The ladies season got under way this weekend with defeat in the FA Women's Cup, but despite the scoreline there were many positives to take from the afternoon's performance.
Only five of the players who started the last match of last season began this tie and full credit must be given to the team for matching and at times outplaying their opponents during the first twenty five minutes.
The first chance of the game fell to stand in captain Gemma Butterfield whose strong drive flew just wide, before Hannah Franklin's stinging effort unfortunately also went the wrong side of the post.
Franklin, Kerry Naisbitt and debutante Leigh Reed all had efforts saved following a succession of United corners whilst at the other end new keeper Harriet Parkin pulled off a fine double save.
The strong wind didn't help either side in the first period and much of the play was compressed into the middle of the park leaving United's wide pair of Sally Short and Sakura Fachiri frustrated at the lack of the ball.
The home side are two divisions above the Ducks and once they took the lead they started to look the stronger. On twenty five minutes and against the run of play a well taken goal rather dented Aylesbury's confidence although Hannah Franklin almost made a chance out of nothing when she dispossessed a defender and her chip evaded the keeper but dropped agonisingly wide.
The new look United back four worked tirelessly as the Oxfordshire side pressed forward with Lucy Ilic and Catriona Cameron impressing as a very recently convened central pairing. Aylesbury stalwart Beth Harris and the third of the close season signings from Holmer Green Jen Lambie both got stuck in but two goals either side of the half time interval really left the Ducks with a mountain to climb.
Five minutes into the half Carterton added a fourth as United changed things around a little bringing on three players who featured heavily in last season's reserve set up, the fast improving defender Laura Andrews, and tenacious midfielder Kayleigh Johnston and the vastly experienced Kerry Osborne.
After the substitutions the Ducks had another good spell of pressure with Hannah Franklin just missing the target after some good approach work.
Although the hosts added a fifth late on there was still time for both Johnston and Osborne to work themselves shooting opportunities.
A promising start to the season then after the upheavals of the summer with much promise shown as the side looks to gel together ahead of the start of the league campaign in two weeks.
