The Evo-Stik League South Division One Central - Saturday 20th
Another warm and sunny afternoon greeted us Bromsgrovians at the very pleasant Meadow ground nestled into the Chilterns, home of Chesham United but shared with Aylesbury United.
Despite the long journey Sporting were out of their proverbial blocks much quicker and could have scored in the second minute but Jason Cowley sliced his shot wide of the left hand post after a superb though ball by Richard Gregory.
However the small posse of away fans did not have to wait much longer for something to cheer about. Just a minute later and 'keeper Jono Brown hoisted a long ball through the middle that found Cowley and after side-steeping opposing stopper Archie Davis, placed a neat shot in the bottom left hand corner of the home net.
That seemed to wake up The Ducks who then had a decent spell for the next few minutes and were unlucky not to get level on the 11th minute when Brown saved well with his feet from Jake Bewley and then Josh Quaynor had to clear the rebound off the line.
Sporting always look dangerous in the opposition half and Cowley should have got his second on the 16th minute but his free-kick bounced off the top of the cross bar.
After the interval and on the 53rd minute, Dan O'Sullivan hit a neat 20 yard strike but Davis saved well. He was not as lucky though 10 minutes later when Quaynor threaded a pass through the home midfield that found Cowley, he fired an angled shot that Davis could only parry to substitute Cameron Peters who had an easy tap home from a few yards out.
As with most matches the middle of the second half was taken up with substitutions but once they were complete and both teams settled down.
Sporting continued to dominate and it was no great surprise when Jack Wilson got number three and his first of the season when he went on a solo run through the Duck's defence before unleashing an unstoppable angled drive past Davis.
There was little more after that apart from John Pykett firing over the bar before Mr Barry blew for full-time allowing players a deserved shower and cold drink.
Aylesbury United: Archie Davis, Harry Jones, Jake Bewley, Jack Wood (Capt.), Callum Mapley, Sonny French, Max Hercules (Connor Hearn 84 mins), Greg Williams, Aaron Berry (Collins Takaitei 64 mins), Tre Mitford, Maciej Tajs (Jacob Hutchinson 64 mins).
Substitute not used: Jack Hopwood.
Yellows: Tre Mitford (75 mins).
Sporting: Jono Brown, Tom Rankin Jack Wilson, Liam Spink, Aaron Roberts, Kyle Lincoln, John Pykett, Josh Quaynor, Jason Cowley (Matt Higgins 77 mins), Richard Gregory (Capt, Cameron Peters 46 mins), Dan O'Sullivan (Jake Heath 55 mins).
Substitutes not used: Tom Massey, Charlie Dowd
Goals: Jason Cowley (3 mins), Cameron Peters (63 mins), Jack Wilson (87 mins)
Yellows: Josh Quaynor (70 mins).
Referee: Mr S Barry (Northampton)
Assistants: Mr M Gospel (Northampton), Mr W Bright (Kettering).
Sporting MoM: Jack Wilson
Crowd: 159
Weather: Hot, sunny.
Report: Phil Baker
A bright Easter Weekend sun beamed across the Meadow turf as the Ducks hosted second place Bromsgrove Sporting in their penultimate home game of the season. Having suffered defeats against Peterborough Sports and Corby Town in the last two outings, the Ducks were looking for a change of fortunes against a team placed in between their last two opponents in the table.
The game got off to the worst possible start for the Ducks as they came under pressure from the off. Inside two minutes, Jason Cowley found himself in behind the United defence and was one on one with Archie Davis however, he couldn’t find the finish as he slotted the ball wide of the post.
Less than a minute later, Sporting made the breakthrough. Cowley again found himself one on one with Davis and this time made no mistake as he calmly found the bottom right corner with a sweeping effort. 1-0 Bromsgrove.
The Ducks grew into the tie and should’ve been level after 10 minutes. Jake Bewley drifted wide right and drove a cross low into the box, Aaron Berry took a touch and had two stabs at goal, the first being blocked and the second scuffing its way towards Greg Williams, he then had an effort of his own which was denied superbly by Jonathan Brown in the Sporting goal.
With 15 minutes played, Sporting pressed once more. Williams brought down Cowley on the edge of the box after a clever run. The Sporting striker stepped up to take the free kick and rattled the cross-bar with his curling effort.
With chances falling few and far between for both sides, United were next to go have a crack with 34 minutes played. Tre Mitford snuck in between the Sporting defence but could only poke his effort narrowly wide.
With five minutes to play before half time, Bromsgrove hit the Ducks on the break and a beautiful cross-field ball from Richard Gregory found Cowley once again face to face with Davis. The Sporting striker attempted to round Davis but was magnificently denied when the United stopper managed to claw the ball away from Cowley’s feet and clutched it to his chest.
Half-time: Aylesbury 0-1 Bromsgrove
5 minutes into the second half and it was the visitors pushing once again. Cowley drove at the Ducks defence before feeding Daniel O’Sullivan in down the left, he took a touch and fired on goal but was denied well by Davis.
With half an hour to play, the visitors doubled their lead. Cowley drove his effort goalwards and was pushed away by Davis but, only as far as Cameron Peters who volleyed into an empty net. 2-0 Bromsgrove.
The Ducks responded with two changes with Collins Takaitei and Jacob Hutchinson replacing Berry and Maceij Tajs. On 70 minutes, Joshua Quaynor was booked for a late challenge on Callum Mapley. From the resulting free kick, the ball was drifted towards Jack Wood who went down under a challenge from Liam Spink but the appeal for a penalty was turned down.
With 15 minutes to play, Cowley once again fired an effort on goal but found his low drive denied by Davis. Inside the last 10, Bromsgrove kept pushing. John Pykett drove a free-kick low, but it was smashed away from the near post by Mapley. The Ducks final change came on 84 minutes, Max Hercules was replaced by Connor Hearn.
On 86 minutes, Bromsgrove delivered the final nail in the coffin. Jack Wilson skilfully drove his way through the Ducks back line before firing low into the bottom right corner. 3-0 Bromsgrove.
The game closed at 0-3. Another defeat for the Ducks but the score line makes for harsh reading on how the fixture played out. Next up is a derby day for United as they travel to Aylesbury FC on Easter Monday.
