Manager Neil Trebble named his latest loan capture Kieron Deane in the starting line-up, and there was a place on the bench for winger Nick Jackson, who was unlucky enough to break his wrist shortly after joining the club in January.

Unfortunately, another early lapse in concentration by the Ducks cost them a goal. A long throw launched into the area by Karl Johnson was inadvertently flicked on by an Aylesbury defender, and the ball dropped to left-back Dave Haywood who crashed his effort home. 1-0 Halesowen

The goal only seemed to spur United on though, and after a period of regrouping, they began to fight their way back into the game. Their first real effort on goal came though a free-kick, which striker Deane drove towards goal but caused keeper Coleman no problems.

Mark Bridge was next to test the home stopper, collecting the ball 25-yards out after a misplaced pass his shot was on target but lacked the necessary power.

Halesowen then had a strong claim for a penalty turned down, after the ball appeared to strike Matt Hayward on the hand in the area, and striker Howard Forinton was booked for protesting his side's case too strongly.

Yeltz's Alex Cowley then called Reece Kirk to make the best save of the game. Dribbling inside with the ball, Cowley went for goal but his effort was deflected up and Kirk did superbly to readjust and claw the ball away.

United were continuing to probe, and were playing some nice football at times, unaided by a dreadful playing surface. The best chance of the first half fell to Kyle Kilmartin, as the ball bobbled through to him he skewed his shot badly wide with the whole goal to aim at.

Just before the interval the lively Deane went close again, with a shot that was deflected wide, as United ended the half with plenty of reasons to be positive.

Half-time: Halesowen 1-0 Aylesbury

The first half had been scrappy, but the second half started as a non-event, culminating in a midfield stalemate of aerial challenges.

Nick Jackson had replaced Kilmartin at half-time, and looked menacing on the rare occasions he received possession at the start of the second half.

The home side were the first to threaten after the restart, Simon Forsdick collecting a misplaced clearance from Kirk, but his lobbed effort dropped wide to the Aylesbury keeper's relief.

After Gould headed a corner straight at Coleman, Halesowen had another chance, with what was their best move of the game. Forsdick did well to race onto a long ball, play it back to Haywood who delivered a pinpoint cross which Aylesbury's Hayward managed to divert out for a corner.

Another neat move followed, but Cowley couldn't make it pay, his weak effort going straight through to Kirk.

Then came the moment that United snatched the goal they deserved, although in truth it was against the run of play at that time. Jackson did superbly to dribble in from the right flank, and go for goal with his left foot with a sublime effort that found the back of the net. 1-1

Aylesbury deserved their goal for their work rate throughout the match, and Leon Gutzmore could have won it for them with ten minutes remaining. A throw-in found its way to the strikers' feet, but he lashed his shot over the bar from just inside the area.

Dean Powles also had a good chance, after running though with the ball, but placed his shot wide of the post as a second goal just seemed out of United's reach.

Perhaps the team sensed this too, as they found themselves under the cosh towards the end of the match.

Scott Hadland hit a free-kick straight at Aylesbury's wall, and Haywood saw his follow up blocked, as United defended strongly to the end.

Another free-kick followed minutes later, but again Halesowen couldn't find the target - this time Forinton drove the ball low but wide across goal, an effort that marked the end of the match, and an important point won for the Ducks.