Biggleswade Town 3-1 Aylesbury United

Match Report by Ben Slater

The Ducks slip to 21st in the league as the winless run in the league extends to five games.

Aylesbury travelled to Bedfordshire last Saturday to face Biggleswade Town in another relegation six-pointer. The Waders, as they're known, were founded in 1874 and have bounced around non-league for their entire history. They won promotion to step 3 in the 2023/24 season but were subsequently relegated back to the Southern League Division One Central the following year, remaining in the league since. This season has been a different story for the Waders. Before Saturday's game they had accumulated 9 points from 11 games and had lost the previous four games.

Aylesbury came into the game injury-ridden following injuries to Kian Henry and Aaron Onginjo in the previous game versus Barton Rovers. However, that didn't seem to hamper the Ducks as they started the game brightly. Sonny French produced the first key moment of the game in the 9th minute, making a crucial block to deny the hosts the lead. That didn't phase United, and three minutes later, they took the lead. A well-worked free kick from Finlay Reeves saw Bakary Daffeh free in the middle of the six-yard box, and the number 10 slotted the ball past goalkeeper Ashton Broome-Alexandar. 1-0 Aylesbury.

That goal seemed to spark the hosts into life. A sustained period of pressure saw the Waders keep the ball nicely, but they struggled to convert into clear-cut chances. Similarly to the past few games, they seemed to target set pieces, but for the most part the Ducks stood firm. That was until the 39th minute. A well-worked move down the right-hand side saw the ball drilled across the Aylesbury penalty box, and at the back post, Carter Hudson-Doncaster stood free to simply tap the ball into the back of the net. Frustrating for the Ducks as they tried to hold out going into the break. 1-1.

After the equaliser Aylesbury rallied and had a couple of chances that could have seen the scoreline change once again before the break. Sonny French was at the heart of the team's good play once again. In the 42nd minute he sent Wil Turner through down the left with a sublime ball, but his lobbed effort just cleared the crossbar. French was involved again a few minutes later, this time playing in Rocko Tamplin down the right-hand side, but his shot lacked precision, hitting it straight at the keeper. The sides went in level, with the half being fairly contested, but both sides lacked a clinical edge to take them in front. HT 1-1.

After the break, Biggleswade Town came out the brighter side. They were playing the ball around nicely before Jack Hopwood in the Ducks’ net was forced into an early save. However, Aylesbury had chances themselves. In the 47th minute Wil did well to beat his man before whipping a great ball across the box, but Daffeh at full stretch couldn't get a toe on the ball. Six minutes later the hosts took the lead. After cutting through the United midfield, the ball was played out to substitute Archie O’Donnell. The winger always wanted to cut inside, and that is exactly what he did. He took the ball past a couple of Aylesbury defenders before curling a peach into the far corner off the post. A great goal but frustrating for Aylesbury to take after a solid first 50 or so minutes. 2-1 Biggleswade Town.

The goal seemingly gave Biggleswade the uplift and confidence to go and seal the game. Shortly after, defender Archie Quinlan blocked superbly on the line to prevent the hosts from extending their lead. As Biggleswade seemed to increase the intensity and commit numbers forward Aylesbury did look to counterattack. Wil Turner broke at pace from the halfway line and tested the goalkeeper, forcing a save; Jake Bewley followed up to meet the rebound, but his effort didn't trouble the keeper.

The Ducks made a host of changes as they searched for a way back into the game. In the 60th minute, Pooya Karimi and Nathan Brown replaced Frankie Bircham and Marvin Emmanuel. Soon after, George Cleveland replaced Rocko Tamplin before James Bone came on for Bakary Daffeh. Unfortunately, James Bone’s involvement only lasted four minutes before a painful knock forced him off. A troubling few weeks with numerous knocks troubling the Ducks midfielder. Lee Stobbs replaced him with our fifth and final change.

United continued to push after the substitutes were introduced, and in the 76th minute had a couple of good chances. Finlay Reeves' long through troubled the Waders backline, but no one could get a head on the ball from six yards out. Wil Turner once again tested the goalkeeper, but his powerful drive from the edge of the penalty area couldn't quite beat Broome-Alexander in net.

After that point, the Aylesbury pressure continued into the final quarter of the game. A period of sustained possession and a flurry of chances saw Aylesbury somehow not score. With 76 minutes on the clock, Fin fired narrowly wide before United came agonisingly close two minutes later. A well-worked move down the left with good intricate passing saw Will Turner once again cross the ball. The ball landed to Lee Stobbs at the back post, but his great strike struck the post, with George Cleveland unable to pounce with the rebound. Luck was not on United’s side, and a few minutes later Biggleswade pounced.

With Aylesbury going all out to attack, Biggleswade exploited the space in behind. Rio Da Silva's shot was parried by Hopwood into a dangerous area where O’Donnell tapped home to score his second and end the game. FT 3-1 Biggleswade Town.

A frustrating afternoon for all involved, with the Ducks creating enough chances to at least take a point from the game. Once again, though, the opposition were more clinical, and that proved to be the difference. An improved performance but ultimately the same outcome. Up next we play MK Irish away tonight (Tuesday 20th October). If you're able to, the boys need all the support as possible as we look for three important points.

Attendance: 131

Aylesbury United: Hopwood, Bewley (C), Emmanuel, Quinlan, Matthew, Turner, Bircham, Reeves, Daffeh, French, Tamplin

Subs: Brown, Karimi, Cleveland, Bone, Stobbs

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