AFc 2 aylesbury utd 0

AFC Dunstable 2 Aylesbury United 0 (1-0 Half time)

Southern League Central Division 1

Creasey Park, Tuesday 21st October 2025.

Attendance – 117

Match report by Richard Church.

Both teams arrived at Creasey Park on pretty bad runs and sitting a lot nearer the bottom of the league than they would like making this a very early season six pointer. The first 10 minutes or so was very evenly contested with neither team able to carve out any clear chances. Tali had the first opportunity following a decent run through midfield but his tame shot was easily saved by the keeper. Unusually for us, AFC were employing a different tactic of plenty of long balls bypassing midfield but the strikers were not able to get the ball under control, so we seemed to start playing more through the quarters which started to pay off.

With 15 on the clock, Aaron had a cross/shot from out left that flew across the face of goal and went just wide. This was closely followed by a decent shot from Tommy that the keeper just about parried away – the home team definitely on top at this stage. Aylesbury had their first effort on 18 with a very speculative shot that ended well over the bar. AFC continued to push and mid-way through the half Tommy played the ball out to Tali but his first time shot was just wide. 25 gone and an almighty goalmouth scramble saw the ball cleared to Maks who hit a lovely shot that bounced back off the crossbar – so unlucky not to score. Aylesbury did have sporadic opportunities and with 5 minutes off the half to go, they broke down the right and put a lovely ball in that was well dealt with and cleared away for a corner.

With 2 minutes of the half to go, AFC at last made the breakthrough. Following some really good work from Bruce down the right, he cut the ball in to Ike who hit a superb shot in to the top corner giving the keeper no chance to give the ODs a well deserved 1-0 lead going in to half time.

AFC started the second half as brightly as they finished the second and within 3 minutes Tommy showed some lovely skill and composure out wide and played the ball in to Tali. Unfortunately Tali just couldn’t get the ball under enough control quickly enough and his eventual shot was akin to a backpass. Three minutes later Aylesbury broke quickly and a fine shot was superbly tipped over the bar by the dependable Matt in the home goal.

An hour gone and another opportunity for AFC when Carm had a shot from an acute angle that went right across the face of goal and away to safety once more. The home side were definitely on top but could not make their superiority pay and just could not get final shots off to trouble the Aylesbury keeper. The visitors did have their chances and on 67 minutes a looped ball in towards our box was superbly headed away by Bruce to extinguish the attack. Aylesbury took control a little at this stage of the game and should have scored two minutes later following some poor defensive play but another impressive close in save by Matt kept us in front. AFC coped well and began to play themselves back in to the game – Tommy had a decent opportunity but his shot was just wide closely followed by a Tali free kick from the edge of the box that was easily saved by the keeper.

As the game drew to a close, I think we were all getting a little nervous as to whether we would get over the line but the players were coping well and showing some impressive game management. Five minutes were added and it was two minutes in to those that we could finally relax a little. AFC pressed the ball well and Avto forced a mistake from an Aylesbury defender and the ball went out to Tyrone on the left wing. Tyrone ran the ball in to the box, rounded the keeper and shot the ball in to the far side of the net to put us 2-0 up. A superb effort from Tyrone for his first goal for the club. Still time for Aylesbury to have one more half chance but they were kept out and we picked up our first three points since the 12th of August to lift us clear of the relegation zone. Well played lads.  

Man of the match (as decided by the AFC committee) was not an easy choice as there were some excellent performances from a number of players – Tommy and Tali in particular but we decided on Gabriel for his impressive and determined defending. Special mention for George on his debut as skipper – a proper captain’s performance.

Team line up (subs in brackets) ; Matt Bonsu, Aaron Addy (Bruce Nsang 18), Carmichael Uchenna, Mwita Mgoyo, Shawn Joseph, Gabriel Adelowo (Abel Damoah-Kyeremeh 75), Ike Okwusogu (Joel Painsil 85), Tali Jallow, Tommy Blennerhasset (Avto Akhsiashvili 85), George Joyce, Maks Jarzabek (Tyrone Shiham 62).