Aylesbury United set a new club record of 24 matches unbeaten – a tremendous run stretching back to mid-November – with a 1-1 Spartan South Midlands draw at Stotfold.

That was the positive element.

On the negative side, for the second successive away game, a cheaply conceded goal in the second half had them pegged back to drop a crucial two points having been in a winning position.

Perhaps it was inevitable given the team’s exertions in the previous Saturday’s win over Oxhey Jets, but Aylesbury never had the same energy to their play as it appeared the hectic schedule had finally caught up with them.

The match had started perfectly for United when, in the first minute, Liam Smyth played a fine ball over the defence for Louis Austin to run on and slot past George Darlow in the Stotfold goal. 1-0 Aylesbury

Any thoughts that the visitors would go on and comfortably dominate the match were quickly unfounded, with Aylesbury far from in control as they were thankful to defenders Jack Wood and Steve Hatch – both having very good games – for keeping the hosts at bay on numerous occasions.

Stotfold broke through for a first meaningful effort after 17 minutes when a miss-hit clearance fell straight to Paul Garrett, but the Ambers’ top scorer snatched at his six-yard shot and it was straight at Jack Sillitoe.

Three minutes later another nervy attempted clearance also only found its way to Garrett, this time further out, as he cut in on the edge of the box before pulling a reverse shot wide of goal.

Guilty of too many long balls all evening, when Aylesbury did find their passing groove was when they had most attacking joy, as in the 23rd minute. A good move saw Ben Butler release Stacey Field who found Butler running into the box, who in turn teed up Paul Edgeworth, but he shot straight at Darlow.

Another good move ten minutes from the interval saw the ball worked down the left and into the path of Field whose low effort lacked the direction to beat Darlow, who was able to save with his legs.

Darlow was soon required to make his best save of the match when, on the end of a flowing counter attack, Ben Butler was picked out on the run and his left footed piledriver was well tipped over by the home custodian.

The subsequent corner kicks came to nothing for Aylesbury, before Stotfold were forced into a double substitution due to injury with Matthew Clark and Mark Ellis introduced to the action just prior to half time.

Half-time: Stotfold 0-1 Aylesbury

Stotfold went close straight from the restart when an ambitious effort from Garrett was heading wide, only for Sean Herr to arrive late and attempt to steer the ball goalwards, narrowly missing the near post.

Darlow again denied Aylesbury with his legs as this time Butler poked the ball goalwards at the near post after Zac Reynolds had delivered.

The game degenerated into a stop-start affair, punctuated by knocks to both sides, with Aylesbury’s Steve Hatch twice requiring treatment after strong challenges on him.

On 65 minutes the Ducks nearly snuck a second goal through Reynolds, whose searching ball into the area missed out strikers Austin and Field, curved at the last moment and almost found the bottom corner, only for the reactions of Darlow to rescue Stotfold again.

The corner kick was taken deep where Austin touched it back to Field who slammed a shot the wrong side of the upright.

At the other end the home side’s strong front pairing were still largely being kept at bay by the Ducks, but Garrett did fashion one effort which he dragged well wide after the ball was levered down to him.

Another break in play for injury lead to Aylesbury’s first substitution, as Shane Wood was forced out of the game to be replaced by Bill Morgan.

With the minutes ticking by and Stotfold yet to seriously test Jack Sillitoe, disaster struck with a goal out of nothing. Herr’s long range effort would have been more adequate as a backpass than shot, but Sillitoe was left red faced as he somehow allowed the ball to squirm through his body and trickle over the line. 1-1

Aylesbury now needed to raise their game in a way they’d been unable to do for the entirety of the match to that point, but they pressed hard in the aftermath of the equaliser and were prevented a sight of goal by some heroic defending.

The Ambers countered with a shot over the bar, before United themselves hit back and when a cross was deflected behind the goal the game was paused again after club stalwart Wendy Brandon was struck in the face by the ball.

When the corner did come in, Hatch guided it goalwards with his head where Baines dived in to apply a second header, but it was straight at Darlow.

That, unfortunately, was as close as the Ducks were to come as their attacks in the remaining ten minutes of a lengthy period injury time were too often rushed or over complicated, summed up by Louis Austin skying a shot with the last kick of the game.

Despite making history, the players were quick to get off the pitch at full time, clearly feeling they had nothing to celebrate.

The team need to pick themselves up quickly and go again with another tough away game just 48-hours later at Hanwell Town.