FA Cup sponsored by e.on Third Qualifying Round
At: Haywood Way
Kick-off: 3-00 pm
Admission: £7; Programme: £1 (24 Pages)
Attendance: 448
Weather: warm, mostly sunny
Duration: first-half: 46:37; second-half: 51:20
Mrs and junior ‘iwf’ needed no second invitation for another shopping trip to Milton Keynes, which fitted in perfectly with my plan to take my FA Cup run into a fifth consecutive round. New grounds in the draw were thin on the ground, so to speak, but one tie that leapt out was the localish derby between Aylesbury FC (formerly Aylesbury Vale and before that Stocklake FC) and Chesham United.
There aren’t too many Step 5 clubs left in the draw like Aylesbury and, in fact, the only other clubs at that level I could spot were Coventry Sphinx (conquerors of you know who).
Home club Aylesbury FC have had a great run in the cup this year, already getting through four rounds and amassing £9750 in prize money along the way. So far they have beaten Langford, Leighton Town, Erith Town and Wingate & Finchley in the last round. Each win came after a replay. To reach the Third Qualifying Round Chesham had got past Chalfont St Peter, Harrow Borough and Billericay Town.
I dropped off the duo in Central MK and headed for Aylesbury via the A421, the village of Mursley, B4032 then south on the road from Buckingham, A413. On the outskirts of the town, I had a quick look to see what was happening at the old Aylesbury United ground, which is still in situ though nature looks to be taking control. I respected the ‘Private Property Keep Out’ notices and resisted a closer look, continuing on instead towards town. At the traffic lighted crossroads just after the Horse and Jockey pub, 100 yards further on from the old AUFC ground, turned right at the light, signed ‘Bicester (A41)’ and continued to roundabout by the Texaco garage, turning right into Bicester Road. At the fifth roundabout, by the Cotton Wheel pub, I turned right and Haywood Way was 200 yards on the left.
Even though I arrived around 1-45 pm, the place was starting to buzz and a steward directed me to a parking spot on the grass. Programmes were on sale at the turnstile which I read in the car.
In the Molten Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division, Aylesbury FC were having a fantastic season so far. They went into this tie unbeaten in the league in fourth position (22 points from eight games) with games in hand on the top three, including leaders Chalfont St Peter who were just two points better off.
Visitors Chesham United play in the Zamaretto League Division 1 Midlands. They were in fifth position behind leaders Rothwell Town on 13 points from six games, and four of their six league wins have been away from home.
The ground entrance was in one corner by the side of the social club and the pitch (orientated north-east–south-west) ran widthways to the left. All the facilities were down the near left-hand touchline between the corner and halfway. The social club, which incorporated the changing rooms and players entrance was positioned close to the entrance with the main stand, at a slight angle to the pitch, further on. It contained four rows of brown individual bucket seats, numbering about 90 in total, with the PA point, T-Bar and toilets at the back. Opposite were the dugouts positioned either side of the halfway line, with a small-sized pitch behind, and an area of cover behind the near goal provided additional shelter. A green wooden fence with white post and rail behind enclosed the pitch.
The teams were available at the PA point, and they were also announced over the tannoy. I had a chat with the club official there and he agreed this was the biggest game in the club’s history. He also pointed out that most of the AFC squad were with Aylesbury United last season. I got myself a tea from the T-Bar and settled down in a seat on the second row. However, even with nobody standing where they shouldn’t, it was obvious that my view was going to be obscured. So, after the teams emerged, I made my way round to the other side and stood near the away dugout.
Aylesbury FC (wearing red and black halves, black shorts and socks) got the game underway attacking the far end with the sun shining into the eyes of their defenders.
It was the visitors (in a change kit of yellow shirts, sky blue shorts and yellow socks) who made the better start in what was a fast paced opening. The first decent chance came in the 9th minute when Aylesbury keeper Steve Smith tipped over a rising 20 yard right foot shot hit by Steve Wales.
Chesham failed to take advantage of their early possession and were left stunned as Aylesbury (wearing red and black halves, black shorts and socks) took a 15th minute lead against the run of play. Mark Lambert was booked for bringing down Stuart Maynard inside the area and Craig Henney despatched the resulting penalty. A home fan, stood one side of me shouted ‘yeh!’ while the Chesham bench appeared unimpressed with the decision. The goal was announced over the tannoy by the official I’d been chatting to some 30 minutes earlier.
Chesham were urged to “liven up” and Wales was next to pick up a booking in the 20th minute. The vociferous visiting fans stood at the covered end seems unimpressed with the decisions going against their side, so much so that they launched into sarcastic cheers when a 50-50 call went in their favour.
In the 29th minute, the yellow card came out for the third time and brandished at Aylesbury’s Ben Stevens for blocking the path forward of Leon Archer inside the centre circle. Moments later, Chesham almost equalised. Danny Talbot’s deep corner was headed toward goal and Mark Boyce cleared off the line with the aid of the right-hand post.
Despite continued pressure from the visitors, Aylesbury nearly doubled their lead. Henney got in a close-range bullet header which keeper Richard Haywood superbly parried and Michael Bardle cleared the loose ball.
The visitors got back on level terms in the 35th minute. Hesitancy in the Aylesbury defence presented Chris Bangura with the opportunity to slot home into the bottom left corner. The Chesham fans started to sing and soon Smith got down to his right to save Archer’s shot after the striker got between Stevens and Matt Hayward.
In the 40th minute, Aylesbury regained the lead with arguably the goal of the game. Gareth Price sliced open the Chesham defence with a superb throughball into the path of Henney who confidently fired an angled shot past Haywood from the left.
Two minutes later, Chesham picked up a third booking as John Kyriacous saw ‘yellow’ for a foul on Dean Brennan.
What a first half it had been and I couldn’t wait for the second half.
I moved position of the second half and stood near the home dugout. No real logic for the move except that I’ve walked up towards the covered end just before the interval to take a pic of the massed Chesham fans.
“C’mon boys, good start,” was the Chesham rallying call as the sides prepared to resume the action. The assistant on my side checked there were no substitutions – saved me the job of spotting any players numbered 12 or above. My only concern were the dark clouds gathering behind me to the north. Still if it did rain, then the cover behind the goal wasn’t too far away.
No one could have forecast the explosive start to the second half.
Aylesbury quickly won a corner on the right which was played short and crossed into the area. Henney rose to flick an angled header into the far left-hand side of the net to complete his hat-trick. The perfect start for the home side – a goal timed at 76 seconds after the restart.
Chesham had barely got the game started when Aylesbury scored again within 71 seconds to go 4-1 up. Price raced down the right and squared the ball towards Henney lurking at the far post. However, the unfortunate Gudgeon cut out the cross but succeeded only in putting the ball into his own net. Dreamland for Aylesbury, 4-1 up, and were those dark clouds gathering for the visitors?
Obviously not, as Chesham quickly got back into contention with a goal of their own in the 49th minute. Hesitancy in the home defence allowed Bangura to fire home at close range.
What a crazy start to the second half and there was almost another goal. Henney was put clear but Haywood left his line to block the striker’s shot with a raised arm.
Chesham made a double substitution in the 56th minute. Darrell Cox and Dom Marsala came on for Dave Fotheringham and Kyriacous in a more attacking 3-4-3 formation.
Just before the hour mark, Stevens having already been booked, brought down Archer and received a long lecture from the referee but no second yellow. There was also a bit of handbags as well.
In the 65th minute, Chesham made their third and final change – Danny Burnell replaced two-goal Bangura. Burnell, however, picked up a booking after barely 77 seconds on the field for what looked like dissent. He went down inside the area and appeals unsuccessfully for a penalty.
Winning raffle numbers were announced though I didn’t spot any tickets on sale. With my luck I wouldn’t have won anyway.
Cox went in the book for dissent in the 69th minute, just before Haywood produced a good save to parry a shot from Brennan.
Aylesbury made a change in the 71st minute with skipper Greg Williams replaced by Kieron Schmidt and Matt Butler took over the armband. Two minutes later the home side made another substitution as Nathan Graham replaced hat-trick hero Henney.
Maynard was booked in the 75th minute for a foul on Cox and Bardle picked up a booking two minutes later, also for a foul. The referee certainly had a liking to getting his yellow card out. How many booking was that now? … eight.
A poor Chesham corner allowed the home side to break upfield. Price’s initial shot was blocked and Maynard, following up fired over. He could have easily put the outcome beyond doubt.
Graham and Gugeon clashed inside the Chesham half prompting the referee to book the pair. The talk around me concerned the mounting tally of bookings, now ten, without anyone picking up a second one. We wondered what the record is for most bookings in a game with a sending-off. Answers on a postcard…
Chesham kept on pressing and the home bench were concerned. “Don’t sit too deep. We are inviting pressure,” came the instruction from the bench.
We wondered how much injury time would be added and guessed that with the bookings, substitutions and goals, there must be at least five minutes.
There seemed to be more twists and turns in turns in this game than anything a scriptwriter could come up and the drama wasn’t over yet – stoppage time produced even more.
In the second minute of stoppage time Cox, having already been booked and given a final warning, clattered into Stevens, leaving Mr Fielding with little choice than producing a second yellow card. The substitute headed for the changing rooms and Chesham’s slim chance of forcing a draw looked even slimmer.
However, the visitors forward and Marsala hit a left-foot drive from the edge of the area which the diving Smith turned round the left-hand post. This led to two successive corners and when Aylesbury failed to clear the second, Burnell fed Archer who fired home at close range – 4-3! The goal was timed at 90+5 minutes and I reckoned their must have been at least a minute still to play.
Aylesbury got forward from the restart and keeper Haywood, who had been up with the attack before the last goal, did well to turn round a low angled drive from Schmidt. The corner was just what the home side needed to wind down the clock and Chesham knew the game was up when the referee checked both watches before blowing the final whistle.
Naturally the home side were jubilant and celebrated with a team hug in the centre circle. Now they could really dream of a potential Fourth Qualifying Round tie against the likes of Luton Town or Oxford United.
Goals:
1-0 Craig Henney (15 pen)
1-1 Chris Bangura (35)
2-1 Craig Henney (40)
3-1 Craig Henney (47)
4-1 Danny Gudgeon (48 og)
4-2 Chis Bangura (49)
4-3 Leon Archer (90)
