Added April 7th 2008 -

Rothwell Town 2 - 2 Aylesbury United

British Gas Business League Division One Midlands

Saturday 5th April 2008

Nice weather for ducks it may have been. But a nice day for the Ducks it wasn't. Aylesbury United went into this Division One Midlands clash still with eyes on the play-offs.

And they may well have seen lowly Rothwell Town as an easy obstacle to clear. But they reckoned without a Bones side who put in a performance of real fight and heart.

In the end Aylesbury were probably quite happy with a point. It was the least Rothwell deserved from a game that was highly entertaining,

And that was an achievement in itself given that referee Chris Knowles seemed determined to be the centre of attention.

Somehow he managed to hand out seven yellow cards – yet seemed to miss most of the major incidents. And it was Rothwell who suffered.

In the first half Adam Cunnington was taken out in the box by the sort of challenge more usually seen at Franklin's Gardens. But no penalty was awarded.

Then, late in the second half, Ian Blakie was clean through and was hacked down. Again no penalty and Blakie, now with a set of stud marks on his shin, was booked for asking why.

However, Mr Knowles' finest moment came on 56 minutes when Cunnington was fouled by Graham as he hooked the ball on for Faizal Koriya.

The Bones winger was away and clear and expecting to be given the advantage. Instead, amid shouts of anger and derision, play was stopped and pulled back so Mr Knowles could book Graham.

When both sides were allowed to play the commitment to attack was commendable with several chances on both sides.

Graham headed Aylesbury into a sixth-minute lead. But Andreas Kattos' spectacular header from a corner eight minutes later levelled things up.

In the second half Cunnington got the goal he deserved to put the Bones 2-1 up on 66 minutes.

The striker then produced a brilliant tackle in his own box to snuff out one Ducks chance at the last.

Graham's second after 79 minutes, following a neat one-two with former Bones player Danny Nicholls, ensured it finished honours even.

Thanks to the Evening Telegraph.

Rothwell: Smith, Bridgeford, Purton, Greasley, Kattus, McInally, Difante (sub Stead, 55 mins), Boyle-Chong, Cunnington, Ritchie-Smith (sub Blakie, 71 mins), Koriya

Aylesbury: Beames, Aslett, Feeley (sub Kavanagh, 50 mins), Leach, Cattell, Stevens, Jones (sub Nicholls, 70 mins), Swonnell, Shed (sub Faulkner, 66 mins), Graham, Mealor. Sub not used: Henney.

Referee: Chris Knowles

Goals: Graham (6 mins, 0-1), Kattus (14 mins, 1-1), Cunnington (66 mins, 2-1), Graham (79 mins, 2-2)

Bookings: Cunnington, Purton, Aslett, Graham (all fouls), Smith, Cattell (both fighting), Blakie (dissent)

Attendance: 137

Chairman's man of the match: Adam Cunnington (tremendous effort, deserved his goal)

Match Rating: 7