Aylesbury arrived at Hadley knowing that, with league leaders Dunstable Town not playing, a third successive win would take them to the Premier Division summit, but, trailing 4-1 early in the second half looked to be leaving Potters Bar disappointed.
What followed was a sensational comeback to cap a crazy afternoon as Stacey Field’s eight-minute hat-trick helped United overhaul their deficit and go on to win 6-4 and complete their mission.
There was a first start in green and white for striker Louis Austin, and he and Field flourished as United made a flying start to the match – the new forward partnership showing plenty of promise in the opening exchanges.
The duo won the Ducks a corner in the very first minute, and the pressure continued with a fabulous ball from Ben Baines into the 6-yard box which no-one could get a telling connection on, before Baines turned provider by feeding Austin whose low cross-shot was gathered on the near post by Russell Garland.
Aylesbury’s pressure told in the 15th minute when Edgeworth scored another ‘did he mean it\'’ goal. His corner kick was poor, but Tony Sabag ingored his keeper’s call and played a woeful clearance straight back to the United man who fired the ball straight back, curling it left footed into the top corner from near the touchline. 1-0 Aylesbury
Unfortunately the early momentum didn’t last, and as Hadley settled into the game they found United’s midfield in generous mood – as they had plenty of space to play the neat football that Aylesbury found so difficult to cope with at Bell Close last season.
Hakim Medfai and Nick Chrysanthou both had wayward long shots, before marksman Dom Petrucci stepped inside and unleashed a thunderbolt shot just inside the post which had Jack Sillitoe grasping at thin air. 1-1
The Ducks tried to hit back and a top corner-bound rising drive from Edgeworth was well saved by Garland, whilst Baines hit the outside of the post from close range after a short corner had been worked into the box.
Despite this, Aylesbury left the field for their half-time break stunned as Hadley scored twice in two minutes to go ahead by three goals to one.
Firstly, a well worked move from midfield to attack saw the ball crossed in low from the right where Rob Quattromini was waiting to score. 2-1 Hadley
Things got worse when Medfai picked up the ball in midfield before running forwards 40-yards and finding Josh Noyes with another cross from the right who easily converted from close range despite Sillitoe’s best efforts. 3-1 Hadley
There was nearly a fourth when full back Jake Panayiotou strode forward and fired a low shot just wide across goal, as half-time sounded and a shell shocked Aylesbury trudged to the dressing rooms.
Half-time: Hadley 3-1 Aylesbury
Tony Joyce made the bold decision to replace Edgeworth with a third striker in Joey Acheampong, but it looked to have backfired as within two minutes of the restart Hadley increased their lead again. Rob Quattromini got away down the right, and his attempted cross flukily carried past Sillitoe into the net for his second goal of the afternoon. 4-1 Hadley
With the scoreline looking out of reach, the well numbered and vocal visiting supporters began resigning themselves to defeat.
They were soon revitalised though when Stacey Field scored four minutes after Hadley to offer a faint glimmer of hope. Austin intercepted a slack pass and slid the ball through for Field who doesn’t miss that kind of chance. 2-4
Faint hope for the supporters maybe, but the Aylesbury team had genuine belief – and with the front three causing all manner of problems for Hadley’s struggling defence, an already frantic match cranked up a notch and goals looked to be on the cards.
It was Field who took the glory by completing his hat-trick in just eight minutes – quite possibly a new club record. On 56 minutes he got on the end of Acheampong’s flick and rifled home with aplomb. 3-4
Aylesbury then drew level as Field squeezed the ball home from an impossible looking angle to score goal number eight of the match. 4-4
There were other chances too as Steve Hatch flicked wide after Mulholland had helped on Bircham’s corner, and a Bircham free-kick from the byeline lead to a monumental goalmouth scramble before the ball was eventually hacked away.
It only seemed a matter of time before number five arrived for the Ducks, and it was Ben Butler who duly delivered when he worked his way into the box before firing home to spark yet more delirium in the grandstand as United were in front again. 5-4 Aylesbury
Even after so much activity, a full twenty minutes still remained and there were nervy moments when a low drive from the home side hit the most just seconds after the goal.
The best tactic for Aylesbury was to attack, as they kept up the pressure on their hosts with Acheampong winning several corners, then going close himself when a defender made a hash of clearing a long ball, allowing Acheampong a shot which was turned wide by Garland.
From the resulting corner the Ducks’ substitute did find the net, a well deserved goal for his efforts – heading home at the far post from Bircham’s delivery. 6-4 Aylesbury
The points now finally looked secure, but Hadley had one final chance to reel United back in when Rob Quattromini was played in but fired wide when he should have scored.
With the minutes ticking by United were finally able to protect their lead and claim the hardest of three points against very good opposition. Their lead of the league – however long it lasts – is well deserved.
