Aylesbury may have exited the FA Trophy with a 4-2 defeat, but they earned plenty of plaudits amongst the well-sized crowd for running their higher-tiered opponents Margate closer than the scoreline suggested.
Two goals in two second half minutes finally put the tie beyond the Ducks, after Harry Jones had scored a brace including a wonder strike in the second half to bring United level – which they certainly merited.
Margate took their chances at key moments in the game, but for other periods it was impossible to tell who the higher status club were, and in a bright start Aylesbury moved the ball well with The Gate unable to get to grips with their early slick interplay.
With Jamie Rudd and Lee Stobbs the latest injury casualties, Jamie Jellis was handed his first start of his third spell at the club having signed in midweek, whilst Max Hercules was back in the squad again.
It was Ben Seat though who had the first effort of the afternoon when his curler flew narrowly wide of the target as the ball came back to him outside the area.
Margate then escaped a strong penalty appeal after Anthony Ball’s cross appeared to strike Jay Porter’s hand, but it only took another five minutes for the opening goal – which had been coming.
Ball got around the outside of Porter to lay a low cross into the box which – although was just ahead of Jones – was retrieved by Hercules who squared for the still-lurking Jones to finish with aplomb at the near post. 1-0 Aylesbury
The visitors had barely registered as an attacking force as they battled to deal with United, but as the half wore on they began to gradually creep further into Aylesbury’s box, and in the 19th minute won a corner that lead to the equaliser.
It was a disappointing goal for the Ducks to concede as a left sided corner kick initially appeared to have been overhit, but when it was headed back Noel Leighton sent the ball all the way across goal where Norman Wabo had a simple tap in. 1-1
Aylesbury were soon back on the offensive with the tricky Hercules cutting inside but seeing an effort comfortably saved by Bailey Vose, and three minutes later the former Brighton keeper made a superb stop to tip Seaton’s vicious rising drive onto the crossbar.
Vose next denied Ball with a diving save after some more neat build up from Aylesbury, but Margate – and their best player Wabo – still remained a threat on the break and one dangerous moment saw him break clear on a long clearance but his poor touch took him too close to Jack Hopwood who smothered.
The half ended with Aylesbury wondering just quite how they weren’t ahead and Jellis the latest man to have a shot on goal when he drove just over having been teed up by Jones.
Half-time: Aylesbury 1-1 Margate
A half-time substitution and, presumably, rocket from their management in the changing rooms and Margate were a different proposition in the second half, unfortunately for the Ducks.
It took just two minutes before an outrageous long run and finish from Wabo gave them the lead for the first time. Aforementioned substitute Moncur gave him the ball, and seeing a gap open up he charged at the heart of the defence for a full 45-yards before calmly passing into the net past Hopwood. 2-1 Margate
Having looked devoid of confidence for most of the game – as a side on a five-match losing streak might be inclined to – The Gate now had renewed spirits and forced Aylesbury back with a succession of corners, although they were unable to turn the screw further with an additional goal.
Instead, the Ducks fought back and went close when a free kick loaded into the box ended with a close range back heel from Mark Riddick that Vose again did well to keep out. Another free kick two minutes later initially hit the wall from Hercules, but when a well-directed redelivery came into the box it was headed over by the towering Ball.
On the hour mark Vose was at it again, this time denying Dave O’Connor who had popped up in the area to get on the end of Hercules’ fine cross but saw his header spectacularly tipped over.
O’Connor was clearly in the mood to take matters into his own hands as another burst into the penalty area two minutes later saw him again on the end of a cross, but found himself sandwiched between two defenders just as he was about to pull the trigger as a second seemingly worthy penalty appeal fell on deaf ears.
Then came Margate’s turn for a spell of ascendancy, with Wabo as ever the main threat. His smart turn in the box saw him lay the ball back to Leighton who could only drag his shot wide from the edge of the box, before Wabo’s own shot on the turn was kicked off the line by a well stationed defender.
Almost out of nowhere, Aylesbury then had a lifeline, in style. Collecting the ball just inside the Margate half, he set off on a long run before arrowing a rocket of a shot into the top corner from 25-yards. 2-2
Sadly, parity lasted just six minutes before Margate reinstated their lead. A clever through ball from wily Reece Prestedge put Leighton in behind a static defence, and he lifted his finish high into the net. 3-2 Margate
Suddenly Aylesbury were overrun and just two minutes later Margate found a fourth, but not before Hopwood had saved a one-on-one from Bancroft with Kesey slotting the rebound wide. Seconds later Leighton picked up the ball on the edge of the area and fired home. 4-2 Margate
Stung into action, the Ducks opted for a double substitution with Juwon Akintunde and Patrick Ziddane Gourgel-Sequeira both coming off the bench.
In truth though, the Isthmian League Premier Division outfit did a very good job of closing the game out against a weary looking United. Gourgel-Sequeira and Akintunde did show a couple of moments of good link up, with one low shot from the former scrambled away late on.
Instead, it was The Gate who could have snatched a flattering late fifth when a cross from the right looped up into the path of Kesey who tapped wide when it looked easier to score.
Ultimately the match went the way of the higher status club and we wish Margate well in the next round – whenever that will be with the second national lockdown looming. In normal circumstances the Gate would have been hoping this second win of their campaign would kick-start their season, but these are not normal times.
For Aylesbury, manager Ben Williams has already spoken of the need to dust themselves down and raise their game for one last big push away at Kidlington on Wednesday night before the lockdown takes hold.
