1 | ||
2 | ||
3 | ||
4 | ||
5 | ||
6 | 16, 46m | |
7 | ||
8 | ||
9 | ||
10 | 14, 74m | |
11 | 15, 81m | |
BENCH | ||
---|---|---|
12 | ||
14 | 10, 74m | |
15 | 11, 81m | |
16 | 6, 46m | |
17 | ||
MANAGEMENT | ||
M |
1 | ||
2 | 17, 58m | |
3 | ||
4 | ||
5 | ||
6 | 12, 78m | |
7 | ||
8 | ||
9 | 16, 86m | |
10 | 15, 76m | |
11 | ||
BENCH | ||
---|---|---|
12 | 6, 78m | |
14 | ||
15 | 10, 76m | |
16 | 9, 86m | |
17 | 2, 58m |
Three days after defeat at home to Biggleswade FC, the Ducks returned to the Meadow for a match against close neighbours AFC Dunstable. Squad rotation was again the name of the game, with Jake Bewley rested to the bench, Tom Cove replacing him in the left back berth. Further forward the team was freshened up, with Louis Robert-Keane making his debut, joining Will St Clair-Burton and Haziz Kone in midfield, with Sonny French, Kajetan Halatyn and Luqman Kassim restored to the attacking positions.
The first attack saw the visitors threaten in the second minute, Khyan Frazer-Williams combined with Charlie Davis, before sending a shot across goal when well placed to do better. A throw in from Cove to Kassim saw the ball worked infield to French, who fired in a shot from the edge of the area which was initially fumbled by Matthew Bonsu in the visiting goal, but gathered at the second attempt as Halatyn closed in hoping to get to the rebound.
Four minutes later, a weak header by Albert Wood fell to Halatyn 25 yards out who saw his shot from 25 yards well saved at full stretch by Bonsu. Three minutes later Dunstable took the lead; Sean Duodu collected the ball and twisted away from tackles by Kone and Kian Henry, before moving across the pitch, evading a tackle from Jack Wood, before firing an unstoppable left foot shot past Jack Hopwood into the corner of the net from 25 yards. 1-0 AFC Dunstable
Three minutes later, Hopwood was called into action to prevent the Ducks going further behind; Kyle Lynch gathered the ball in midfield, turned away from Kone and shot from 30 yards, which the Ducks stopper did well to beat away to safety.
Half-time: Aylesbury 0-1 AFC Dunstable
The Ducks made a change at half time, Jake Bewley coming on in place of Robert-Keane, with Cove moving forward to allow Bewley to play at left back. Three minutes in the half, indecision between Wood and Henry saw the ball fall to Davis who flashed a shot across goal.
The visitors did extend the lead in the 51st minute, and it was the prolific Duodu who added to his personal tally. The striker did well on the edge of the penalty area, before passing to Kyle Brooks on the right side. He returned the ball to Duodu, who hit a fine rising shot from 20 yards into the top corner of Hopwood's net. 2-0 AFC Dunstable
The Ducks had a great opportunity to get back into the game shortly afterwards, Bewley made a good run down the left before passing to Kassim who crossed to Kone, who could only direct his header just wide of the post. Four minutes after, the ball was passed forward to St Clair-Burton who shot from 18 yards but Bonsu was out sharply to block his effort.
In the 65th minute a cross from substitute Joel Anker was half cleared by Liam Batchelor-Morgan, but his header fell to Davis, who pushed the ball past Batchelor-Morgan and was fouled by the full back, attempting to clear the ball. Duodo stepped up to take the penalty, looking to complete his hat trick, but like against Biggleswade in the previous match, Hopwood was down well to save the effort.
Five minutes later a long ball forward found Kassim on the right; he cut inside Kwadwo Bugyei-Kyei and shot towards the near post, but not for the first time, Bonsu made an outstanding flying save. The ball was given away in midfield, and was picked up by Davis, who made a driving run through the centre before chipping the ball past Hopwood, but fortunately for the Ducks the ball rebounded off the post and was bundled away from danger.
With 5 minutes left on the clock, the Ducks grabbed a lifeline; Henry, who had been pushed up front for the dying minutes won the ball in the centre circle; he passed the ball to Cove who cut inside Bugyei-Kyei, was strong in the tackle against Davis and fed the ball to Henry who had picked up a position in space on the corner of the penalty area. He took a touch and fired a ferocious right foot shot from 20 yards across Bonsu and into the top corner of the net. 1-2
As the game ticked into added on time, a goal kick was played to Batchelor-Morgan, who passed forward to French; he flicked the ball on to substitute Dan Lodovica who hit a snapshot wide of goal. A minute later Kassim did well on the left and fired a cross into the 6-yard box, where French arrived, but couldn't direct his header under the crossbar.
With 8 added minutes played the Ducks had a free kick which was fired into the penalty area, which was part cleared, but Bonsu picked up an injury in the process. After treatment, he was unable to continue, with Dunstable having made all their substitutions already, it fell to Russell Berko to don the keeper's jersey for the final minutes of the game.
With 10 minutes added on time played, just like on Wednesday against Biggleswade, the visitors scored a third goal on the break, a long ball forward was missed on the edge of the penalty area, falling to Bruce Ovbiye-Nsang, who placed the ball past Hopwood as he came out to narrow the angle. 3-1 AFC Dunstable
The game ended soon after, the Ducks left to reflect on the many parallels with the game against Biggleswade. A much-changed front 6 in both games, a poor first half performance, which led to a better second half, a penalty save by Hopwood which kept them in the game, getting back into the game with 5 minutes left on the clock in both games, with both goals scored by central defenders, before succumbing to a 3rd goal in the dying stages to seal the game.
Next up is an opportunity to turn around a poor run of form with the visit of lowly Stotfold on Wednesday evening, weather permitting, followed by what appears to be a daunting task travelling to the in-form Barton Rovers next Saturday.
Aylesbury United
AFC Dunstable
Beaconsfield Town
Hadley
Berkhamsted
Leighton Town
Enfield
Ware
Flackwell Heath
Kings Langley
Leverstock Green
Biggleswade FC
Northwood
Hertford Town
Stotfold
Barton Rovers
Thame United
North Leigh
Welwyn Garden City
Real Bedford