What a great feeling, being in the quarter-finals of the trophy...And knowing we have every chance of getting into the semis, after being matched against the lowest team left in the competition, Gloucester City.
Anyway back to this game, and when the Ducks fans arrived they worryingly found half the ground in darkness, due to the floodlights being 'rested' before kick-off. Fortunately the Windsor staff found enough 50ps to keep the meter going!
The two teams seemed to pick up where they left off on Saturday, with both cancelling each other out in the early exchanges. Right from the start the ref showed what a twat he was planning to be, as Rory Hunter was called up and booked for very little at all. As the ref continued to be whistle happy, it was clear that all decisions were going the way of the home side, and it became obvious why a minute later, as he became surrounded by Windsor players for giving a decision the way of the Ducks.
Windsor were once again looking dangerous from their excellent set-pieces, and a number of corners and free-kicks were being sent in. However, the Ducks defence appeared far more solid than Saturday, no doubt boosted by the surprise quick recovery of Alex Stanley.
Aylesbury's first chance came out of very little, as Adam Campion tried a clever first time lob, which had Bunting back-peddling. Unfortunately the ball bounced on top of the net, and not into the net. 5 minutes later a long kick from Heeps eluded the Windsor backline, and Campion found himself with the whole goal to aim at, but his effort was sent over the bar.
Towards the end of the half a succession of Windsor corners had the Ducks on the back foot, and a free-kick from Windsor was struck straight at Heeps. The keeper was also booked for kicking the ball away.
Half-time: 0-0
The second half started with Kezie Ibe creating a chance out of nothing, as he nipped in behind the defence, toe-poked the ball over the keeper, before shooting for goal. Sadly a Windsor defender had stationed himself on the line, and the ball never looked like passing him.
Windsor's best chance of the whole game fell rather predictably to Craig O'Connor, as he ran onto a flicked header, rounded Heeps and shot for goal. No-one in the ground was betting on Danny Gordon somehow blocking the shot on the line, and it would have been a certain goal otherwise.
The Ducks lost the services of Gareth Risbridger after an hour, as he picked up an injury. Joe Baker replaced him in what may have been a key substitution.
Windsor were still creating more chances than the visitors, the impressive Sean Dyke delivered yet another cross from the right, and Brady was blocked by McGrath.
Windsor had Trevor Bunting to thank for keeping Kezie Ibe from opening the scoring. A superb piece of skill on the right wing from Craig Maskell saw him escape from a defender, before crossing into the box, where Kezie Ibe connected with a well met header. Bunting made an excellent save to deny the young striker.
Aylesbury then took the lead to the jubilation of the supporters. Fiston Manuella played a slide-rule pass to Joe Baker, and Windsor's offside trap failed for once as for a split second the backline stood looking at each other. Baker raced clear and kept his cool to finish and send the ball calmly into the net. 1-0 Aylesbury
James Heeps pulled off a wonderful save to deny a Gordon Hill header from close range.
Adam Campion was then sent off for a late challenge, although if you read the Windsor site it sounds like he hunted down his man before launching into a flying kick assault!
With the game seemingly won by the Ducks, ex-Wycombe midfielder Dave Carroll unleashed a thunderous shot which gave Heeps no chance. The travelling fans were stunned into silence as Windsor's limited support went. 1-1
Chris Bangura replaced the tiring Kezie Ibe.
Full-time: 1-1
Extra time started, but neither team was really able to create much in the way of chances, as both sets of players were clearly exhausted. The Ducks could only hit long balls, but with only Chris Bangura to aim for, they were usually going astray.
Heeps made another good save, from a Dennis Greene header this time. To sum up the ref's rather disappointing performance, he booked Alex Stanley for nothing (remember he had booked not a single Windsor player all night), then denied Aylesbury a clear penalty after Maskell was taken out in the box.
As half-time was coming to an end, Chris Bangura was booked for challenging the keeper. He went for the ball, but this was not enough to convince the ref or Windsor supporters, and it was a 'horror tackle' according to the Windsor site! Right at the end Danny '2 Pints, 2 Goals' Gordon made a superb block from a goalbound header at a corner, before blocking the fierce follow up shot. So he can now be called Danny 2 Blocks too.
After extra time: 1-1
And so to the drama of the penalty shoot-out.
The shoot-out started perfectly for Aylesbury, as Craig O'Connor's effort was well saved by Heeps. Maskell had no problem for the Ducks. 0-1
Carroll had no problem with his. Then The Fist had his effort saved by Bunting, who clearly moved off his line before the kick was taken. The linesman had a quiet word in his ear afterwards, but the kick should have been retaken. 1-1
Brady easily scored his, before McGrath's effort was saved onto the post, but went in anyway. 2-2
Townley saw his kick was saved superbly by Heeps, before Alex Stanley easily converted his spot-kick. 2-3
Dyke scored his, but it made no difference as Joe Baker stepped up to slot home the winner. He actually showed some emotion afterwards! 3-4 Ducks through!
So the Ducks go through, and what a superb feeling it is. Well done to the whole team, you were great. And the support was once more magnificent. A quality night!
