1 | ||
2 | ||
3 | ||
4 | ||
5 | ||
6 | 15, 78m | |
7 | 17, 84m | |
8 | ||
9 | ||
10 | ||
11 | 12, 53m | |
BENCH | ||
---|---|---|
12 | 11, 53m | |
14 | ||
15 | 6, 78m | |
16 | ||
17 | 7, 84m | |
MANAGEMENT | ||
M |
12 | ||
2 | ||
22 | 4, 46m | |
20 | ||
5 | ||
6 | ||
7 | ||
8 | ||
9 | ||
10 | ||
18 | 15, 65m | |
BENCH | ||
---|---|---|
1 | ||
3 | ||
4 | 22, 46m | |
15 | 18, 65m |
Following defeat at Welwyn Garden City in midweek, Ben Williams had the luxury of who to leave out of his squad today, as players returned from injuries sustained at Harlow last Saturday. Back into the team came Anthony Ball, Ollie Hogg and Harry Scott, replacing Ben Seaton, Pierce McNamara and Jamie Rudd, who all took a place on a strong substitutes bench alongside Ezra Anthonio-Forde and youngster Junayd Shawwal.
Looking for a fast start, the Ducks almost got it, as Tyrone Lewthwaite did well to charge down a clearance from visiting keeper Adrian Darabant, the ball eventually falling to Ollie Hogg, who passed the ball back to Lewthwaite on the right side of the penalty area; unfortunately his shot from 15 yards was narrowly wide of the far post.
The visitors were threatening on the break away, with left winger Alphonso Kennedy particularly prominent. It was he who created the first chance for his team, setting Zenon Stylianides free down the left wing; he fired a dangerous low cross into the 6-yard box where it was met by the onrushing Sean Bonnett-Johnson, bringing a fine save from Archie Davis.
Five minutes later, Kennedy got the better of Harry Jones and advanced into the penalty area; his cross (or was it a shot\') was claimed well at the near post by Davis. Kennedy came even closer on the 21st minute, breaking away from the defence, he was well marshalled by Jack Wood, but still got a shot away, which this time rebounded off the near post with Davis beaten.
The visitors remained in the ascendancy as the half neared the half way point; Joseph Russell crossed into the penalty area towards Oluwatobi Coker, who took a good first touch, but his shot from 15 yards was just wide of the near post.
Just past the half hour mark, Dave O’Connor played a sumptuous ball out of defence towards Lewthwaite on the right. The striker controlled it well and advanced towards the penalty area, and shot, bit as with his effort in the first minute, it was narrowly wide of the far post.
Five minutes before half time, a corner from Bewley was headed goalwards by O’Connor but rebounded off Jamie Smith for a corner. From the next attack the visitors struck the woodwork for the second time; this time the chance was created by a dummy from Kennedy, allowing Stylianides to advance into the penalty area, but his curling shot struck the far post before it was smuggled away to safety.
As half time approached, an exchange of passes between Hogg and Sonny French saw the latter through on goal; however Darabant was quickly off his line and managed to reach French’s lobbed attempt to clear the danger.
Half-time: Aylesbury 0-0 FC Romania
Soon after the restart Coker won the ball on the edge of his own penalty area and sent a pass forward to Stylianides, who in turn found Kennedy. His shot across goal was deflected narrowly wide of the far post for a corner. From the corner the visitors saw their third attempt of the match rebound off the woodwork. The ball fell to Bonnett-Johnson, but his shot clipped the crossbar.
It was the Ducks turn to test the woodwork shortly afterwards; Wood carried the ball out of defence and fed French, who passed to Anthony Ball wide on the right; he cut inside substitute Williams Danquah and shot towards goal, only to see it clip the corner of post and cross bar.
Wood himself was unlucky not to break the deadlock shortly afterwards, a corner from Bewley fell at his feet 6 yards out, but his shot was cleared off the line by a defender. Eight minutes into the second half, an unfortunate injury to Harry Scott saw the introduction of Jamie Rudd on the left flank.
It’s fair to say that his introduction proved the turning point for the Ducks, as he scored two goals in quick succession to put his team firmly in control of proceedings. The first came in the 63rd minute, after good interplay between Bewley and French on the left. French collected the ball and shot, but saw his effort blocked by Russell, but the ball fell to Rudd 15 yards out, he gleefully lashed a powerful shot inside the near post to give the Ducks the lead. 1-0 Aylesbury
The visitors had a good chance to equalise from their next attack; Stylianides did well on the edge of the penalty area and found Coker, whose shot from 15 yards was well saved down low by Davis.
One became two for the Ducks in the 67th minute. A corner from Bewley was headed clear by George Taban and fell to Rudd on the edge of the area, he exchanged passes with Mark Riddick, before firing home at the near post from 10 yards. 2-0 Aylesbury
In the 73rd minute, Ball did well to rob the ball off Danquah just inside his own half and powered forward; French was up in support and collected a pass infield from Ball and shot from 25 yards, drawing a good save from the keeper.
Eight minutes from time, Ball intercepted a goal kick from Darabant on the half way line and moved forward, before sliding the ball to French on the right of the penalty area; he showed great composure to clip the ball past the advancing Darabant to extend the lead. 3-0 Aylesbury
As the game approached added on time, the visitors had one last chance to open their account. The impressive Stylianides found Jonathan Edwards on the edge of the penalty area, but Davis was again equal to the challenge and made a good save to preserve his clean sheet.
The icing on the cake was applied in the 91st minute, Lewthwaite collecting a ball forward, with French up in support, he turned two defenders to make space for a shot and fired past Darabant from 15 yards. 4-0 Aylesbury
The referee blew the final whistle shortly afterwards to signal the Ducks biggest win since a 5-1 victory at bottom club Wantage in October and all but assure them of Southern League football again next season. This can be confirmed with a point against 3rd bottom Kempston Rovers next Saturday, a game where children are admitted free when accompanied by an adult.
Aylesbury United
FC Romania
AFC Dunstable
Welwyn Garden City
Barton Rovers
Harlow Town
Biggleswade FC
Hertford Town
Colney Heath
Thame United
Didcot Town
St. Neots Town
Kempston Rovers
Kidlington
North Leigh
Ware
Waltham Abbey
Berkhamsted
Wantage Town
Bedford Town