FA Cup preliminary round

STUART Hole missed a late penalty as North Leigh had to settle for a draw at Aylesbury yesterday.

Although not at their best, a draw was the least Mark Gee’s men deserved, but it could have been so much better had Hole’s penalty not cannoned against the bar.

North Leigh will now entertain Aylesbury at Eynsham Park tomorrow, with the winners facing a trip to Leatherhead.

North Leigh’s first notable attack came on 19 minutes when Brian Bowles saw a shot from close range well-saved by Aylesbury keeper Jack Sillitoe.

Elliott Osborne-Ricketts was unlucky with an effort on 35 minutes as he was thwarted by Sillitoe.

Aylesbury had the best chance of the half when a strike from Ben Baines was deflected, and North Leigh keeper Sam Warrell diverted the ball around a post.

In the second half, North Leigh were playing down the slope and it seemed only a matter of time before they opened the scoring.

Bowles, Osborne-Ricketts and John Mills all went close, but as the half wore on, they lost the initiative.

Aylesbury created a number of chances after introducing lively forward Melford Simpson up front, but North Leigh defended admirably.

Two minutes from time, the visitors missed a great chance to snatch victory.

A ball into the box was handled by an Aylesbury defender, and Hole, normally so reliable with penalties, struck his kick powerfully against the crossbar.

The drama hadn’t quite finished as Simpson was denied by Warrell, who made a fine save to ensure the replay.