The Woods must learn to concentrate better at the beginning and ends of both halves of games. On Saturday Mark Barnham’s young side conceded goals at the start of each half – and then saw Aylesbury grab the winning score two minutes into stoppage time.

The Northwood manager had to reckon within a lengthy list of players, including injury victims Kyle Matthews, Scott Orphanou, John Christian and Ryan Tackley, whilst Mark Burgess was suspended and Mitch Swain unavailable.

Aylesbury, in their first season at this level after winning the Spartan South Midlands League last time around, got off to a flying start inside two minutes, when a slip by makeshift central defender Anthony Page let in Glen Hawkins, who fed Ryan Barnes, and he was able to take his time before placing his shot into the corner of Takunda Marevesa’s net. And Barnes was only playing due to Charlie Collins injuring a hamstring during the warm-up, which forced Aylesbury to alter their starting line-up!

Woods responded well, and a quick break saw Leon Osei’s drive pushed away for a corner by home keeper Steve Smith. And on six minutes Dean Wallace sent in a free-kick from the left – awarded after a foul on Osei – and teenage striker Romaine Walker fired home at the back post for his first senior goal.

Osei continued to threaten with another run on left, before laying the ball back for debutant Massih Mirzai to cross, and Walker was inches away from connecting. But in the 19th minute skipper Murray Williamson sent Walker free with a fine defence-splitting pass, and the nippy front man calmly slotted past the advancing Smith to give the visitors the lead.

A minute later Aylesbury should have been level when the unmarked Hawkins headed wide of an empty net, though soon after Woods went close once more. Osei ran powerfully at the home defence, and the ball fell for Williamson to let fly, but Mark Boyce was able to clear the ball off the line at the expense of a corner.

As the play flowed from end to end, Danny Mead spurned a good chance for Aylesbury, shooting wide when well-placed, and shortly before the interval Woods custodian Marevesa made a flying save to keep out a powerful strike from Dean Brennan. And there was still time for Aylesbury to go close, when Gareth Price took advantage as Marevesa slipped, but Page got back to clear the danger.

Woods should have taken heed of the warnings at the end of the first period, but instead it took Aylesbury just three minutes to get back on level terms. Danny Mead’s cross from the right flank was met by a powerful header from Blake, and although Marevesa got his hands to the ball, he was unable to keep it out.

The visitors had a good shout for a penalty within sixty seconds of the goal, when the lively Walker was clearly clipped in the box, but referee Chris Evans continued his very average performance by ignoring the Woods’ claims.

Hawkins shot over for Aylesbury on 54 minutes after Urquhart had lost possession to Blake, but Walker continued to be a threat at the other end, and after a nippy run on the left, he laid the ball back to Dean Wallace, whose 18-yard side-foot effort went inches wide of the post.

Both sides continue to create openings, with Hawkins and then Blake heading over for the homesters, whilst at the other end, Walker was twice thwarted by keeper Smith blocking his shots with his legs.

The points could still have gone either way into the closing stages, but in the last minute of normal time Urquhart hammered a 20 yard free-kick over the bar for Northwood’s last effort. Then two minutes into stoppage time Glen Hawkins fired past Marevesa from 12 yards to claim Aylesbury’s winning goal – though there was still time for Marevesa’s save to prevent Blake from netting a third.

Report by KEN GREEN

Photos by James Brown