Men's 1s sneak a 3-2 at Wokingham

Aylesbury Men’s 1s travelled to Wokingham in week six of the league season. Wokingham had taken 4 points from the first 5 games but Aylesbury had taken 11 points and remained undefeated this season. Aylesbury were without Marc Hignell, Josh Tomlinson and Chris McIntyre but the return of Jim Usherwood from Holiday and Matt Kiely return for his first League appearance of the season after being out for the first 5 weeks of the season.

Aylesbury Started the game slow, a crash ball into the D deflected off Ben Ireson’s foot and almost caught Stephen Best out in goal who have to dive backwards and tip the ball over the crossbar with his stick. From the resulting corner Wokingham had a short corner saved by Best low to his right. However Aylesbury were soon trailing the game after a cross into the D was met by the Wokingham centre forward who deflected the ball into the corner of the goal. The early goal kicked Aylesbury into gear and controlled a lot of the possession. Austin Greenlee saw a reverse stick shot beat the keeper but to go fractionally over the bar. The pressure finally broke Wokingham’s defences. The ball was cleared only as far as Dan Lindars on the 23. Lindars found James Penson on the baseline who drove into the D. the ball came loose and was jumped on by Austin Greenlee who’s first time strike beat the keeper at the near post to level the score.

The second half started very similar to the first with Wokingham piling on the pressure and scoring an early goal. A short corner was passed across the D, back into the forward in the middle of the goal who slotted the ball Passed Stephen Best in goal for his second of the game. Again, this early goal kicked Aylesbury into life and controlled the middle stages of the game. A number of short corners gave Aylesbury the chance to draw level again but they were unable to get the second. A well worked routine saw the ball rolled to Graham Thwaites at left slipped whos shot was deflected by Austin Greenlee inches wide.

However, Jake Hodgins has been on great goal scoring form in recent weeks and this was to continue in this game. A cool finish, which is what Aylesbury have come to expect from Hodgins got A’s back on level terms and also gave Hodgins his fourth goal in three games. More pressure from the Aylesbury forwards really put Wokingham under pressure and a crash ball into the D was met by James Penson who dived in front of the Wokingham defender to deflect the ball in at the near post in the top corner to send Aylesbury into the lead for the first time in the game.

Both side had chances to add more goals with Wokingham being stopped in their tracks by some good defending from Ben Ireson and Matt Kiely. It Was Kiely who nearly added a fourth in the last play of the game. A low drag flick flew inches past the keepers left post. The game ended with Aylesbury coming out 3-2 winners.

Aylesbury travel to top of the League Banbury for a top of the table clash next weekend hoping to maintain their unbeaten run in the league. Banbury will be looking to also maintain their unbeaten run and pull away from the pack at the top.