minutes. One ball over the defence released Steve Deverall, and he made no mistake with a crisp finish past Sillitoe into the corner of the net. 2-1 Holyport
From that point on the home side took control of the tie, and only they looked like scoring as Aylesbury totally lost their way.
Sillitoe made a good save to deny a shot from the edge of the area, before his punch four minutes later was seized upon but lobbed over the back-peddling keeper and empty goal.
The best move of the match then came with 15 minutes remaining when the ball was worked down the right flank, before being pulled back into the centre where a waiting striker couldn’t keep his shot down and fired well over the bar.
That should have been curtains for the Ducks, if the lack of attacking spark wasn’t already, but they lived to fight another day and had one further moment of goal threat when a good turn and shot by Acheampong had to be turned behind by Carter.
Five minutes later a stoppage time corner kick came to nothing, Holyport not put under enough serious pressure in the closing third of the game, and Aylesbury disappointingly exited the competition with barely a whimper.
With only one promotion place to play for, the old adage ‘concentrate on the league’ isn’t one wanted to be levied at the team in mid-November. But that is exactly what Aylesbury must do now, especially with results elsewhere on the night dropping the Ducks down to 7th. Three points on Saturday against Biggleswade United and another miserable cup outing will soon be forgotten.
