A foul night at Clarence Park with steady rain from 5 o/clock leaving areas of the pitch unplayable by the final whistle. Good weather for ducks. Aylesbury are 17th in the League with 35 points from 30 games. Their season has stuttered although they have enjoyed a fine run to the semi-final of The Trophy. The weather kept their band away and the disappointing attendance was, perhaps, 250 or so.
Cookie selected Wilmot in goal, 4 at the back: Evans, Moran, Campbell and Naylor; 4 in the middle: Young, Challinor, Castle and Kean; and up front: Crawshaw and De Souza. On the bench: Martin, Slinn, Deacon, Lodge and himself. Shrek is suspended, Standen has returned to Welling from loan and the remainder are injured.
I shouldn't be surprised that this was a Saints performance totally different from Saturday. City took control from the start playing very good football, keeping the ball on the ground and working hard for each other. it was one way traffic for the first few minutes and several openings were created. The Ducks keeper, signed from Wimbledon apparently, looked most uncertain. The opening goal come inside 10 minutes. A corner from the left, spilled by the keeper, and Crawshaw doesn't miss from a yard. 1-0.
Saints dominated the 1st half. A series of half chances were created from constant pressure. Crosses came in from Young and kean on either flank. Midway through the half. City were awarded a penalty after the visitors centre back virtually caught a Kean cross. De Souza stepped up and hit a firm shot a yard wide of the left-hand post. Castle was injured in a hard 50:50 encounter and was replaced by Lodge. The rare Aylesbury attacks were comfortably handled by the home defence. Despite the position and possession, City could not increase the score. H.T. 1-0.
I imagine that the tea-cups flew in the visitors dressing room at half-time, and, certainly the Ducks started the second half with more urgency They pressed the home goal and the equaliser came within a few minutes. A fierce long shot was well parried by Wilmot but the ball stuck in the muddy goalmouth to deceive Lodge and was stabbed home from close range by Ibe. 1-1.
City continued to play good football and regained the ascendancy by the middle of the period. Again chances were created for Young, De Souza, Challinor and a fierce dipping shot from outside the box by Evans required a very good save. Martin came on for De Souza and a few minutes later, the injured Campbell was replaced by Slinn, Naylor moving to centre back and Lodge dropping to left-back from midfield. The home supporters were fretting until the 80th minute when a cross from Young on the right was headed home at the near post by Martin. 2-1. Moments later the game was wrapped up, when a cross from Kean on the left was headed home at the far post by Martin again. 3-1. F.T.
Both the purist and whatever is the opposite of purist would have enjoyed this game. The weather conditions were dreadful, deteriorating throughout and players were losing the ball in the pools of water through the middle in particular. Sliding tackles were marked in yards. However, the home side played very good football throughout, and were well worth the three points. They all played their part, but for the MotM should be between Moran, Evans, Kean and Crawshaw. Lodge will be pleased with his performance.
Entertainment 8/10. Atmosphere 5/10. Technical Merit 8/10. Referee 9/10.
Report by Homer |
