Men's 1s beat Bracknell in Penultimate game before Christmas

On the Penultimate weekend before Christmas, Aylesbury welcomed Bracknell to RAF Halton. Aylesbury were without Chris McIntyre with work commitments, Ben Ireson was out until the next year with a hand injury and Chris Hunter was at a wedding.
Aylesbury started off strong and were a goal up very early in the game. A well placed ball down the line was met by Jake Hodgins who’s first touch beat the first player and Jake sprinted from the half way line beating three players and slotted the ball between the oncoming keeper and defender. The second goal came from a good aerial from Josh Tomlinson into the path of Jake Hodgins who beat the defender and got down the base line who squared the ball back for Andy McIntyre to score into an open goal for his fourth of the season.

Bracknell started to get a bit more of the ball after the second goal and created a couple of chances of their own. The first chance saw a Bracknell forward break through but was stopped by the smothering Stephen Best in goal then to sweep the ball clear with his stick. Soon after Bracknell broke through again this time down the left however Best again smothered the forward to deny a good chance to grab a goal back. However, just before half time Bracknell did find a goal back, bad marking from Aylesbury from a long corner saw Bracknell’s forward free at top D who drove into the D and put the ball across the face of the goal for another free forward at the back post to slot in to make the half time score 2-1.

The second half started with Bracknell looking for the equaliser but Aylesbury who have been so solid at the back all season held strong to deny Bracknell. Aylesbury also created good chances on the counter attack to add to their lead but could not find the target. Bracknell, again from a free hit just outside the 23 crashed the ball into the D which fell for the forward with a two on one on Stephen Best in goal but Best dived forward before the forward could pass to his team mate and got a glove to the ball and clear the ball with his stick before the forward could react.

Bracknell began to tire with only one sub on the bench and Aylesbury took advantage with some high pressure winning a short corner. The corner was slipped to Graham Thwaites on the left who slapped the ball hard and low back to the Injector Austin Greenlee whose deflection took the ball passed the Bracknell defence into the goal.

Aylesbury’s win takes them back up to 2nd in the league after dropping to 3rd last week. A trip to Sonning who are 3rd in the league next week end gives them a chance to go 5 point clear before Christmas.