Takeley FC 2-0 Aylesbury United

By: Ben Slater

Attendance: 139

A dismal day in Essex as the Ducks bow out of the FA Trophy for another year.

The D

ucks travelled to Takeley FC last Saturday for the FA Trophy second round qualifying. This came after the thriller at the end of August, where the team came out triumphant against Sittingbourne 6-4, in the first qualifying round. Takeley, also known as the Blue Army, play their football in the Isthmian League North Division. This came after promotion from step 5 in 2025, where they won the playoffs 2-0 vs Woodford Town. They finished 17th last season, but Saturday's cup tie was always going to be a difficult affair, with the home side currently sitting inside the playoffs in their respective league. 

Aylesbury started the brighter, knocking the ball around brightly and created their first opening on the 7th minute mark. Ike Okwusoga broke through the Takeley back line, but his shot was comfortable for goalkeeper Jarvis Monk to claim. 

After that point, though, the hosts started to stamp their mark on the game. The size and stature of the Takeley team was noticeable compared to the Ducks, and they seemed to target that. There was a persistent threat from set piece opportunities, which the Ducks dealt with well for the most part. 

However, their pressure did prevail. In the 15th minute, the Blue Army attacker Joseph Pullen found space in the box to unleash a shot. It didn't look to trouble Jack Hopwood in net until the ball took a wicked deflection, which ultimately looped the ball into the back of the net. 1-0 Takeley. 

After the goal the Ducks really struggled to settle. The midfield were losing the battle against  a more experienced, physical opposition, and with the ball Aylesbury were sloppy. It was looking increasingly more like half time was needed for the team. Other than the odd set piece, which wasn't converted into real meaningful goal-scoring opportunities, the rest of the half was predominantly all Takeley. They kept testing the backline with looping balls in behind but just lacked that final end product to make it 2-0. 

The halftime whistle blew, and for the most part it felt as if the Ducks had been let off, similarly to the previous game versus Hertford. Significant improvement needed after the break. HT 1-0 Takeley.

Nevertheless, whatever was said at the break didn't seem to have the intended impact. Takeley came out once again, fired up and seemingly ready to kill the game. They went close almost immediately after the referee blew his whistle and then squandered a guilt-edged chance in the 49th minute. Well-worked play in the middle of the pitch led to the Takeley attacker sending the ball over the bar, from a position where a goal looked almost certain. A let off for the Ducks, which surely wouldn't happen again. 

That you would have thought would have been a wake-up call for the team, but instead Takeley used it as more ammunition and ultimately had a golden chance in the 54th minute to make it 2-0. A penalty was awarded after seemingly a tussle in the penalty box saw one of their players go down. Not many complaints from the Aylesbury players. Number 7 Jordan Westcott stepped up and coolly slotted into the bottom right corner, sending Hopwood the wrong way and seemingly leaving the Ducks with a mountain to climb. 2-0 Takeley. 

Manager Paul Batchelor instantly reacted with a double substation, introducing Rocko Tamplin and George Cleveland for Frankie Bircham and James Bone. Those changes seemed to spark a tad more intent to attack the game for the Ducks. Sonny French tried his luck from just outside the box, and Wil Turner followed up with a more powerful strike, which forced the goalkeeper to make a meaningful save for the first time in the match. Aylesbury still lacked real venom in the final third, and Takeley looked to counter-attack more as the Ducks tried to commit more numbers forward in search of a goal back. 

As the game entered the final 15 minutes, Wil Turner once again let fly after driving down the right wing, but his effort was straight at the keeper. Aylesbury then brought on two more substitutions as Aaron Onginjo was replaced by Finlay Reeves, and a few minutes later the injured Chase Matthew had to be replaced by new signing Marvin Emmanuel. 

Aylesbury's last few flurries forward led to two good opportunities. George Cleveland sent an effort narrowly over from distance in the 89th minute, before Reeves had Aylesbury's best chance of the match. He beat the Takeley offside trap, finding himself clean through on goal, with just goalkeeper Jarvis Monk to beat. He took the shot, but agonisingly for the Ducks, it was once again straight at the keeper. Either side of the goalkeeper, and it was a guaranteed goal. Sonny French was also open to square the ball for an easy tap-in but it looked as if Reeves didn't see him. That summed up the Ducks’ day, and shortly after, the referee blew his whistle. Which ended the FA Trophy campaign for another season. FT 2-0 Takeley.

The home side were worthy winners in the end, with the Ducks not at the races all afternoon.  Good luck to Takeley for the rest of the competition and their season. The attention is now fully on the league for Aylesbury, with four more games wrapping up September. The first of those matches at home to Roysto this upcoming Sunday, the 20th, where the Ducks will be hoping to bounce back and gain a valuable three points. 

Aylesbury United: Hopwood, Bewley, Wood, Onginjo, Matthew, Turner, Bircham, Daffeh, French, Okwusogu, Bone Subs Emmanuel, Reeves, Cleveland, Tamplin

Click here for photo's by Kristen Clarke.

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