Aylesbury’s hopes of finishing the month with back to back wins were dashed by Chalfont St. Peter, as a 3-0 defeat meant a sixth loss in seven matches from a very disappointing October.
A terrible start to the game saw United gift their hosts three goals and face a mountain to climb with barely a quarter of the evening played.
Tony Joyce elected to keep faith with the side that had beaten Uxbridge 3-1 at the weekend, with the exception of the enforced replacement of unavailable striker Jason Blackett with Stacey Field.
Just three minutes had elapsed when the hosts struck the opening blow. Striker Aaron Lansiquot ran at the heart of the defence before hitting a speculative 25-yard effort which caught Jack Sillitoe by surprise, hitting the goalkeeper in the chest on its way into the net. 1-0 Chalfont
Having a couple of corner kicks and a Lansiquot shot blocked, the home side’s dominance continued with a headed long throw from Bill Morgan Aylesbury’s only foray into the Saints penalty area in the early stages, so it was no surprise when the lead was extended.
Mike McEntegart easily claimed the aforementioned Morgan header, and his quick release downfield lead to a farcical second goal, as a breakdown in communications between Sillitoe, Ryan Freshwater and Greg Williams ended with the latter trying to rectify the situation. Sadly, the veteran midfielder’s header went straight to Chalfont top scorer Alan Hedley who calmly hooked the ball over the stranded Sillitoe and into the net for his of ninth the season. 2-0 Chalfont
Things didn’t get any better, and on 21 minutes the makeshift looking left side of Freshwater and Steve Hatch were brutally exposed again as Chalfont extended their lead, Jack Wood only able to slice a low cross from that side into his own net. 3-0 Chalfont
Within five minutes Shaun Owens had called upon McEntegart to make his first save of the night when he turned away a well struck volley, but it was to be a false dawn as a shellshocked Aylesbury struggled to get even the basics right for a spell.
The Ducks should have had a goal back when Chalfont took a leaf out of the United book of defending, gifting the ball straight to Jack Wood in the box whose cut back found Hatch but he got the shot all wrong and the danger passed.
Just before half time and the hosts themselves could have scored again when another attack down the right ended with a teasing cross which was just too far ahead of Lansiquot.
Half-time: Chalfont 3-0 Aylesbury
Shortly into the second period and United failed to take another good chance when Stacey Field was played through, but McEntegart made himself big and produced a save to retain his clean sheet, the ball breaking to Hatch who snatched at his shot and saw it fly high and wide.
Seconds later and Jesse Waites went close as he made progress down the right before driving an effort wide across goal, as Aylesbury showed some renewed determination to make an impact on the game.
With the early impetus waning, Joyce then chose to make a triple substitution on 62 minutes with Jake Bewley, Lewis Osborne and Joey Acheampong coming on for Ryan Freshwater, Shaun Owens and Jesse Waites.
Osborne it was who had the next opening, firing in a well struck half-volley which was well blocked, after a free kick had been half cleared to him just outside the area.
Having gone three-goals ahead, Chalfont had largely been quelled as an attacking force, whether they had taken their foot off the gas or Aylesbury had grown into the game was open to debate, but they should have gone further in front as two glorious chances went begging in the space of two minutes.
Glenn Yala was the first to miss, having been played in by a well placed through ball, he slotted wide of Sillitoe’s goal, and then Remmell Clarke also missed the target after Williams had passed the ball straight to him and inadvertently put the Chalfont midfielder one-on-one with Sillitoe.
Three Saints substitutions slowed the course of the game down, with Sillitoe making a save to deny one – Connor Hayes - moments after coming on, whilst he also beat away a shot from Hedley soon afterwards.
Still there was time for Aylesbury to threaten, and on another day, with the chances they had, could have scored enough goals to grab a barely deserved point in the last five minutes!
Field saw a shot saved by McEntegart, before the best move of the game saw Osborne release Field on the right and break into the box to get on the end of his cross but head straight at the home keeper.
Field then hit the post with a shot in the box, with Paul Edgeworth looking odds on to convert the rebound only to see the ball miraculously diverted wide to wild celebrations from McEntegart – underlining just how much he wanted a clean sheet.
Bill Morgan headed the resulting corner over the bar with what was the last meaningful action.
A bad night all-round for the Ducks from a game that Aylesbury really needed a win from to consolidate their top-half of the table credentials. Far too early for panic at this stage of the season, and a weekend off will give plenty of time for Joyce and his managerial team to regroup ahead of another key game against St Ives Town.
