Men's 1s secure the MBBO Regional 2 Title with 3-2 win over Sonning

Aylesbury welcomed Sonning 1s to RAF Halton for their penultimate game of the season. Aylesbury knew that a win would secure promotion to MBBO Regional 1 division for next season. Aylesbury were dealt a blow just hours before push back when the ever present Mark Bowes had to pull out of the match. Luckily for the A's Andy McIntyre was able to get back from work in time for the game to replace Bowes. A's were also without Oli Hassall but the return of Jake Hodgins and Clive Chandler strengthened the Aylesbury side as they looked to not leave promotion to the last game of the season.

The match started with Aylesbury showing a lot of nerves in their quest for promotion and the task became a lot harder just minutes into the game where Sonning broke through and the initial shot was saved but not clear by skipper Stephen Best in goal and the Sonning forward slotted the ball into an empty net to put Sonning infront. As the game progressed Aylesbury began to calm and get into the contest with good build up play putting Sonnings back line under a lot of pressure. Aylesbury pressure won them a short corner which brought them their first goal of the game. Marc Hignell's low drag flick to the far post was deflected in by Daniel Lindars for his fourteenth goal of the season.

Aylesbury began to dominate possession and pile more and more pressure on the Sonning back line. James Penson put a reverse stick strike just passed the post with the keeper beaten. The Aylesbury pressure broke Sonning and the A's went infront for the first time when good work down the left channel got the ball to Austin Greenlee eight yards out who cooly slotted the ball back across the keeper into the far corner for his thirteenth goal of the season. Sonning began to threaten getting the equalizer with a couple of chances from short corners but could not get past Graham Thwaites running 1 who clearly had no intention of letting anything through him in this match. This ended in being Sonning's undoing as a counter from a short corner lead to Aylesbury's third goal. This time, good work down the right channel ended with the ball with Andy McIntyre who was only called into the squad on Friday night to slot in Aylesbury's third and give them some breathing space in the scoreline. This was McIntyre's fifth goal this season.

The whistle went for half time with Aylesbury 3-1 up.

Aylesbury could not perform a half anywhere near as good as the first in the second. The second half was a case of Aylesbury holding onto the lead they had secured in the first half. With Sonning on top in the second half, Aylesbury frustration and nerves began to show through with the cards starting to flow. Austin Greenlee was yellow carded for striking the ball at goal after the umpires whistle. Not long after, Aylesbury lost Clive Chandler to a late tackle on a Sonning midfielder. Aylesbury looked to have settled back down but a clumsy challenge in the circle from Chris Hunter led to the the umpire awarding Sonning a way back into the contest with a penalty stroke. The Sonning player who had been challenged stepped up to take the stroke. It was put high to Stephen Best in goals right but Best guessed correctly and managed to tip the stroke round the corner to keep Aylesbury's two goal buffer in tacked.

Ayelsbury were in for a nervy last ten when Sonning finally got reward for their second half efforts. the ball fell to Aylesbury old boy Adam Pusey whose initial shot was saved by Best from close range but Pusey was able to latch onto the rebound and out in high into the Aylesbury net. The task would be made even harder when Graham Thwaites tackle was a bit too forceful for the umpire who gave him a ten minute yellow which would not see kipper return to the action. With five minutes to go, Aylesbury were down to 9 when Paul Gregory said one too many words to the umpire. This would be one last test for the leagues best defensive side this season and again they were able to hold firm and the final whistle went which secured Aylesbury's promotion.

Once the celebrations had died down, Aylesbury went into their de-brief where the news filtered through that MK had failed to win which meant that Aylesbury were not only promoted but were also league champions! This was the first time in ten years that Aylesbury had won the title. A huge thank you to all the Players, Staff and Supporters who have made this season so successful.

Next weekend, the final game against Oxford Hawks

Team photo courtesy of 'The Bucks Herald, Jake McNulty.'