Aylesbury United 2–3 Royston Town
Updated: 2 days ago
Report by James Knight
It was a frustrating return to The Meadow for the Ducks yesterday as they endured a 3-2 loss to Royston Town. There was a good feeling among the Aylesbury faithful as we were back at home and the team showed good spirit to get back into the game to create a tense last 20 minutes, but it ultimately did not formulate into any points as Royston were more clinical in taking their chances and the Ducks could not get anything from a performance that they arguably deserved something from.
There was an early shout for a penalty as Ike Okwusogu went down in the penalty area inside 5 minutes but the referee was not interested in the early call for a chance to go 1-0 up; immediately after, Wil Turner continued to put pressure on the visiting defence and tried his luck from the right wing which forced visiting keeper Elliot Krasniqi to tip the ball over the crossbar to win Aylesbury’s first corner of the match.
Royston Town responded in the 10th and 13th as their corner was curled into the 18-yard box and was met with a scramble in the 6-yard area but was eventually cleared away by the Duck’s backline - afterwards Royston continued to build an attacking presence as Dylan Williams curled an attempt into the danger-area from the edge of the box which looked destined to arrive in the top corner, Jack Hopwood was ready to claim but the ball drifted just wide.
Aylesbury United went agonisingly close to taking the lead, when George Cleveland did well to work the ball down the left-hand side beating two Royston Town defenders in the process, but saw his attempt crash off the far post and away to safety. Signs of frustration were clear to see on the pitch and were painted by a very physical contest in the first half with both teams very much in the game. Aylesbury United’s good attacking start was rewarded with a great chance on 33 minutes, as Wil Turner danced around the opposition left-back before forcing Krasniqi into another great save.
Despite this good start, the visitors took the lead on 36 minutes as a cross was dinked into the box followed by hesitant defending from the home-side, Cernal Ramadan met this attempt with his head and neatly slotted it goalward into the Ducks net. 0 - 1
This did not phase the Ducks however, as they continued to charge forward into the opposition box, Wil Turner’s quick feet drew a challenge inside the box winning Aylesbury United a penalty before half-time, with the visitors convinced there was no contact. Finlay Reeves did well under pressure to dispatch the penalty and level the score, game on despite sneers from the visiting team who were very unhappy with the decision sending the sides level into the break. 1 - 1
Aylesbury United needed to take confidence from the fact that it was an even game at the beginning of the second half, which began intensely. Royston were able to break quickly and Aaron Onginjo used his pace brilliantly making a last ditch block to avoid the hosts going behind again; this defensive effort was sadly in vain as the opposition went ahead again on 50 minutes - tricky wing-play resulted in the ball being squared perfectly into the Aylesbury danger-area falling to Alfie Warham who finished emphatically to put his team ahead again. 1 - 2
Hopwood and Jack Wood combined to block another great Royston chance shortly after; Royston were able to break clear from midfield and the chance came in and was saved short by Hopwood, the rebound looked destined for the net but Wood was able to produce an emphatic goal-line clearance to keep his team in the game. This feeling was short-lived however as the visitors added another on the hour-mark: Royston attacks continued to be relentless, with the Aylesbury backline beaten as a dangerous cross drifted past the face of the goal and found Kian Harness at the back-post who converted to put his team 2 goals ahead of the Ducks, a harsh scoreline as Aylesbury had contributed lots to the contest. 1 - 3
Wil Turner made way for Lee Stobbs as the Ducks look to improve their attacking output - on 70 minutes Stobbs’ dangerous cross almost found its way into the top corner forcing another save; the Ducks were not out of this yet. That pressure paid off shortly after as Lee Stobbs delivered a corner short to Reeves, Reeves’ ball met the head of Okwusogu to keep it alive, with the ball worked to the far post where Fin Reeves cut it back to the feet of Jack Wood 10 yards out, who reduces the deficit. 2 - 3
Suddenly the game was very much alive again as Aylesbury looked for an equaliser in the dying moments of the contest, they put plenty of pressure on Krasniqi, who was forced into another excellent stretching save from a Cleveland free-kick, winning another corner for the home-team, as the Ducks turned the screw. James Bone and Rocko Tamplin were introduced as Aylesbury committed more bodies forward, with Cleveland and Okwusogu making way.
The final major opportunity to tie the game came late in the 89th when yet again a great Lee Stobbs corner caused chaos inside the Royston 6-yard box - a goalmouth scramble followed but the visiting defence managed to hoof it clear. The visitors controlled the ball well enough to keep the Aylesbury attack chance-less in the closing stages and held on to take all 3 points.
It was a frustrating result for Paul Batchelor’s Ducks but encouraging signs were shown to come back into the game twice despite the deficit, opportunities were created throughout that were scored, forced clear by saves and by the defence and some that struck the woodwork. Ultimately however, Royston were more ruthless with their finishing, and their efficiency was the difference in this match.
Attendance:181
Aylesbury United: Hopwood, Quinlan, Wood, Onginjo, French, Daffeh, Reeves, Turner, Bircham, Cleveland, Okwusogu. Subs: Henry, Martin, Bone (85), Stobbs (64), Tamplin (85)
With thanks to Kristen Clarke
Enjoyed the match report and photographs, click here to make a donation.
Comments