GAME I
Cookham Dean 1
Aylesbury 1

Aylesbury arrive on the minute forcing a late kick off but launching themselves right into the game from the off, firing the ball into Cookham’s goal area and unsettling our lads early on.

The opening minutes of this shortened (20minutes per half) game were scrappy with some dusty to and fro on this rock hard late spring pitch, then Harry took control, pushing back up at the Aylesbury midfield and on to Miles for a lovely knock onto Luke, who was looking hungry for goals today and immediately lobbed the goal for a near miss.

Moments later Aylesbury conceded a free kick which quickly moved the ball onto Luke, who in the blink of an eye had dispatched the ball well for a Goal.

Now it was Aylesbury’s turn to look scrappy with the midfield starting to control the game a little more, Mikey fighting for every possession, and Miles putting in a neat cross followed by a sailing corner and another close call on goal.

Unfortunately one too many snatched passes and basic errors found Aylesbury edging themselves back into the game, as Cookham started to push harder Aylesbury were just stringing together more of the passes and closing down the ball too tightly.

The Aylesbury counters were convincing, and there was a growing sense that this was a team that were playing at their best against a team that were struggling to raise their game, and forcing Ben and Jake at the back into constant defensive action.

The second twenty minute half found Cookham looking instantly more convincing, and the lads were quick to press on against the run of first half play, with Louie pushing himself into the fray, and an intelligent pass up to Sam opening up the game, PJ running on sharply for a corner resulting in a nice one-two followed by an almost lobbed goal from Sam.

But Aylesbury had built their confidence well during the first half and were quickly back at us, the comments murmured from the sideline that a goal was surely imminent anticipating the next minute, as Aylesbury netted themselves an equaliser.

After a promising start Cookham were once again snatching the passes and being closed down well by an Aylesbury team whose tails were up and who could sense a possible win today. The next few minutes consisted of 4 saves from Tom in quick succession and the Aylesbury number 10 roaming down the flank at will.

More hot-potato football, with an eager and unstoppable Ethan muscling his way onto every ball closed out a second half where Cookham were lucky to get away with a draw.