Battling performance

Aylesbury United Ladies went into Sunday's home game against Banbury United Women's Development knowing it would be a difficult game having lost to them by a single goal in November. It was another close game which had goals and incident but ended with what was probably the right result.

The game started fairly evenly with both teams attacking at times but both defences managed well and kept things tight. On the 13th minute, however, a ball over the top beat the retreating Aylesbury defence and the Banbury striker took it well and lobbed the advancing keeper. Aylesbury did not let their heads go down though and kept pushing forward. Just before the half hour their hard work paid off and they equalised when a Sarah Jackson corner was headed on by Amber Chalmers and finished off by Sarah Gerrard to make it 1-1. Within ten minutes, however, it was 2-2. Banbury scored first as they took advantage of a very close offside shout but within a minute Aylesbury had equalised again after a Sarah Jackson free kick was missed by the keeper and Rachel Saunders put it into the net.

The second half was a very tight affair and it took until eight minutes from the end for the next goal with Banbury scoring to take the lead for the third time. Once again Aylesbury showed their character and following a change of formation they pushed on and caused Banbury all sorts of problems. They got their just rewards in the second minute of injury time and equalised again. A long diagonal ball out to the left by Angie Lunnon was chased by Tiana Phillips-Maynard who beat the keeper to the ball and managed to knock it across the goal. Rachel Saunders was there again and played it forward before a Banbury defender knocked it into their own net whilst trying to clear. The game finished 3-3 which was probably a fair result. Aylesbury United Ladies should be very proud of themselves for their battling, 'never give-up' attitude which will serve them well as they go forward.