Aylesbury travelled to Sutton carrying a 5 match unbeaten run. Sutton this season have been struggling, rather like a number of other teams who should be up in the top half. Nevertheless, this was doubtlessly going to be a tough encounter for the Ducks.
Kevin Wilson handed debuts to two players - James Moss, who I'm informed made a substitute appearance in the Chelsea friendly, played at right-back, in place of the injured Lewis Reid. Tom Ramasut, who impressed for the reserves recently, played on the left of midfield. Alvin Bubb was given a start after his impressive display against Heybridge.
The game was an entertaining affair, and with four-goals certainly wasn't the usual Tuesday night boredom match. The goal tally could have been more as well, with both sides having a goal disallowed.
Aylesbury took time to adapt in a slow opening to the match. Greg Williams tested his shooting with a shot that went well wide in the first minute.
Sadly, the next chance fell to Sutton, and resulted in a goal. A ball in should have been cleared, before finding its way across the edge of the area, where Matt Hanlan superbly lobbed Kevin Davies with a volleyed effort. 1-0 Sutton
Five minutes later, and Mark Watson wasted a good Sutton chance by heading over when well placed. At the other end Darren Lynch desperately tried to get his first Aylesbury goal with a 25-yard effort, which was just wide of the post.
Aylesbury were slowly coming into the game, and applying the pressure to their hosts. A Matty Glynn free-kick was blocked by the wall, before the midfielder followed up with a left-footed effort which went just over. Greg Williams then saw a powerful first time shot easily held by Andy Iga.
Sutton weren't content to sit back and allow Aylesbury to dictate though, as they still created their own chances. Chris Jackson was beaten down the flank, and a Sutton player unleashed a shot from wide which was parried by Davies. Fortunately no-one in Amber and Chocolate had followed the shot in. A deflected shot from Tony Quinton soon after could've gone anywhere, but fortunately it rolled into the arms of Davies.
Aylesbury managed to turn the pressure back on before half time, and Lynch thought he'd scored his goal. However, the header, from an excellent Ramasut corner, was ruled out for pushing in the box. Lynch then had another chance, heading another good Ramasut delivery just over.
The strong Aylesbury pressure failed to deliver a goal in the first half, and an entertaining 45-minutes was ended by the referee.
Half-time: Sutton 1-1 Aylesbury
The second half saw Aylesbury begin right where they'd ended the first - in Sutton's half. Paul Covington headed yet another good Ramasut delivery wide, this time from a free-kick. Alvin Bubb was then put clean through by, yes you guessed it, Tom Ramasut. His effort was smothered by the advancing Iga.
As is so often the case though, Sutton took the opportunity and scored their second, totally against the run of play. A very offside looking Nick Bailey sidestepped the on-rushing Davies and slotted the ball home, to the fury of the Aylesbury defenders who had stopped in their tracks, waiting for the linesman's flag. 2-0 Sutton
At 2-0 down, the Aylesbury of old would have crumbled, and more goals would have been expected. However, the new Kevin Wilson Aylesbury are made of sterner stuff, and there was always the feeling that we had a chance.
Not before Sutton had another effort though, as Matt Fowler ran through to beat the offside trap (this time Sutton were onside) and shot straight at Davies.
Aylesbury pulled a goal back with 61 minutes gone, and Ramasut was involved again. A great cross from the midfielder was headed down by Darren Lynch for Bubb. The winger kept his cool, took his time, and picked his spot. 2-1 Sutton
Now there really was belief from Aylesbury, as they sensed a comeback was more then possible. Sutton's defence had looked far from secure throughout the match, and the Ducks set about trying to break it down.
A free-kick from the flank was missed by the flapping Iga, and the ball was laid to Matt Glynn, whose curling effort was held by the recovered goalkeeper.
Sutton then came so close to scoring again. Covington nearly scored a spectacular own-goal, as the ball was fired in by Matt Gray it rebounded off his shin and spun against the post and out. The home side then had a goal disallowed for offside, although Kevin Davies took the full force of a collision with Mark Watson in the build-up, and was left on the floor for several minutes.
Greg Williams shot over from a free-kick routine, before the Ducks got the equaliser they craved. Tom Ramasut delivered a free-kick and Matty Glynn powered a towering header into the net. 2-2
With the game level with ten-minutes to go, it was sure to be a nervy ending, and so it proved. There was nearly another own-goal as the ball cannoned up off the outstretched leg of an Aylesbury defender, and flew over the bar with phenomenal pace. Had it gone in it would have broken the net!
Fowler had a great chance at the death, as he got free at the back post, but could only head his effort down and into the hands of Davies.
The match was ended by the referee, and 2-2 is a fair result. Both teams had good spells of an entertaining match. Looking back, Aylesbury had the chances to win, but we'll gladly take a point as we look to continue our good run of form.
