Men's 1s beat Bracknell 3-1 in with two games to go as they chase promotion

Aylesbury Mens 1s travelled to Bracknell with three games to go in MBBO Regional 2 division. Aylesbury sat second in the league joint top with Milton Keynes but had a game in hand over the top team. Bracknell were sitting second bottom and in real danger of being relegated into Div 1. Aylesbury travelled to Bracknell missing key players with Clive Chandler unavailable, Iain McLean still on the injury table and Jake Hodgins still on new farther duties. Aylesbury were also missing their coach Jaypee Wentzel from the side-line after a late umpiring issue led to Jaypee umpiring the match.

Aylesbury were dominant in the first half of the match after a shakey first five mintues. Once Aylesbury had settled down, they began to play very fluient hockey passing around Bracknell and not letting them get anywhere near the ball. It was no surprise when Aylesbury took an early lead. Austin Greenlee picked up the ball at top D and hard slap pass into the D was meant by Marc Hignell with a deflection high into the net for Hignell’s fourth goal in as many games. Aylesbury’s pressure continued and good work from the forward line of Austin Greenlee, Oli Hassall, James Penson and Marc Hignell were causing Bracknell all sorts of problems.

Aylesbury’s sessions of short corner from Aylesbury ended with Aylesbury doubled their lead. Paul Gregory from top D low slap across to the back post was deflected in by Dan Lindars for his thirteenth goal of the season. Aylesbury’s third came in quick succession. A short corner was cleared by Bracknell only as far as Chris Hunter who got the ball to Austin Greenlee who beat two players and fired the ball in from top D low to the keepers left. Greenlee now has 12 goals this season overtaking his tally from last season.

Bracknell’s best chance of that half came from their first short corner. The ball was slipped right straight from the injector which was struck towards goal but Stephen Best in goal got down to save in. The ball fell straight to another Bracknell player who forced Best into a second save but the ball rebounded back to the Bracknell player who looked certain to score only for Josh Tomlinson to put in a great last ditch tackle to keep the score at 3-0 at half time.

The second half was not the same spectacle as the first. Bracknell had a lot more possession than in the first half and created more chances. Aylesbury looked to be rattled and lost Paul Gregory and Graham Thwaites to yellow cards during the second half for back chat to the umpires. Aylesbury were still creating chances but were unable to add to their lead.

Aylesbury were in for a nervous last 10 minutes when Bracknell got one back. Bracknell’s skipper drove down the right of the D and cross hit Matt Kiely’s foot and looped up into the top corner beating Best. Aylesbury were able to hold on and came out 3-1 winners, the same result as in the reverse fixture.

After a week off for Easter, Aylesbury have Sonning visiting RAF Halton which if Aylesbury won will see them promoted to MBBO Regional 1. With a game in hand over Banbury and Milton Keynes, Aylesbury are setting their sights on two wins which will see them champions of the league.