A determined performance from Aylesbury United saw them take all three points and leapfrog Ware into 7th place in the table on a Sunday afternoon at The Meadow.
As described by manager Ben Williams afterwards, the Ducks set out their stall with a strict game-plan – strengthened by the inclusion of Dave O’Connor in midfield – and his charges stuck to it perfectly, nicking two goals when the opportunity arose to claim the win against a very capable Ware side.
Their stubborn and well-organised defense proved mostly impenetrable for the Herts visitors to penetrate, at least until a stoppage time Louis Rose header halved the deficit but by then it was too little, too late.
In general, attacking play was at a premium, though Ben Seaton did have an early sight of goal but blazed over the bar after his own poorly taken free-kick came back to him.
O’Connor then saw a weak shot go straight through to goalkeeper Bradley Robinson after a throw-in had found its way to him on the edge of the box.
At the other end, tricky play from Robbie Buchanan ended with him playing in Taufee Skandari who pulled a shot wide across goal.
Five minutes later and it was 1-0 to the Ducks. Lee Stobbs delivered a teasing free-kick from the left, where Mark Riddick nipped in for a deft header which beat Robinson to nestle in the net. 1-0 Aylesbury
Ware tried hard to find a way back into the game and might have done better on 34 minutes when Marcus Milner’s free kick was met by captain Louis Rose, but his tame header was straight at Archie Davis and easily caught.
Continuing the theme, Ty Deacon might also feel he maybe should have troubled the goalkeeper more when he was put in behind the defence but in the end could only poke the ball goalwards where it was gobbled up by Robinson.
With half time approaching, Ware came as close as ever to levelling the game when Buchanan and Skandari combined again, with the latter’s rising drive hitting the bar with Davis well beaten.
Half-time: Aylesbury 1-0 Ware
Ware were by far the dominant force as the second half, but with Aylesbury able to confidently soak up the pressure Davis was rarely called into action.
One corner kick ended with a half volley pulled wide, and United continued to put bodies on the line as – from a free-kick this time – James Mulley saw an effort blocked in the area.
A mistimed challenge from Riddick then gave the visitors a good chance at a direct free kick, but the effort was played straight into the wall. They did slightly better seven minutes later with another one, but this time the low take by Chris Arthur went along the floor and straight into Davis’s waiting arms.
Completely against the run of play, Aylesbury then grabbed another, through substitute Max Hercules who had been on the pitch 15 minutes. A quick move downfield ended with him exchanging passes with Ty Deacon before taking a touch in the area and finding the bottom corner. 2-0 Aylesbury
Ware responded with a double substitution as they through on additional attacking resources, but still weren’t getting any joy in front of goal.
To the evident frustration of their management, their only meaningful effort was a header wide by Leigh Rose from a right wing cross.
That was until stoppage time, when Davis’s clean sheet was breached when Louis Rose met an inswinging corner kick with a clean header into the net. 1-2
With 92 minutes already played there was no time for any further sustained pressure on the Ducks goal, and United were able to take a very pleasing victory as their upturn in form continues. They now face another stern test when another of the league’s upper-placed teams in St. Neots Town visit.
