This Saturday saw the return of the Aylesbury 1s vs Old Boys rivalry. This is a game where the Aylesbury 1st XI take on a team made up of ex Aylesbury first team players from all over the country and a few guests. The Old Boy’s captain, club legend and second team Captain Dave How had put together a very strong side for this season’s fixture including England and Great Britain International goalkeeper George Pinner. Rob Vowels, Ben Woodford, Clive Chandler, Paul Chandler, and Ollie Patterson also return to the club to create a team that struck fear into the men’s 1s hearts!

Aylesbury who had already lost three players to the Old boys also lost Paul Gregory and Marc Hignell from the last game. The return of Iain McLean, Pete Atcheson and Chris McIntyre for their first game of the season helped to cover the spaces vacated by unavailability. With both teams playing for the new Stan How cup neither team were going to go down easy.

The game started with the Old boys showing their intent and coming hard at a makeshift Aylesbury defence. However, the back four of Pete Atcheson, Iain McLean, Graham Thwaites and Tim Atcheson held firm and soaked up the pressure. Old Boy’s finally broke through the Aylesbury defensive line and a crash ball into the D was met by a smart deflection by Ben Woodford forced Stephen Best into a smart save high out of a crowded D.

The next chance fell to Aylesbury with Austin Greenlee finding himself one on one with George Pinner. However the Aylesbury forward found himself star-struck with the chance of scoring past the England Keeper and fired his shot wide after some good pressure from Pinner. The Old Boys came agonisingly close to breaking the deadlock when again, a crash ball into the D towards Ollie Patterson at the back post which Stephen Best got to just before Patterson only for the ball to fall to Rob Vowels in acres of space who smashed the ball passed Best only to hit the post and defect away from the goal.

It was the Old Boy’s who finally made the break through from a short corner. An early break from Tim Atcheson saw him dismissed to the halfway line and only 3 defenders to defence the short corner. Ben Woodford’s drag flick was saved but only into the path of Paul Chandler who slotted the ball into and open goal. The half time whistle came shortly after with the Aylesbury Old Boy’s going into the break a goal to the good.

After a stern team talk at half time where Graham Thwaites used the phrase ‘They are a bunch of old codgers’ on numerous occasions. Aylesbury knew the burgers at Dave How’s afterwards would not taste as good if they couldn’t find another gear in the second half and get the win. Aylesbury did come out of the block harder in the second half creating a handful of circle penetrations but the Old boy’s experienced defence held firm along with some important clearances from George Pinner in Goal kept the Old boy’s clean sheet in tacked and with breakaways the Old Boy’s could have gone 2 or 3 up.

Another Aylesbury circle penetration won them a short corner. This didn’t look as if it was going to plan when a poor injection only just made it to Graham Thwaites at right slip. The ball finally made its way to Chris Hunter who fired a shot in past George Pinner at his near post. The Aylesbury side were favourites to pull away after the equaliser, however this was not to be the case. An uncharacteristic good tackle from Graham Thwaites was met by the umpires whistle and a short corner was awarded for a deliberate hit off the back line in the tackle which left Kipper bemused. Up stepped Rob Vowels who had travelled 200 miles to be a part of this game, got his reward as he fired in from the short corner to put the Old Boy’s 2-1 up.

The lead did not last long and within two minute’s Aylesbury had gone on the attack and a crash ball into the D was met by a defection Dan Lindars who is quickly growing into an important player for the Mens 1s. Tired legs began to show in the Old Boy’s camp and Aylesbury youth began to play a big part in the game. Aylesbury finally went ahead in the game for the first time within the last 10 minutes with the ball finding itself with Chris Hunter again from a similar position to his goal but on his reverse. The short was scuffed and bounced into the Left hand post which popped up across the goal mouth with Austin Greenlee being the first to react to the loose ball and slotting into the net. Aylesbury’s fourth goal was a great team goal. A subline pass from Iain McLean from right half splitting the pitch to find Chris McIntyre in a left forward position in acres of space. A good drive into the D drawing out Pinner and slotting the ball across the goal to find his brother Andrew McIntyre on the full dive to slot the ball into the empty net.

The game finished with Aylesbury men’s 1s retaining the trophy for the second year although hats off to Old boy’s for pushing them all the way until the end.

A special thanks goes to Dave How for putting the Old Boys’ team together and hosting the post-match BBQ for both sides.

Also to the two umpires Michael Power and Maurice Crump.