Aylesbury travelled to Promotion rivals for an early push back as they headed into the last month of the season. Aylesbury saw the return of Simon Barnes, Chris Hunter, Paul Gregory and Josh Tomlinson. , Oscar Squires, Mike Jones and Clive Chandler were all absent from last week’s squad which beat Banbury 9-0. Matt Wiggans returned to the 1st team after a success period in the twos after a lengthy injury ley off, Ross Dickie made his first appearance for the 2s this season. The winner of this match would finish the day I pole position for second place in the league with three games to go.

Aylesbury came out of the blocks hard and put Reading under pressure from the start, however it was Reading who had the first chance of the games. The youthful Reading side showed that they would be troublesome on the counter attack and nearly caught Aylesbury early with a break but were unable to find the target and challenge the returning Simon Barnes in goal. Shortly after, Aylesbury caught Reading sleeping at the back. Chris Hunter lost his marker and found himself in acres of space behind the high back line. Josh Tomlinson threw a pin point aerial from the Aylesbury defensive quarter straight into Hunters path who carried the ball into the circle and beat the Reading keeper at the near post.

Aylesbury’s pressure continued after the opening goal, good work by Harrison Heale down the left side of the pitch saw Aylesbury win their first short corner of the day but the drag flick by Stephen Best was taken out of the top corner by the Reading postman to keep the score at 1-0. However, shortly after, Best had another drag flick which this time was dispatched into the top corner to double Aylesbury’s lead. Two minutes later, Aylesbury extended their lead even further. The defence of Josh Tomlinson, Mark Bowes, Ross Dickie and Matt Tait were transferring the ball around the back quickly and efficiently and Aylesbury’s third goal came from this. The ball shifted quickly from right to left which found Matt Tait who played an early pass down the line to Best who was leading wide. Best played the ball into the circle which found Chris Hunter who slotted the ball past the Reading keeper to add his second of the game.

Just as the game started to look comfortable for Aylesbury, Reading pulled themselves back into the game by adding a goal of their own. From their first short corner of the game. A Reading defender put a tomahawk shot into the bottom right hand corner to make the score 3-1 just before half time. Things got even more nervy for Aylesbury just after half time when and error at the back lead to the Reading forward sliding the ball into an empty goal from a tight angle to bring Reading back within one goal.

Both teams were pushing for the next goal of the game which both teams saw as crucial. A couple of strong clearances from Simon Barnes kept Reading at bay. Aylesbury were getting into good positions but were unable to find a clean strike at goal and trouble the Reading keeper with a shot on target. Midway through the second half, Aylesbury broke away through Chris Hunter who played a clever ball over the final defender into the path of Paul Gregory who took the ball round the Reading goalkeeper with his first touch and passed the ball into the empty goal to restore Aylesbury’s two goal buffer.

There was time for Aylesbury to add a fifth before the end of the game. Another good move starting from defence leading to Matt Tait feeding Stephen Best wide on the right who played the ball into the circle again finding Chris Hunter whose shot this time was saved but only into the path of Ed Atkins who put the ball into the goal to complete the scoring.

This result leaves Aylesbury in second place in the league with three games left to play. Up next, a visit from Newbury and Thatcham who are looking for point to pull themselves away from the relegation zone. Next Saturday, RAF Halton, 1330.

MOTM- Josh Tomlinson
DOTD- Dave How