Aylesbury continued their recent dominance over Holmer Green, but only after the most dramatic of matches and a thrilling plotline that even the most imaginative of scriptwriters would have struggled to concoct.
A game which both sides seemed determined to lose by gifting each other goals finally ended in a 4-3 win for the Ducks, and whatever the circumstances its points that matter – especially when playing the league’s bottom ranked side.
With Zac Reynolds away, Marcus Sawyer was drafted back into the team at left midfield, with Steve Hatch moving into an unfamiliar, and, at times, uncomfortable left-back role.
Despite Aylesbury’s record which read played 4 and won 4 in previous meetings with Holmer Green, the encounters at Watchet Lane have always been closer than the scoreline suggested – and a frontline with ex-Duck Andy Shed in will always cause problems.
He threatened after just two minutes when Jack Sillitoe was called to turn the ball wide after a free-kick was inadvertently flicked on by Hatch presenting Shed with the shot. The Ducks then had their first shot when Stacey Field fired wide at the other end five minutes later.
United went close when Sawyer’s inswinging free-kick flashed across goal, but it was Green who should have opened the scoring when a poor Aylesbury pass was intercepted by Adam Davis who quickly played through for Lewis Webb to run through but shoot wide.
It typified the Ducks’ below-par performance – particularly in the first half – as they gave the ball away time and time again and made unforced mistakes such as a poor defensive header from Ben Baines which McLaughlin for a curling shot from the edge of the box which he put well wide.
Aylesbury’s best chance of the half came and went in a flash, as a long ball was helped on by Baines and then Field to set Cooper away for a one-on-one, but he slotted wide with only Derek Lewis to beat when most inside the ground expected the net to bulge.
It proved costly when, four minutes later, the ‘curse of the ex’ hit the Ducks. A free-kick from the left found Aylesbury youth team graduate Tom Alabaster who got ahead of John Mulholland, his header hitting the big Ducks defender and flying into the net. 1-0 Holmer Green
At that point the home side were good value for their lead, and although Field went close with a low shot it was Sillitoe who remained the busiest keeper – saving well from Shed, but then a mere spectator seconds later when Shed missed from close range as the ball came across to him.
Half-time soon arrived and the best positive United could cling to was they were only one-down at the break, the Ducks well off key in the opening period.
Half-time: Holmer Green 1-0 Aylesbury
Having failed to suitably trouble a defence which had conceded 12 goals from their opening 2 league fixtures, United came out looking determined to turn their fortunes around, but the second half started the same way – Shed having another effort which this time came back off Sillitoe, United just able to clear their lines in time.
Aylesbury were then handed their first lifeline of the night when Alabaster sent himself plummeting from hero to zero as he was dismissed for serious dissent with just five second half minutes played.
A Steve Hatch effort somehow didn’t cross the line in some penalty area pinball soon afterwards, but still the Ducks were struggling to make a serious impression and some further panicky defending nearly cost them as man after man dived into challenges which eventually resulted in a home free-kick, but nothing more.
It remained impossible to say which team was reduced in personnel for some time as Holmer probed for a second, but United showed some faint resistance before finally mounting a telling attack down the right which saw Baines’ effort brilliantly turned wide by Lewis, with Mulholland heading the corner just wide.
United were then presented their second gift of the night by their hosts. Holmer failed to clear their lines under pressure from Cooper and Field, and the ball popped up nicely for Field to smash home past a bewildered Lewis from 5-yards out. 1-1
Six minutes later and gifted goal number two, as Cooper was taken down just inside the penalty area. He dusted himself down and emphatically buried the penalty to put the Ducks ahead for the first time. 2-1 Aylesbury
Aylesbury were on a roll now and, with Holmer Green - having also lost Alabaster’s defensive partner to injury – all at sea, the Ducks with just ninety seconds further played. Joey Acheampong collected the ball and fed Field who crashed the ball high into the net. 3-1 Aylesbury
Few could be forgiven for needing a breather after a remarkable comeback, but when Watchet Lane was plunged into darkness due to floodlight failure the travelling Ducks supporters feared the worst and their team’s efforts going to waste due to abandonment.
Thankfully, after twenty minutes of quips about sabotage and speculation amongst the spectators, light was restored and play eventually resumed.
At 3-1 up with less than quarter of the match to go, and with shots missing the target from Cooper, Acheampong and Hatch, the three points looked safely destined for the county town.
Unfortunately not, and Aylesbury might have been happier had the lights stayed off – as Holmer staged an incredible comeback, Shed scoring twice in four minutes to restore parity once more.
His first saw him brush off Jack Wood amidst claims of a foul, and easily stroke the ball past Sillitoe for 2-3, then, he ghosted in unsighted onto a flighted diagonal ball from the right to score with ease at the far post. 3-3
It was a catastrophic few minutes for the Ducks, but this time their character came to the fore. The drama was heightened yet another level when Hatch was blatantly tripped inside the box. In that situation there was only one outcome, as Ian Cooper stepped up to deliver another flawless penalty. 4-3 Aylesbury
Cooper and Baines went close, but there were still further nervy moments to endure as a couple of dangerous balls into the box had to be defended. But defended they were – and defended properly, at last!
With that, the curtain came down on an epic night of entertainment in South Bucks. Clearly Aylesbury have plenty to work on, but getting the win was of upmost importance and that’s just what the Ducks did - eventually.
