Aylesbury got back on the winning trail by cantering to a 3-1 win over Biggleswade United, but they could easily have doubled their score had they been more clinical in the final third.
Biggleswade visited Bell Close in 8th place in the league so were certainly a threat to be taken seriously, but on the day their team ? apparently much decimated by injury ? offered little resistance to United?s at times sumptuous football.
Messrs Wood, Christon and Edgeworth had all recovered from injury to be handed starting places, whilst Joey Acheampong was recalled to the starting line-up in place of the absent Craig Townsend in one of two changes to the side which struggled at Kentish Town a week earlier.
The other was a debut for Chesham reserve keeper Joe Purcell who had been drafted in as cover for the suspended Jack Sillitoe. He couldn?t have asked for a quieter start to his brief Aylesbury career as, aside from the goal which he was given no chance with, there was little for him to do.
It took just five minutes for the Ducks to threaten, as Edgeworth and Gordon masterminded a free-kick routine which resulted in Aylesbury?s skipper curling a shot just past Adam Lawrence?s goal.
Lea Coulter went close two minutes later when Acheampong played the ball into the box for him, Coulter controlling well but lashing his shot wide.
Acheampong had an excellent game and more sterling work saw him drive to the byline before cutting back for the waiting Edgeworth who made a mess of his finish with the ball spooning past the goal before being cleared.
For all of Aylesbury?s control of the game and Biggleswade?s apparent fragilities, it was still the visitors who surprisingly took the lead after 20 minutes with their only shot on goal of the half. It was a well crafted goal though, with the ball squeezed across the area for the waiting Rohan DeRoses who made no mistake from the edge of the box. 1-0 Biggleswade
The goal was a bolt out of the blue, but it proved only to be a minor irritation as the Ducks were soon back on the attack ? Mulholland somehow heading wide a gilt-edged chance at a corner kick.
Biggleswade had the lead for just seven minutes before Aylesbury struck back. A superb pass forwards from the impressive Carl Clay released Coulter and although he couldn?t finish under pressure from a defender, the ball broke perfectly for Baines to rifle into the net. 1-1
A minute later and Biggleswade had Lawrence to thank for keeping the scores level when Coulter?s fine delivery was headed goalwards by Edgeworth only for Lawrence to athletically tip over the bar.
It continued to be constant Aylesbury pressure and Kean shot wide in a flowing movement which saw him control the ball, pirouette and shoot all in one. Lawrence then made another great save to deny Baines this time who fired Wood?s dangerous ball goalwards only for the keeper to tip wide.
Chances continued to come with Baines and Acheampong running amuck amongst the visitors? struggling defence ? but as comedy of errors followed comedy of errors nobody from Aylesbury could stick the ball away.
That changed in the 43rd minute though with a well worked goal. A left sided throw in was flicked on by Baines to Acheampong who held the ball up for an eternity in the box before cutting it back for Kean to produce a neat low drive just inside Lawrence?s post. 2-1 Aylesbury
Half-time: Aylesbury 2-1 Biggleswade
With the game turned on its head, the last thing Biggleswade would have wanted was to concede an early second half goal ? but that?s exactly what they got. It was another fine move from Aylesbury with the ball swept out to Coulter on the left and his low cross picked out the arriving Baines perfectly who slid in between two defenders to score. 3-1 Aylesbury
With the game effectively settled as a contest it looked like a case of ?how many? for Aylesbury, particularly as further chances came in quick succession.
Robbie Kean couldn?t turn Baines? ball across goal home four minutes later, before Acheampong had a good chance but couldn?t get a shot away in time amongst more dreadful defending. Baines then flashed a header wide from Wood?s delivered and Acheampong robbed Sean Murray before going for goal with an effort which was caught easily enough by Lawrence.
Substitute Jamie O?Grady struck a fierce drive inches wide of the target after another raking pass from Clay had set him free.
But as the minutes ticked by Aylesbury began to take their foot off the pedal and were unable to maintain the same level of pressure on their opponents and there was a rare spell of Biggleswade attacking play but no end result
Top scorer Sean Murray strode forwards out of defence before hitting a weak effort which caused Purcell no problems. Two minutes later a similar effort from Craig Meyrick also went wide.
There was still no menace to Biggleswade?s play as they were being comfortably kept at arms length by the Ducks who then had a shot cleared off the line after some fantastic play by Carl Clay released Coulter but his goalbound effort was blocked at the last.
In the final minutes Emefuna went close with a shot that flashed across the box with Baines closing in looking for a hat-trick, but Aylesbury were satisfied with their win and another three points.
