Saturday 7th November 2009

Mens 1sts

With just one point from four league games Aylesbury Men's 1st XI welcomed fellow league strugglers, Ashford, to their home pitch at Halton. The game though turned out to be far from the expected bottom of the table battle. Both teams have faced tough teams to date, and it soon became clear that they were both unlucky to find themselves at the bottom of the league.

From the pushback Aylesbury showed a determination, steel and intensity they had struggled to show consistently in previous games, with man of the match Hill showing his class and putting Ashford at sixes and sevens with his driving runs.

Ably supported by Ferguson and Usherwood on the flanks Ashford hardly touched the ball in the opening minutes.

Gradually Ashford hauled themselves back into the game, and it was only some great defending from the increasingly assured partnership of Austin and Pridgeon that kept the impressive Skinner in goal from having much to do. With Smyth returning at left back and Samuel L. Carter rampaging down the right to support Penson, the defence pushed forward, setting up the Aylesbury attacks. Eventually the pressure told with skipper Gregory rifling home a fine short corner strike making the Ashford defence look like statues.

As the game progressed Ashford had a few good chances, but these were thwarted by the hard work and organisation of the whole team, marshalled by coach Josh Coote on the sideline and physio Trotter carrying out running repairs on players. Eventually the guile and skills of Greenlee proved too much, and with Hill running himself into the ground the man of the match snatched a 2nd goal, before Paterson popped up to grab a well taken third and seal the first league victory of the season. At the other end Aylesbury also secured a well deserved clean sheet.

Aylesbury travel in good spirit to take on a strong Bracknell side away next weekend.

Mens 2nds

Aylesbury Men's 2nd XI took the long trip to Eastcote for a lunchtime start, which obviously suited them as they ran out 8-nil winners, with goals from Hignell, Bond, Elliott, Pritchard (2), Blest, Gurney and Battye. Keeper Wayne Scott was a spectator for the whole game only touching the ball once to retrieve after it had gone off the pitch. A much harder test awaits them on Saturday against Newbury who are just below Aylesbury in the table.

Mens 3rds

The Men's 3rd XI entertained Mill Hill 2s and looked in control for most of the match apart from 10 minutes in the first half when Mill Hill scored twice to go 2-0 up. However, a persistent Dan Best pulled one back on the stroke of half time and in the second half it was all Aylesbury and a goal from Nick Thomas plus two from Jake Hodgins, which saw Aylesbury run out comfortable winners.

Mens 5ths

As anticipated Aylesbury faced a tough match this week. The inclusion of a Brunel University's preeminent team in a league 5 or 6 levels below their ability meant the result was never in doubt; they have scored at least 7 goals in each recent league fixture and have yet to concede. Aylesbury lost 10-nil but an outstanding goalkeeping performance by man of the match Phil Collis prevented Brunel's students inflicting twice the number of  goals on Aylesbury's lower echelon. The closest Aylesbury got to the student's goal was an unconverted short corner in the second period. Aylesbury's defence had worked hard to restrict the visitors to 3 goals at the turnaround with Adam Spragg and Richard Anley showing determination amidst the onslaught. In the end however Brunel's superiority was self-evident and leaves the awkward prospect of the return fixture in the new year.