Saturday 17th October 2009

Mens 1sts

Aylesbury Men's 1s visited close neighbours Tring for the first local derby of the season. Tring dominated some of the early exchanges but were unable to create any real chances as Aylesbury got back into the game. Tring were grateful to their keeper midway through the first half saving a succession of good chances from the Aylesbury forwards. However, with Aylesbury gradually taking control of the game, Tring broke away and got behind the Aylesbury defence for their right wing to score a magnificent goal from a narrow angle. In the second half Tring pressed again and were soon rewarded with a second when Aylesbury defender Andy Austin stopped a goalbound shot with his foot and the Tring centre forward converted the penalty stroke. Thereafter it was pretty much all Ayelsbury. Skipper Paul Gregory pulled one back from a sweetly struck penalty corner and the Tring keeper made a succession of excellent saves from Hignell, Usherwood and Greenlee, to leave Aylesbury suffering a 2-1 defeat and for the third week in succession rueing missed chances in a game they should have won.

Mens 2nds

The Men's 2s entertained Middlesex side Ashford and took control of the game early on with first half goals from Gurney and Thomas before a defensive lapse let Ashford in to reduce the deficit to one goal at half time. In the second half it was again all Aylesbury but Bond's early goal was soon cancelled out by a rare Ashford attack resulting in another goal to leave the game finely poised at 3-2 to Aylesbury. That was the closest Ashford got, however, and further goals from Gurney and Pritchard sealed a well deserved 5-2 win for the 2s.

Mens 3rds

The Men's 3s visited Wycombe with a much changed youthful side and were quickly made to pay conceding 4 first half goals, before pulling back with 2 goals from Hodgins (his sixth of the season) and Fulton. In the second half, however, Wycombe's slick penalty corner routines were too much for Aylesbury and 5 late goals rather flattered the home team.

Mens 4ths

The Men's 4 s meanwhile were at home to Witney, again with a much changed side. Witney dominated the early exchanges with some good passing moves but the experienced Mark Collins and Tim Berendt at the centre of defence kept them at bay. Aylesbury's attacks were few and far between early on with Jon Smith, in an unaccustomed role in centre midfield providing most the attacking impetus. However Witney's pressure eventually told with 2 late goals towards the end of the first half. The second half was much more even and while Witney had good chances - well saved by keeper Dave Bryant - Aylesbury also created enough to have levelled the match, but in the end went down 2-0.