Milton Utd v Aylebury Utd

Milton started the game knowing that the 10 available players would get a 90min workout against last season Bucks League & Cup Winners who turned up with a squad of 15.
The attitude and effort of the newly formed Milton side so early in the season was a shock to all as they took an early lead through the always impressive Nat Mutamba, this was followed shortly after with her second of the game after a powerful run through the Aylesbury defence. Things got even better for the home side when Jordan Harris rounded of some nice team football with her first goal for Milton.
After losing two defenders in the closed season the defence is still a work in progress, with goalkeeper Molly Ripley filling in at left back, but were rarely troubled until Aylesbury caught them on the counter attack to score and finish the half 3-1 down.

Long standing injury for Em Brown saw her unable to return for the second half so a quick restructure for the nine remaining players and a swap of keepers with Amy Fisher swapping positions with Molly and the instructions to ease their way into the half in order to conserve energy for the final 20mins was, as per usual, completely ignored and Milton extended their lead with a superb debut goal for Katie Miller who impressed throughout the game. Hardworking Gemma Archer had to sit out a 25min spell after a clash of heads and the team was reduced to 8v11 but still somehow dominated with Maisie Thomson and Mollie Merrett controlling the back line and working on long balls to the now shattered attack force of Harris, Miller, Mutamba and the always consistent Gemma O'Donovan who worked tirelessly for the team during the whole game.
The home side extended their lead when Harris broke from just inside Aylesbury half and put the game beyond doubt. Aylesbury still had enough time for a superb second goal with a strike from 30yds that dipped just under the bar.
Final scoreline of 5-2 was not the important factor this evening but the performance and team spirit shown will be needed for every single game for the next 8months, with poss the smallest squad in the league making it hard for us to compete week in week out its the bond these players have that see them work so hard for each other that we will be a problem for any team we play