Great start to 2018

After seven weeks with no game Aylesbury United Ladies went into Sunday's game at home to Milton Keynes City Reserves not knowing how the lengthy break was going to affect them. They need not have worried! Although the lack of match fitness was beginning to tell by the end, the brilliant team spirit and hard work ethic was not missing. Aylesbury United set themselves up with a strong striker, Amber Chalmers, holding the ball up and looking for the pace of fellow striker Catherine Wareham. This plan worked and led to several chances for goals in the first half but it was not until the 44th minute when they got their reward as Amber played a ball through to Catherine who took it past the keeper and shot into the net to make it 1-0 at half time. Amber and Catherine were supported brilliantly by Kayleigh Mott on the right wing and some fantastic passing and tackling from Sara Madden-Connor in the centre of midfield.

Aylesbury had to defend really well throughout the game but especially in the second half as MK City pushed forward to try and get the equaliser. Aylesbury were saved a couple of times by the cross bar and several times by player-of-the-match, Alice Hall, who was playing her first game in goal, but overall it was a fantastic defensive performance to maintain the lead. Sarah Gerrard and Anne Whytewood, both playing their first game after a long time out with injury, worked hard alongside Beth Cameron and kept things tight at the back but the whole of the whole team played incredibly well and deserved the win to give a great start to the new year.