Skrill South side Staines Town brought an end to Aylesbury’s FA Cup dreams for another season, but not before they were pushed hard by a hard working, tenacious Ducks performance in a match that was far from as comfortable for the visitors as the scoreline suggests.
United had the upper hand in the first half, having pressed their opponents with high intensity and made life difficult for the side two levels above in the footballing pyramid, although keeper Kyle Merson was relatively untested. Even after an opening goal of some simplicity, Aylesbury still had opportunities to nick a replay, before Staines exploited the Ducks committing bodies forward with two goals in the last two minutes to give the final score a more flattering look.
A difficult task for the Ducks was made harder by the absence of key trio of Richard Armstrong (suspended) and Jason Blackett and Lee Grace (unavailable), but there was some good news as Shane Wood returned from injury at right back, whilst Joey Acheampong was drafted in to lead the line and Ben Baines was also reinstated.
First shot of the game went to Staines, as full debutant Emanuel Akokhia flashed an effort wide across goal, and whilst Aylesbury forced a fifth minute corner which Jack Wood met but couldn’t direct goalwards, early attempts were restricted to long range sighters.
In the 14th minute Akokhia tried a carbon copy attempt, and Louie Theophanous might have done better when a rare misplaced header from Bill Morgan fell his way, but his half volley was easily caught by Sillitoe.
For all of United’s hard work, clear cut chances were in short supply and Stacey Field tried to produce a moment of magic with a long shot having pinched the ball back off a defender, but beating Merson from 30-yards looked a tall order and so it proved as the ball was caught.
Daniel Jones did better with a volley in the area which was blocked by a defender as it flew towards goal.
Aylesbury forced several corner kicks, and a free kick right by the corner flag after Acheampong was bundled over, but sub standard deliveries and a lack of height in Armstrong’s absence all resulted in no joy in that department either.
After a fairly lacklustre half, Staines raised their game in the last five minutes and their best move of the game presented Akokhia with another opening as he spun but placed a shot well wide.
In the final first period minute, Jordaan Brown strode powerfully forward from left back before driving a shot goalwards that deflected wide via Jack Wood for the visitors’ first corner of the match, which was completely wasted as it went out before reaching the box.
Half-time: Aylesbury 0-0 Staines
Whilst the Ducks could be pleased with their first half of more than matching their opponents, maintaining the intensity of their performance was the big challenge and it took just under ten minutes for Staines to make the all important breakthrough.
Right back Sanchez Ming snaffled up a misplaced pass and broke down the right flank before delivering a low ball into the box which Theophanous fired first time into the net for a simple opening goal. 1-0 Staines
Aylesbury refused to let their heads drop, but found the going tough against a side who had suddenly clicked into gear. Ashley Lodge lashed a shot well over the bar, before a low shot from Louis-Rae Beadle had to be turned wide by Jack Sillitoe a minute later.
Just past the hour mark Staines hit the post when a ball in from the right found Stephane Ngomvoulou unmarked, and his diving header clipped the outside of the upright.
Tony Joyce had introduced Dom Petrucci in search of a new attacking spark, and it was he who connected with a Keith Williams free kick without being able to generate enough power to trouble Merson.
Prior to that, Morgan had done similar from Shane Wood’s long throw, but it was Acheampong who should have done better when he escaped a wild challenge from a defender as the referee played a good advantage, but the United man snatched at the opening and dragged the ball wide of the near post.
Field then got in on the act with a smart turn and a rising drive which again had Merson called into catching practise but no more.
At the other end Theophanous had a great chance to settle matters when a quick break released him in the box, and sidestepping defenders he had only Sillitoe to beat, but the Ducks stopper came out on top, blocking with his legs.
Acheampong really should have done better with fifteen minutes remaining, in what proved to be Aylesbury’s best chance, when set free by Field’s pass he blazed over with only Merson to beat.
With the Ducks temporarily reduced to ten men whilst Shane Wood received treatment, Staines twice had shots cleared off the line and they hit the post again from a later move when a quickly taken free kick found substitute Olu Akinsanya whose shot hit the post.
The game entered its last ten minutes, and Staines were finding more and more room as United were forced to commit bodies forward in search of a goal. Lewis Ferrell was presented a free header from a corner that he put wide, and Sillitoe made another good save to deny Theophanous from close range.
United’s keeper then made the journey into the offensive penalty area for a late corner kick, but it was another fruitless set piece for Aylesbury and Town piled on the late misery with two late strikes. On more than one occasion in the closing seconds Keith Williams found himself as the only man defending, and it was inevitable that counter attacking goals were to come.
On 88 minutes a long ball out of defence set Theophanous free, and this time he made no mistake with a cool finish through the legs of Sillitoe for his eighth goal of the season. 2-0 Staines
Less than two minutes later and the unfortunate Sillitoe made a great reflex save, but could do nothing as Louis-Rae Beadle rifled home the rebound in a harsh reflection on the game from Aylesbury’s point of view. 3-0 Staines
In the end, Staines had ultimately stamped their two league advantage on the match as the Ducks had run out of steam, but United have every reason to be proud of their efforts and their faultless work ethic.
