Sevenoaks Town were knocked out of the FA Trophy after succumbing to a 4-2 defeat at the hands of Southern League Division One Central side Aylesbury United.
The home side scored the opening goal after just eight minutes which came from the penalty spot for a handball. Aylesbury scored three goals in three minutes midway through the first half to give themselves a two-goal cushion after 27 minutes. Sevenoaks managed to pull a goal back in the 73rd minute, but Aylesbury killed the game off in added time with their fourth goal of the evening, and they will they will play Haywards Heath in the first qualifying round.
Both sides were looking to progress to the first qualifying round after the initial 2-2 draw at the weekend. Aylesbury’s pre-match preparations were disrupted as they had to make two changes. Mark Riddick and Dave O’Connor only arrived at the ground ten minutes before kick off so they were replaced by, two more attack-minded players, Sydney Ibie and Ben Seaton.
But it was the away side who had the opening chances. The first chance of the game came shortly after kick-off in the first minute. Aylesbury’s Sydney Ibie did well to go past a couple of defenders and get a shot away from about 20 yards but his effort went well wide of the goal. But Ibie’s and Aylesbury’s intentions were clear from kick-off.
Sevenoaks’ first opportunity came after 6 minutes after good build up play from Kyle De Silva. The neat move ended in a well-timed through ball from Fraser Walker and a good effort from Frankie Sawyer, which required an equally good save by Jack Hopwood in the Aylesbury goal. From the resulting corner, the initial ball was only half cleared and fell to the unmarked Sevenoaks player on the edge of the box who unleashed a fierce shot which struck a defender. The referee adjudged that it was handball and pointed to the spot to give Sevenoaks an opportunity to take the lead. De Silva converted the spot-kick, calmly slotting the ball into the corner, despite the keeper going the right way.
Aylesbury’s best chance came in the 13th minute. A cross from the by-line flashed across the face of goal and only needed an amber shirt to knock the ball in and they would have found themselves level just five minutes after falling behind. This was then followed up with a deep cross from Manu on the left wing to the back post which was headed just wide.
Sevenoaks had a free kick in a good position in the 17th minute. However, the free kick was delayed after Sevenoaks’ Tom Ripley received treatment. The free kick was eventually taken and was headed away for a corner and from the resulting corner, Ripley himself, was able to get a free header on goal but it went the wrong side of the post. That was Ripley’s last involvement in the game as he was replaced by Jack Miles.
The second goal of the evening came in the 24th minute. Aylesbury looked comfortable in possession on the halfway line then suddenly the ball flew into the net from just inside the touchline from about 40 yards out. David Manu tried his luck and managed to catch the keeper and a few people in the ground off guard, with his rather speculative but superb pinpoint effort, which just managed to dip enough to nestle inside the Sevenoaks goal.
One minute later, shortly after play restarted, and Aylesbury took the lead. A slightly overhit ball forward caused a bit of confusion in the Sevenoaks defence. Patrick Lee came out of his goal to slide in to clear the ball, ahead of his teammate, however he didn’t manage to clear the two Aylesbury attackers who were there to knock the ball in from the edge of the area. It was Ben Seaton who punished the rather lapse defending and knocked the ball into the empty net.
The Ducks found themselves with a two goal cushion with a third goal in three minutes. Anthony Ball surged forward into the box from right-back. His initial powerful drive was well saved by Leebut the rebound fell to Anthony Ball who just about managed to ensure the ball found a way in. Sevenoaks’ Nathan Gordon’s best efforts weren’t quite enough to keep the deficit to just one.
With five minutes until half time, Sevenoaks attempted to get a goal back with a neat ball over the Aylesbury defence which was a touch too heavy and went all the way through to Hopwood in the Aylesbury goal. A minute later and a loose ball in the middle of the pitch was eventually picked up by an amber shirt who carried the ball unchallenged before getting a shot away on the edge of the area. However, the ball went wide and didn’t challenge the keeper who had it covered.
A flurry of chances came just before half time. From a corner Aylesbury were able to get a free header on goal away but the effort from Jordan Jenkins lacked any power and went over the goal without challenging Lee in goal.
Aylesbury then had a couple of counter attacks. Ben Seaton provided a good through ball for the second break following a Sevenoaks free kick but his ball was cut out. Following that, a cross from the right along the edge of the box found its way to an unmarked Manu on the edge of the box who sent a well-directed half-volley towards goal which was well saved by Lee to prevent further damage to the score-line before half time.
Ten minutes into the second half and Sevenoaks hit the frame of the goal. A determined run from Ainsley Everett down the right wing into the box was followed by a shot from the right-hand corner of the box which smashed against the frame of the goal.
Just after the hour mark, Sevenoaks found themselves with a free kick in a good position about 30 yards out after a good run by Fraser Walker but were unable to take advantage. From the resulting corner Aylesbury made a good block before launching a counter attack, at the other end shots from the captain Jack Wood and Sydney Ibie were well blocked by the Sevenoaks defence.
Sevenoaks then came close to halving the deficit down the other end. Tyrell Richardson-Brown followed up a good run with a good curling shot from the right-hand corner of the box which beat the goalkeeper but hit the bar.
Oaks’ came close to their desired equaliser when a good shot from close range was well saved by Hopwood who stayed big. The home side’s second did come when former Crystal Palace youngster De Silva sent a good finish into the bottom corner from just inside the box.
Three minutes later and a good cross-field ball by substitute Louis Collins to an unmarked De Silva just outside the box was blazed well over.
Aylesbury brought on further defensive reinforcements but Sevenoaks had a big chance to equalise just before the 90 minutes were up. A cross from the left was just taken off the Sevenoaks attacker just before he was about to pull the trigger and then an Oaks player got in the way of the follow-up shot.
Aylesbury finally killed the game off in added time, breaking away in numbers and forcing Lee to make two good saves from Deacon and French but Manu was on hand to ensure the Ducks progress into the next round.
Sevenoaks Town: Lee, Walker, Gordon, Fowler, Ripley (Miles 20), Gorham, De Silva, Schafer, Richardson-Brown, Sawyer, Everett (Collins 71)
Subs not used: Stone, Fiddes, Cumber, Tenyue
Goal scorers: De Silva (8 pen, 73)
Aylesbury United: Hopwood, Ball (Osbourne 81), Bewley, Wood, Jenkins, Seaton (Riddick 66), Ibie (O’Connor 73), Hogg, Deacon, French, Manu
Subs not used: Williams
Goal scorers: Manu (24, 90), Seaton (25), Ball (27)
Referee: Mr C Bartlett
Assistants: Mr D Barrow and Mr D Ellis
Attendance: 145