Berkhamsted 1 Aylesbury FC 1

One Point Gained or Two Points Lost?

After the much better performance in the FA Cup at Didcot, Aylesbury went into this Bank Holiday fixture at local rivals Berkhamsted trying to secure the first League point of the season. There was added spice to the game with the home side being managed by ex Mole Manager Steve Bateman and with a number of ex Moles in their squad.

Manager Scott Reynolds made one change to the starting line up with cup tied striker Aaron King replacing the unavailable Bruno Brito. The game started scrappily with again the Moles persisting with a three man defence and two wing backs. It was Berkhamsted who had the first chance with Liam McCroman shooting over from distance after just four minutes.

Carl Tappin also had a half chance with a twenty five yard shot which flew high over the away goal. The system FC were using appeared to allow Berkhamsted to over run Aylesbury in the midfield, again as had happened at the weekend, putting pressure on the defence and making it difficult for the away side to retain possession.

Nick Bennion was bought into action on eighteen minutes when a ball in the from the flank was flicked toward goal by Matt Bateman but Bennion was equal to it and saved well. The opening goal from Berkhamsted, which had been coming for some time, eventually came on thirty six minutes when the pressure, which had been building during the half, led to a hand ball being committed in the penalty box and Courtney Massey fired home from the spot.

Aylesbury should have equalised two minutes before the break, Luke Crays long ball out to the right found Carl Tappin and his cross found Kyle Johnson three yards out but somehow conspired to fire wide when scoring looked to be so much easier.

Half Time Berkhamsted 1 Aylesbury FC 0

Ten minutes after the break David Femiola was replaced by Josh Williams, the team went to a flat back four and everything changed. All of a sudden the team looked more comfortable and balanced, Temi Oladejo fired in a ball from the left, it was met by Tappin but his flicked header was saved by Weatherill.

At every opportunity the ball was being played down the right to Josh Williams who was causing panic in the Berkhamsted defence, on seventy minutes he fired in a cross which Ryan Ware bought down instantly in the penalty box but somehow managed to screw his shot wide. It was all Aylesbury now, attacking at every opportunity, looking comfortable in possession. Mohab Madkour, having just replaced Johnson then flicked a Tappin cross at goal which was again saved as FC strived for the equaliser.

Madkour then had a header cleared off the line from a Carl Tappin corner, it looked like time might be running out but on eighty six minutes at last the goal that FC had deserved came. Williams again got past the defender on the right crossed the ball and a stooping Aaron King fired home to make it 1-1.

Aylesbury were now on a roll and would have thought that the winning goal was potentially in sight, then for no apparent reason Madkour sythed down a Berkhamsted player which caused uproar both on the field and in the stands and referee S Barry had no option to show him a red card. That incident ended any chance FC had to take the three points.

This was a game of two halves and Aylesbury will be delighted with a point but possibly thinking it could and should have been three.