Comeback experts

Never knowing when they are beaten is one of the great strengths of the Aylesbury United Ladies team and that was required again on Sunday as they took on Chinnor Ladies at home in the league. The game was played in very unseasonable weather more akin to May than February with a solid pitch that took a little getting used to.

Just two minutes into the game a mistake from Aylesbury allowed Chinnor to take the lead but after this the first half was fairly even with both sides making, and missing, good chances. With ten minutes to go before the end of the half Chinnor extended their lead but Aylesbury responded straight away. The ball was passed out to Beanie Cameron on the right who took it past the defender before crossing it into the middle where Tiana Phillips-Maynard flicked it past the keeper to make it 2-1 to the visitors at half time.

The second half did not start well for Aylesbury as two further Chinnor goals in the first fifteen minutes extended their lead to 4-1 leaving Aylesbury with a mountain to climb. But this is where their never give in spirit comes to the fore. On twenty minutes they got a goal back as Amber Chalmers played a ball over the Chinnor defence for Tiana to collect and knock it over their keeper for her second of the match. With six minutes to play Aylesbury were still two behind but then came the real comeback with two goals which resulted in the game ending in a draw. The first came from Angie Lunnon who collected the ball on the edge of the box before shooting wide to the keepers left. The comeback was completed in injury time as an Amber corner eventually came to Clare Knowler who stuck it into the net for a 4-4 final score.

Although it was probably not their best performance of the season Aylesbury never gave in and completed a brilliant comeback, showing great attitude and persistence to remain fourth in the league. Tiana was voted joint player-of-the-match, for her workrate and goals, alongside Sarah Gerrard for her solid defensive display and leadership.