1 | ||
2 | ||
3 | ||
4 | ||
5 | ||
6 | ||
7 | ||
8 | ||
9 | ||
10 | ||
11 | 15, 87m | |
BENCH | ||
---|---|---|
12 | ||
14 | ||
15 | 11, 87m | |
16 | ||
17 | ||
MANAGEMENT | ||
M |
1 | ||
2 | ||
3 | 14, 48m | |
4 | ||
5 | ||
6 | ||
7 | ||
8 | ||
9 | 16, 90m | |
10 | ||
11 | 12, 70m | |
BENCH | ||
---|---|---|
12 | 11, 70m | |
14 | 3, 48m | |
15 | ||
16 | 9, 90m |
United’s last home league game was way back at the turn of the year, a 0-0 draw against Leverstock Green, and was very similar in that the Ducks had no answer to their visitors’ well organised and massed defensive encampment.
The game’s pivotal moments came just before the interval. Stacey Field scored another spectacular goal that looked to be sending Aylesbury into the break with a narrow lead, but disaster followed and a really poor goal conceded just 90 seconds later restored the parity that remained.
In contrast to Saturday’s raucous atmosphere at Ampthill Park, Bell Close was somewhat subdued as supporters tried to keep warm in the freezing conditions only heightened by a bitter swirling wind.
Both sides worked hard to keep warm in a high tempo first half which saw two good teams largely cancel each other out, and chances were limited.
Zac Reynolds wasted an early free-kick by blazing over the bar from the edge of the area, before a majestic pass from Greg Williams put in Stacey Field momentarily but keeper Carl Tasker was quickly out to claim the ball.
Former Aylesbury striker Lewis Pritchard tried his luck with a shot on the stretch which didn’t trouble Jack Sillitoe, and with both sides forcing a number of first half corner kicks United were missing the presence of the injured John Mulholland in both boxes.
Ben Baines was disappointingly booked for simulation after appearing to be clipped just inside the box midway through the half in what looked set to be the game’s biggest talking point at that point.
Aylesbury were getting closer to scoring though and an inswinging Daniel Jones free-kick was headed over by Jack Wood beyond the far post. Four minutes later and Tasker made a hash on the edge of his area but the ball just wouldn’t drop for the lurking figures of Acheampong and Austin to turn into the empty net and defenders were able to recover.
Two ambitious Berkhamsted efforts – Jordan Frederick with a long range volley and Connor Calcutt with a 35-yard free-kick that drifted harmlessly wide – did nothing to affect United’s game as momentum grew.
At the other end Acheampong was close with a dinked, curling effort having cut in from the left, which dropped agonisingly past the beaten Tasker’s post. Then, Baines struck a delightful 25-yard curler with Tasker motionless again that cruelly came back off the upright.
United weren’t to be denied again though and took the lead just a minute later, with a goal out of nothing. A long ball out of defence caused panic in the Berko backline, allowing Field to nip in and lift the ball expertly over the stranded Tasker from a tight angle to add to his growing list of spectacular goals. 1-0 Aylesbury
Celebrations had barely ended when disaster struck. Hesitancy in the new look Ducks defence was punished as Pritchard beat a sluggish Sillitoe to the ball who, like his opposite number 90 seconds earlier, could only watch as the ball was lobbed over him into the net. 1-1
Half-time: Aylesbury 1-1 Berkhamsted
Pritchard fancied his chances of a second within moments of the restart when he received the ball on the turn, but smashed his shot over the bar.
Whereas the first half had been an even affair, Aylesbury took control of the second period and the match became attack vs defence for long periods without the chances or, more importantly, the goals to match the pressure.
Berko were forced into an early injury enforced chance as Jon Davies entered the fray for Josh Chamberlain, and their change in defensive personnel may have been to blame for the hesitancy that allowed Field to latch onto the ball and flash a shot across the face of goal a minute later.
Joey Acheampong met a 55th minute corner with a scuffed header, and a follow up shot bobbled around in the area but just wouldn’t fall kindly in a sign of what was to come.
It was Greg Williams who in the end came closest for Aylesbury when he got across the defence to meet a near post corner which was kept out by a combination of Tasker and defenders on the line.
Two further corners followed, the second of which was met by Williams again who this time headed high and wide on the near post.
A rare foray into the Ducks half then very nearly yielded a shock Berkhamsted goal, as a clearance was charged down with the ball ricocheting back and spinning just past the post.
With fifteen minutes remaining Zac Reynolds broke from right back to deliver a fine, searching cross which Field met with a full blooded volley but could only send whistling just over the crossbar.
Aylesbury began to run out of ideas as the minutes passed with their only meaningful attempts a chipped effort over from Austin and a near post try by Field which Tasker was equal to as there was to be no way through.
Newly re-signed Liam Smyth was introduced to the game, but too late to have an influence although he did play one great ball into the box – almost a teaser of things to come once he gains match fitness.
Late injuries to Berko’s Stephenson and Brandon meant a slightly extended stoppage time, but the match ended 1-1 and the Ducks had to be content with just the solitary point.