Photo gallery (courtesy of Mike Snell): Flickr Link

Following Wednesday evening’s demolition against Bedford, manager Tony Joyce made 2 changes to the starting line-up. Steve Hatch replaced the unavailable Shane Wood and Taylor Collins started ahead of Shaun Owens. Returning to the bench for the first time this season were Bill Morgan, Joey Acheampong, Jake Bewley and Jack Sillitoe, with Stacy Field unavailable. The formation returned to a more traditional 4-4-2, with Edgeworth supporting Casey up front and Collins and French offering the width that had been missing for much of Wednesday’s match. Hatch started alongside Collard at centre back, with Jack Wood playing at right back.

A slow start to the match saw the Ducks playing the ball around well, albeit not threatening Davies in the Hanwell goal. In a move reminiscent of his goal on Wednesday night, Collins almost gave the home side the lead in the 10th minute. Adcock was fouled on the right edge of the box, leaving Collins to step up and curl a delicious free kick which just cleared the bar. Five minutes later, Hanwell old boys Adcock and Casey combined after a weak clearance by keeper Davies, however Casey’s snapshot again cleared the bar instead of troubling the keeper.

The first moment of concern for the home side came in the 27th minute, as a ball from skipper Ryan Ashe into the channel found Ricky Pither through on goal. It took a fine smothering save from Tokarczyk to prevent Hanwell opening the scoring. In truth this was Hanwell’s only clear cut opportunity of the half, as the Ducks were happy passing the ball around, dominating proceedings. The next chance fell to Lee Grace, who had carried on the great form of Wednesday evening. He collected a clearance just inside the opposing half, advanced towards the penalty area and unleashed a powerful shot from 30 yards, which was pushed away for a corner by Davies, who was by far the busiest keeper. Following a foul on the left, Sonny French delivered a free kick into the box, which Jack Wood flicked on to Alex Collard. The young centre back turned well in the box, but saw his shot flash wide of the right post. Three minutes later Adcock and Casey combined again, however as with Collard minutes earlier, Casey could only direct his shot wide of the keeper’s right hand post. The last action of the half saw Pither race away from the defence after a long ball set him free, but his shot was high wide and not so handsome!

The Ducks started the second half in positive fashion; Edgeworth broke down the right wing and squared the ball across the penalty area to a waiting Taylor Collins. His ball back into the box found French, whose shot from 10 yards was bravely blocked on the line by Kieran Gradwell, although he suffered a painful blow as a result. Hanwell almost took the lead in the 49th minute; Steve Hatch was beaten on the left touchline by Ashe, who fed Calum Duffy as he was breaking into the penalty area. Fortunately for the home side, Tocarczyk was quickly off his line, narrowing the angle forcing Duffy to fire into the side netting.

Four minutes later, Hanwell did take the lead. Suffering from playing a pressing game with both full backs in advanced positions, the Ducks were undone by a wonderful pass over an undermanned defence, which Pither raced onto. Tocarczyk came racing off his line to intercept, giving the striker the opportunity to lob him, which he did with aplomb to open the scoring. Aylesbury United 0 Hanwell 1

Virtually from the restart, Collins got free down the left and fired across the box, to find no one in position to tap home. The game then settled into a rather dull pattern as the home side dominated play, attempting to pass their way through a packed Hanwell defence, with little joy. With the crowd getting restless, the boys in green maintained their discipline and kept plugging away, albeit with no one able to play the killer pass or create a clear cut opportunity against a packed defence. Indeed it was the visitors who made the best opportunity of the half so far, as in the 73rd minute Ashe found substitute Denilson Vincente on the left, who rounded Tocarczyk but saw his shot from a tight angle cleared off the line by the impressive Collard.

Just as it seemed the Ducks’ faithful would have to go home disappointed, just one minute from the end of normal time things changed for the better. Jake Bewley was fouled on the left edge of the penalty area, resulting in a free kick in a very inviting position. However, the initial set piece was almost messed up as Bewley’s pass to Grace was far too heavy. As he attempted to shoot from 20 yards, his effort was blocked, but only as far as Steve Hatch, who powered home a pile driver to score a vital equaliser. Aylesbury United 1 Hanwell 1

There being no further scoring, the Ducks gained their first home point of the season. Changing grounds and adapting to a fantastic playing surface has enabled the team to change tactics and adopt a much more expansive passing game. However at the moment it appears that the ability to play a killer pass or create clear cut opportunities is a little lacking. Hopefully with the benefit of playing together as a team over the next few weeks that will improve, as will results! Next up is a trip to Wellingborough on Tuesday evening to face AFC Rushden & Diamonds, who are fancied to have a good season, however they have started the season with 3 straight draws and are currently positioned in mid table.