And so the curtain comes down on another Aylesbury United season, and yet another emotional year in the clubs's history. Although the result was expected, the team signed off by giving the fans something to smile about, with a two-goal showing at Maidenhead United.
Scholars Erkan Okay and Leigh Meddows made their much hyped United debuts, and both did well. Also back in the side in a number of changes were John Winter, Dean Powles, Danny Gray and Donovan Reed.
After an early shot by the lively Ben Hammond was comfortably held by Jack Rashid, Northwood raced into a fourth minute lead. Aylesbury's nemesis in recent times, Lawrence Yaku, scored his sixth goal in two seasons against the Ducks. 1-0 Maidenhead
The early goal seemed as though it would pave the way for a big win for the home side, as pressure on the Aylesbury goal was intense. Hammond went close, after rolling the ball past and beating Winter, and trying a shot from wide, which zipped just over the bar. A free-kick was then headed straight at Rashid by Brendan Gallen.
Aylesbury started to grow in stature as the half wore on, and created a few chances of their own. Okay got forward from right-back to deliver a good cross which was headed goalwards by Ryan Wiffin. The half-cleared ball was then headed wide by the following in Powles. A Jay Gould dipping-volley from distance dropped wide a few minutes later.
Maidenhead always looked dangerous when attacking though, and one such attack spelled the end of Danny Gordon's afternoon. Yaku stole into the box from the left, and Gordon miraculously blocked his goalbound effort, but unfortunately left himself in a heap and had to be stretchered off. Daniel Mead was his replacement.
Moments later Ryan Ashe crashed an excellent volley just wide of the post, as the half came to an end.
There was still time for a twist to the first half, as Aylesbury equalised in stoppage time. A great ball from debutant Meddows wasn't cut out by Maidenhead's defender, and Wiffin trapped the ball on his chest. His shot was deflected past Nick Hart in the Magpies' goal, and the game was level going into half-time. 1-1
Half-time: Maidenhead 1-1 Aylesbury
The early stages of the second half saw both sides create chances to take the lead. For Maidenhead Bryan Smith snatched at a Yaku ball in, and shot well over the bar, before Aylesbury's Powles saw an effort cleared off the line having arrived un-noticed at a corner kick.
It was Maidenhead who re-took the lead, with ten minutes of the second half played with Ryan Ashe netting for the home side. 2-1 Maidenhead
The match was over as a contest as soon as Yaku picked up the ball after 71 minutes. Head down and running, the front-runner beat Okay, then Winter, and coolly slotted the ball past Rashid, bringing back memories of his Berks & Bucks Cup Final display last season. 3-1 Maidenhead
A couple more chances came and went - Maidenhead hit the bar from a corner, and Gould hit a volley into the keeper's arms, although he was on the ground at the time.
Maidenhead scored again with four minutes remaining, with a stunning goal from second half substitute Danny Bolt. Picking up the ball just outside the area, he fired an unstoppable left-footed effort into the net. 4-1 Maidenhead
It seemed set to be goal of the game, but Alvin Bubb had other ideas, as he snatched not only that accolade, but made himself Aylesbury's Top Goalscorer for the season. Collecting the ball on the left-wing, he skipped past three challenges and finished with aplomb across goal and into the far corner. A truly sensational goal, and not the first of it's type from Bubb this season. 4-2 Maidenhead
The goal had little bearing on the game, but it just gave Aylesbury fans something to smile about again, and something positive to leave the game thinking about.
Certainly the summer will be a massive re-building project for the club, both on the pitch and off. One thing's for sure, it will take a massive effort to have another season as bad as 2003/04 has been for Aylesbury United.
