The Evo-Stik League South Division One Central - Saturday 22nd September 2018 3:00 p.m. kick-off

Aylesbury 0 (0) Bromsgrove Sporting 0 (0) at The SRD Stadium.

A finely balanced match that could have gone either way saw Sporting bring home one point, but they will regret failing to convert two penalties late in the match.

The visitors pretty much dominated the first half having most of the possession and playing most of the game in their opponents half but Aylesbury's plan of marshalling an organised back four and packing the box worked well for them keeping out any danger.

It was 12 minutes before the Bromsgrove outfit had their first chance on goal but Nathan Hayward's effort was deflected for a corner then moments later the hard-working Jack Wilson had a shot go just wide of Nick Bennion's right-hand post.

Meanwhile the home side relied on fast breaks up field and after one resulted in a corner which was taken by Ryan Ware, who floated over a neat ball to the near post that Aaron King glanced just over the bar.

Sporting continued to get balls into the Aylesbury box but with so many defenders nobody got any time on the ball so good chances were few.

However the best chance of the half fell to Aylesbury on the 41st minute when Josh Williams attempted to chip Brown only for the stopper to get a fist to the ball sending it out for a corner.

The second half continued much as the first had left off though Aylesbury did look a little more adventurous getting forward more often with King forcing Brown into two low saves and substitute Bruno Brito doing the same.
They then had an opportunity to take the lead on the 78th minute but Brown was alert again and saved Luke Cray's curling shot with one hand.

With just over five minutes to go, King went down in the Sporting box but despite appeals referee Mr Kornasiewicz waved play on as Will Shorrock then made a fast break into the Aylesbury box only to be clattered by Jordan Jenkins thus gaining a penalty for his own side. Richard Gregory took the spot kick but Bennion guessed correctly and dived to his left keeping the ball out of his net.

Then with four added minutes on the clock Lewis Strafford was judged to have handled in his own penalty area. Step up again Richard Gregory for his second attempt only for Bennion to save again and to adding Sporting's despondency he even managed to hang on to Gregory's rebound. That was the last action of the match as time was blown shortly afterwards.

Mixed feelings for Sporting who clearly had opportunities to take the three points but the best two chances of the match in open play went to the home side. However they seemed to be happy with the draw judging by their celebrations at the end.

Aylesbury: Nick Bennion, Luke Cray (Capt), Craig Carby, Jordan Jenkins, Derek Feyi, Lewis Strafford, Reece Bayliss (Bruno Brito 49 mins), Carl Tappin, Aaron King, Ryan Ware, Josh Williams (Kyreece Martei 90+2 mins).

Substitutes unused: Temi Oladejo, Alfi Touceda, Ash Jenkins.
Yellows: Carl Tappin (76 mins), Nick Bennion (85 mins), Lewis Strafford (90+4 mins)
Red: Craig Carby (FT)

Sporting: Jono Brown, Aaron Roberts, Jack Wilson, Nathan Hayward, Craig Jones (Capt.), Danny Morris (Harry Higginson 61 mins), Charlie Dowd (John Pykett 67 mins), Josh Quaynor, Ashanti Pryce (Cameron Peters 58 mins), Will Shorrock.

Substitutes unused: Tom Massey, R'mar Murray
Yellows: Charlie Dowd (53 mins), Jon Brown (73 mins), Cameron Peters (86 mins)

Referee: Mr G Kornasiewicz (Oxford)
Assistants: Mr S Gregory, Mr K Bungay

Crowd: 168
Weather: Cool, heavy drizzle

Sporting MoM: Jono Brown.

Reporter: Phil Baker

Two penalty saves, Red Cards, yellow cards and fantastic saves at both ends, all played on a damp afternoon at Haywood Way. Manager Scott Reynolds welcomed back Lewis Strafford and Jordan Jenkins after both missing the midweek game against Bracknell.

This was always going to be a tough afternoon for Aylesbury but on a greasy pitch it was FC who had the first chance of the game when Lewis Strafford cleverly flicked a ball into the path of Ryan Ware but Brown in the away goal just beat the midfielder to the ball, a minute later and Bromsgrove could have capitalised on a mistake in the Aylesbury defence. A long ball over the top caused confusion between Craig Carby and keeper Nick Bennion which almost let in the Sporting strikers but the ball was eventually hacked to safety.

Bromsgrove were now getting into their stride with some slick passing football, but FC were denying them space in all areas of the field, chasing and harrying so not letting them get any real clear shots on goal, on fifteen minutes left back Jack Wilson made a surging run from his own half but his shot went wide of Bennion's post. On twenty minutes came the best chance of the game when a Ryan Ware corner was met by a rising Aaron King but somehow the big striker managed to head the ball just wide of the upright when many of the moles fans thought he had scored.

FCs next chance came just five minutes later when a ball across the edge of the box found it's way eventually to Josh Williams who got away from his defender, got the ball onto his left foot and was one on one with Brown in the away goal but the keeper somehow managed to block his shot when again perhaps he really should have scored.

On thirty six minutes Nick Bennion made the first of a number of excellent saves when he dived full length to his left to parry away a Richard Gregory free kick, not the last time in the game that the two players would face each other one on one!

It was then the turn of the Sporting keeper to show his prowess between the sticks when, just before the break, Josh Williams latched onto a through ball but Brown in the away goal was equal to the shot and tipped the ball over the bar.

Half Time 0-0

With the rain now falling more heavily it was Aylesbury who had the first opportunity of the half, substitute Bruno Brito, on for the injured Reece Bayliss, found himself on the edge of the box with a very narrow angle but the striker was still able to get off a smart left foot shot which the keeper had to parry away at the near post.

Aaron King had another chance on sixty one minutes when a ball over the top from Luke Cray found King on the edge of the box he went outside his defender and again bought an excellent save out of the keeper at the near post. It was now end to end action and on seventy seven minutes it was Luke Cray finding himself on the right side of the penalty box, he cut onto his left and fired in a shot which was arrowing for the top corner, until the outstretched hand of Brown managed to tip the ball round the post when most of the supporters in the ground thought the ball was going in.

If the rest of the game had been breathless, fans of both sides were in for an even more exciting last ten minutes. With five minutes of normal time to go Bennion was adjudged to have brought down Pykett when most people in the crowd, including the away supporters, thought he'd nicked the ball away from the substitute. Gregory stepped up but Bennion flung himself in the right direction and parried the ball away much to the home crowds delight.

That wasn't it though and with the ninety minutes already up Lewis Strafford handled when trying to block a shot and the referee awarded another penalty. It couldn't happen again could it? Again it was Gregory that stepped up and again Bennion stopped the strikers shot and for good measure also blocked the rebound.

Craig Carby was then sent off after the final whistle after a confrontation with the referee. Not your typical 0-0.

Match report courtesy by Mike Farquharson (Aylesbury F. C.).