An improved all-round performance from Aylesbury wasn’t enough to prevent an eighth successive defeat, as the Ducks slipped to a narrow 1-0 loss against local rivals Thame United at The Meadow.
After events of the weekend, some well publicised soul-searching from Ben Williams, the team seemed galvanised behind the manager and in the end only a lucky ricochet decided matters.
He made some big selection calls switching Harry Jones to the striking berth in the absence of injured Gavin James, bringing in Curtis Brown for his full debut, just 24-hours after playing (and being sent off) for Winslow United and selecting Dave O’Connor for added steel in midfield.
It was the latter who came closest to scoring, at a crucial time of the game. Good footwork from first Brown and then Max Hercules resulted in the winger delivering a searching cross that O’Connor slid onto but somehow could only direct onto the post from five-yards out, nine minutes before half-time.
Aylesbury made a typical fast start to proceedings and in the first minute Brown got the better of Jack Tutton before playing the ball inside to Sonny French whose shot bobbled through to the keeper.
Moments later and French turned provider this time with a flighted cross from the left that picked out O’Connor who headed back across goal but a defender was well positioned to head clear.
Hercules also had a half chance when a deep free kick delivery was partially cleared to him but he could only pull a difficult volley wide.
Thame began to grow into the game as things settled down, and after forcing a number of corner kicks called Archie Davis to make his first save of the night when he acrobatically tipped Ryan Blake’s close range header over the bar, from Greg Hackett’s cross.
From another Thame corner on 20 minutes a flowing Ducks counter attack saw Hercules and Bewley link up on the left before Bewley’s ball in was poked goalwards by Hercules on the stretch and nicked just wide by French.
Ten minutes later and Aylesbury were threatening again when nobody was able to profit from Craig Hill spilling Hercules’ long shot, before the subsequent corner was taken short to Sonny French who in turn squared for Hercules who fired over.
Next it was the visitors’ turn to counter from a corner kick, and as they broke Hackett fed Lynton Goss, but he was unable to beat Davis who was quick to advance from his line.
After O’Connor’s big miss, Davis was in action again to turn Hackett’s centrally struck free kick over the bar, and Thame kept up the pressure when, after a corner kick, the ball was played back to Hackett but his shot was straight at Davis.
As the entertaining first half continued to ebb and flow, his opposite number was next to be tested when a quick throw found Harry Jones ghosting in to shoot on goal but see his effort beaten away at the near post.
The resulting corner was half cleared as far as Sonny French who hit a well struck effort which Hill plucked out of the air, and it remained goalless at the interval.
Half-time: Aylesbury 0-0 Thame
After an open and entertaining first half where either side could have scored, the second period never quite reached the same levels.
Within seven minutes the visitors had struck the bar when Ryan Blake cut inside and fired in an effort that had Davis well beaten but cannoned back, with the following in Dave Pearce unable to head past the keeper’s grateful arms.
At the other end, Jones played in Brown who fired over, before a 35-yard free kick saw French teed up for a driven shot which was well fielded by Hill.
There was an element of good fortune about what turned out to be the winner, when it arrived on 63-minutes as a Thame corner kick was punched by Archie Davis, but only against Dan West where it rebounded into the net. 1-0 Thame
Aylesbury responded by replacing the tiring Brown with Ezra Anthonio-Forde in attack, and a welcome return for Ben Seaton shortly afterwards, but it was Thame who should have extended their lead when another counter attack ended with the ball squared to Blake whose final shot was weak.
The away side had another good chance for a second goal on 77 minutes when Hackett wriggled away from his markers before bringing another great save from Davis with his low shot.
Late on Aylesbury were given a good chance with a free-kick which Hercules uncharacteristically blazed over the bar.
Then, in stoppage time, came the big chance the Ducks craved when a right-wing cross picked out Jack Wood in the area, but he couldn’t generate sufficient power to beat Hill in goal who caught the effort.
It meant no reward again for Aylesbury, but the tide must turn eventually with performances like this and given the chances created. The Ducks get another chance to arrest the slide when Biggleswade visit on Saturday.
