After claiming a draw at home to AFC Dunstable on their last outing – and a two week ‘mini break’ – hopes were high that United could finally grab a long awaited win as they visited St. Neots Town.
But despite leading the game twice through Jamie Rudd’s first half double, defensive mistakes once again proved their undoing as the hosts came back to win 3-2.
Rudd has featured fleetingly this season as he struggles with injury setbacks, but on his first start since early-October once again showed his qualities as a potential match-winner for Aylesbury.
The game got off to an explosive start with two goals in the first seven minutes. First, Jamie Rudd was played through and from a tight angle fired in a low shot that beat Louis Chadwick at his near post to open the scoring. 1-0 Aylesbury
The lead lasted barely two minutes when young Cambridge United loanee Felipe McConnell was given too much space to twist and turn before picking his spot and netting his first senior goal. 1-1
A minute later and the Ducks threatened again. Harry Scott’s short corner kick was played back to him to whip in a cross that Jordan Jenkins could only head over the bar.
At the other end St. Neots won a free kick after a foul by David Ozobia and from McConnell’s delivery the ball was headed high and wide from beyond the far post.
After the fast start to the match, there was little further action until the 29th minute when a goal out of nothing put Aylesbury back in the driver’s seat.
A superb flighted pass set Rudd scampering away, and as he cut inside he had only one thing in his mind and executed a superb bending shot that nestled perfectly just inside the post. 2-1 Aylesbury
On 35 minutes a ball into Lewthwaite saw him pick out the advancing Rudd again with a low ball, but his finish deserted him on this occasion as his miss-struck shot bobbled across goal.
Late in the half St. Neots had their clearest sight of goal when a player was sent away down the left before cutting inside but shooting over, as Aylesbury preserved a lead at half time – for the first time since January.
Half-time: St. Neots 1-2 Aylesbury
Having already had the ball cleared off the line moments earlier, the visitors drew level just past the hour mark. A cheaply conceded corner lead to a succession of flag kicks, and from the third Harvey Beckett met the ball with a towering header to become the second Cambridge loanee of the night to score. 2-2
Jack Wood was adamant he had been fouled as the kick came in, but his impassioned pleas fell on deaf ears.
Any thoughts of ‘settling for a point’ soon also went out the window as within ten minutes the Saints had completed the turnaround.
Aylesbury gave the ball away allowing a cut back from the right flank, and although Archie Davis made a brilliant save to deny the first shot, the ball fell to Joe Rider who gave the keeper no chance with a powerful finish from a tight angle. 3-2 St. Neots
With Harry Jones already having come on, the Ducks then made a further double change as David O’Connor and Anthonio Ezra-Forde entered the fray as Aylesbury went for a two-man attack to end the game.
They had one more big chance in the remaining time, as Lewthwaite sprung through the defence and although he rounded Chadwick was pushed very wide. His attempt was scrambled off the line but only as far as Jones whose own shot was then superbly saved by the recovering goalkeeper.
In stoppage time, good wing play by Jones gave him room for a cross which was flicked harmlessly wide by Wood who had remained in an advanced position, though in truth he and Anthonio-Forde had rather got in each other’s way attacking the ball.
Full time soon sounded on the all-too familiar feeling of yet another defeat for the Ducks. Next up is the visit of Hertford Town to The Meadow in what has now become a key six-pointer in the battle to avoid relegation.
