IT’S THE MAX AND SHEP SHOW

Another impressive performance from the lads saw us complete the double over our local rivals Aylesbury Vale Dynamos. Haywood’s Way hasn’t always been a happy hunting ground for us in past years and this was only our 5th win there in 13 visits.

Our hosts put in a spirited performance, played some good football and enjoyed a lot of possession but failed to break through our rock solid defence and barely troubled keeper Dan Gould. Our back four of Harry Jones, Greg Deer, Dave O’Connor and Adam Sawyer were all outstanding and when Dynamos did have an attempt at goal it was inevitably blocked. However, it was all round a very good team performance supplemented by a brace of goals from Max Hercules and a cracker from Harry Shepherd.

There was little goalmouth action during the first quarter of the game with our hosts first opportunity falling to Jake Baldwin in the 20th minute but his shot was well saved by Dan Gould. Dynamos were undoubtedly handicapped when their leading scorer and talisman Jake Baldwin went off injured after 36 minutes.

We started slowly but came to life in the 26th minute to open the scoring with a fine team goal. Harry Shepherd started the move by winning possession and releasing Ben Kakembo down the right. Ben used his speed and strength to hold off the defender and then have the awareness to square the ball to Max Hercules who thumped a shot past the keeper. Score 0-1.

Four minutes later we doubled our lead when a flick from Max Hercules hit the arm of a defender just inside the box. It seemed harsh but the Referee was close to the incident and awarded the penalty without hesitation. With regular penalty taker George Carbery on the bench the task was taken up by Max Hercules who made no mistake from the spot to double his tally and give us a commanding lead with his 22nd goal of the season. Score 0-2.
Just before half time we reprised the same move that led to the opening goal with Ben again surging down the right and pulling the ball back to Max Hercules but with the hat-trick in his grasp he failed to put the chance away.

So we ended a very good half with a positive 2 goal lead but knowing that if Dynamos could pull a goal back they would be right back in it. HT Score 0-2.

There was a touch of déjà vu to the opening moments of the second half as Ben Kakembo once again burst past the home defence down the right and whipped a cross over that Max Hercules just failed to get on the end of.

We needed a 3rd goal to kill off the game but full credit to our opponents who kept going in search of a goal that would get them back in the game but we were well organised and defended superbly well.

We could have wrapped up the game in the 79th minute when Frankie Hercules picked out Harry Shepherd who fired a good chance over the bar. But Shep made amends 3 minutes later when Jonah Howgego and Jack Harvey combined to feed him the ball and he rifled an unstoppable shot past the keeper. It was reminiscent of the goal Shep scored in the Herts Charity Shield final in the 4-0 win over Oxhey Jets. Score 0-3.

Late in the game George Carbery could have got on the score sheet with a shot and then a header but there were no more goals and we picked up 3 more valuable points that keeps us in 6th place in the table. FT Score 0-3.

This was a very good team performance and result against a side that has lost only 2 of their last 6 games. We have been on a good run of results losing only 1 of our last 11 games and that was against Real Bedford who were crowned as Champions on the same night after they beat London Lions 2-0 at home whilst MK Irish, their only challenger, drew 0-0 at Cockfosters.

It was also satisfying to keep another clean sheet for the 3rd game on the trot and our 7th out of the last 11 games during we have scored 22 goals.

We only have 2 league games left at home to Baldock Town on Saturday then away at Leverstock Green the following Tuesday. We also face Leverstock Green in the Semi-Final of the St Marys Cup so we could end the season with a cup final so let’s get behind the players and give them a lot of support.

Team:

TA: Dan Gould, Harry Jones, Adam Sawyer, G Deer (Capt), Dave O’Connor, Harry Shepherd, Harrison Mead (Jonah Howgego 71), Noah Butler (Luke Peerless 77), Jack Harvey (George Carbery 83), Max Hercules (Frankie Hercules 59), Ben Kakembo.

Scorers

TA: Max Hercules (26, Pen 30), Harry Shepherd (82)

Crowd: 109