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Tue 3rd Nov 2009
League
Sponsored by Mick Hartley
TAFC First team 2-4 Aylesbury F C
TAFC goals: Mark Burfoot (2, 1 pen) |
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A healthy crowd of 143 saw a cracking game full of goals, action and an exciting climax that almost produced a dramatic comeback. But a late goal from Kieron Schmidt, to go with the one he scored at the beginning, finally put pay to any thought we may have had of getting anything from this match. After a scintillating first half from the visitors, which saw them take a commanding 3-1 lead, it was a tall order to expect us to come back from that against a strong side comprising of players who had played at a higher level, but we gave it a go with a stirring second half performance and had enough chances to have got one if not three points.
The difference in the end was the quality of the finishing, Aylesbury were clinical in front of goal and it was therefore surprising that they lost 3-2 at Biggleswade United on Saturday where they evidently missed a hatful of chances. After a calamitous start we gradually recovered and created quite a few chances and we put our opponents under late pressure but we failed to convert our opportunities into goals and that was to prove costly in the end.
The visitors were expected to start strongly and they didn’t disappoint, winning a free kick in a dangerous spot after less than a minute. It didn’t come to anything as Kai Ridley headed well wide but they didn’t have to wait long to get off the mark, about a minute in fact. We allowed Gareth Price far too much time and space on the left flank and he took the opportunity to send over an accurate cross that Kieron Schmidt headed powerfully in to opening scoring.
It was a sloppy start by us but we were given a life line in the 12th minute when the referee awarded a penalty against Kai Ridley for tugging Vinnie Iannone’s shirt. Mark Burfoot took the opportunity to place the penalty in the bottom left hand corner to level the score at 1-1. Later Vinnie Iannone nodded the ball through and Aylesbury keeper Steve Smith came out bravely to save at the feet of Mark Burfoot and Andy Mullins.
The match then changed in the space of two minutes, in the 22nd and 24th minute to be precise, when Aylesbury scored 2 goals through the lively Craig Henney. His first came when he found space in the area then cleverly lifted the ball over the head of Mike Underwood. For his second goal Henney ran past Mike Underwood and then coolly slammed the ball past defenders on the line. Spectators standing near by said it was clearly offside, but the goal was given and we were facing a major uphill battle
The speed, movement and quality of Aylesbury’s play was outstanding and our supporters must have feared we were in for a thumping. But we showed some character and weathered the storm and as the clock ticked towards half time we created some good chances to get back in the game. Steve Smith made an outstanding save from Vinnie Iannone’s header from a corner and the Aylesbury custodian then followed that up with another equally good save from a fierce Danny Gray shot. Then both Mark Burfoot and Graham Hall got behind the visitor’s rearguard and sent over inviting crosses which Vinnie Iannone was just unable to convert.
It was a disappointing half for us to be 3-1 behind and we had a lot to do but there were signs that the visitor’s defence was not impregnable.
HT: TA 1 A 3
Tony Fields started the second period in place of Danny Gray and just as in the first half we made a slow start when almost from the kick off Dean Brennan sent over a cross that bushed the head of Kieron Schmidt. The visitors had most of the early possession but our defence looked more secure and we defended much better, denying Aylesbury the opportunity to extend their lead. On the hour David Whicker replaced Matt Myatt and gradually we started to be more assertive and cause Aylesbury problems.
Tony Fields was creating problems down the flanks and from one of his crosses Andy Mullins headed the ball back across goal to Vinnie Iannone at the far post. Vinnie had a very good game and should have scored, but he tapped the ball the wrong side of the post. Aylesbury were still quick and sharp going forward and Mike Underwood was forced into making a good save from Craig Henney. In the 78th minute David Whicker launched a long thrown which Mark Burfoot, despite the close attention of Matt Haywood, managed to head into the far corner to make the score 3-2 and give us hope.
With 12 minutes to go there was still plenty of time for us to get a third goal and we pushed forward in search of an equaliser. Chances were being created and when Graham Hall seized on the ball in the area a goal looked imminent but his shot was blocked and our players all called for handball and a penalty but the appeals were waved away. Right on time David Whicker ran at the Aylesbury defence and then slipped a lovely pass to Vinnie Iannone but from a great position the shot went over.
Any hope of achieving a great come back was diminished in the fourth minute of added time when Kieron Schmidt took advantage of the gaps left in our defence as we poured forward to crack a shot past Mike Underwood. It was again another piece of ruthless finishing and at 4-2 the game was now beyond our reach although there was still time for Ashley Addison to make the score line more respectable but he took a fraction too long and his shot was blocked.
FT: TA 2 A 4
After a poor start we came back strongly and towards the end we had the visitor’s on the rack. But we were taught a lesson in the art of scoring and taking opportunities when they arise. For the spectators it was great entertainment and considering it was a local derby and naturally very competitive, it never got out of hand and it was good to see that there were only three yellow cards issued.
Teams:
TA: Mike Underwood, Dave Salmon, Chris Salmon, Graham Hall (Capt), Steve Smith, Henry Thomas, Andy Mullins (Ashley Addison 82), Matt Myatt (David Whicker 60), Mark Burfoot, Vinnie Iannone, Danny Gray (Tony Fields 45). Subs not used: Keith Eldridge, Rob Duncan
A: Steve Smith, Mark Boyce, Danny Mead, Kai Ridley, Matt Haywood, Matt Butler, Gareth Price (Liam Smyth 90 +2), Greg Williams (Capt), Craig Henney, Dean Brennan (Michael O’Farrell 86), Kieron Schmidt. Subs not used: Ben Stevens, Stuart Maynard, Nathan Graham.
Goals:
TA: Mark Burfoot (Pen12, 78)
A: Kieron Schmidt (2, 90+4), Craig Henney (22, 24)
Crowd: 143
A Website: http://www.aylesburyfootballclub.co.uk |
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(No photos on file)
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