Call the police!

Aylesbury United Ladies produced a strong start to the season with a battling, positive performance against Chinnor Ladies.

Aylesbury started the game well with Casey Toovey making use of the wing in her new position of right back, playing next to the club captain, Sarah Gerrard, who made some crucial tackles in defence. After 16 minutes Chinnor scored a goal from a corner with a lobbed cross-shot to make it 1-0 but that did not stop a fighting Aylesbury from pushing forward. In the 22nd minute, Sara Madden-Connor passed the ball forward to Amber Chalmers who played a perfect through ball to Sarah Jackson who placed it nicely in the back of the net to equalise. Just before the end of the first half, Aylesbury’s Keeper Gemma Warner stopped Chinnor in their tracks twice. Once she reacted quickly to a through ball and then just a couple of minutes later she made a fingertip save to ensure it was level at half time.

The second half was fairly even although Aylesbury made the best chances and could easily have taken the lead especially from corners with some lovely balls played into the box by Krissy Mullen. On another day they may have had a penalty to take the lead but it was not to be and their luck was really out when, with just ten minutes to go, Sara MC received a heavy blow to the head and had to go off. In the subsequent injury time Chinnor got the winner as a long throw into the Aylesbury box took a wicked bounce over the keeper and allowed an easy tap in at the back post.

Aylesbury should hold their heads high after a really good performance against last year's Division 1 side and can go into the next game, and the rest of the season, with confidence. A couple of special mentions: Firstly to Kayleigh Mott who had a fantastic game down the right wing and deservedly was awarded player of the match, and secondly to Alice Hall who unfortunately did not get on the pitch today due to the closeness of the match but showed great team spirit. Finally, thoughts to Catherine Wareham who injured herself in the warm up.