Mens 1s share points against table toppers Banbury

Aylesbury Men’s 1s travelled away to North Oxfordshire Academy to face table toppers Banbury on a wet Saturday in November. Aylesbury were without Marc Hignell, Andy McIntyre and Ben Ireson this week but had Chris McIntyre and Josh Tomlinson returning to the team.

The match start with Banbury looking much the better team in the opening exchanges and scored an early opener from a well worked short corner pulled back to the injector who slotted the ball into the net. Banbury were soon two up when a two on one on Stephen best in goal was played around him and slotted into an empty net.

Aylesbury started to grow into the game and really start making a game of this exciting top of the table fixture. Aylesbury manage to pull a goal back through Jake Hodgins to half the deficient with a great passing routine between the two inform forwards Hodgins and Austin Greenlee for Jake to slot the ball home. Banbury retook their 2 goal advantage from another short corner gaol this time a straight drag was deflected off Best’s glove only into Matt Kiely who was given no time to react and deflected off his body into the goal.

However, all season Aylesbury never know when they are beaten and Aylesbury scored 2 goals in 2 minutes to brought Aylesbury back onto level terms. The first was a well place hot to the back post and a full length dive from Austin Greenlee put the ball into the back of the net. Then Another hard ball into the D and a good run in front of the Banbury keeper by Jake Hodgins to get a touch and put the ball into the goal for his 2nd of game and 6th of the season. Banbury then regained the lead with another short corner flick just before half time to take Aylesbury trailing at the break 4-3.

The second half was a quitter half than the first with both sided creating few chances. Aylesbury began to show signs of getting the equaliser but it took a piece of real class from Chris McIntyre to pull Aylesbury level. Picking up the ball on the left side of the D, McIntyre’s neat turn took two defenders out of the game. He then beat one more and smashed the ball passed the Banbury Keeper. Chris McIntyre has now score 6 goals in 4 games.

Aylesbury had the best chances in the final stages to win the game. Firstly Jake Hodgins had a chance to put Aylesbury in front, he beat the keeper but only to be denied by great covering defence from Banbury. Jake was then the supplier for Aylesbury’s next chance, chasing back into his own 23 the forward stole the ball from the Banbury midfielder and picked out Paul Gregory on top of the Banbury D with a 60 meter defence splitting pass. Gregory then rounded the keeper again only to be denied by covering defence.

The game finished with the points shared and Aylesbury moved up to second in the league. Both team remain undefeated this season. Aylesbury have their England Hockey Vase round one fixture Tomorrow where they hope to maintain their undefeated run.