Not for the first time in his Aylesbury career, Joey Acheampong earned the title of ‘super sub’ as, just two minutes after coming onto the pitch, his goal broke the resistance of stubborn Chertsey Town to establish an eventual winning position for the Ducks.

The superb Shane Wood launched a long throw into the box, where it was flicked on by Bill Morgan for Acheampong to poke home from close range for a goal Aylesbury’s near-relentless second half pressure had merited.

An eventful match was dramatic even before kickoff, as traffic delays on the M25 left several players and management late arriving, the last of which only reaching Alwyns Lane at 3pm. At one point it looked like the Ducks might be forced to start with nine-men, but in the end the match simply kicked off fifteen minutes behind schedule.

Lack of proper warm up or other pre-match routines had no effect as Aylesbury made a storming start to the game, edging ahead after just seven minutes. Jerome Paul’s stray defensive header landed at the feet of Jack Wood, who cleverly shimmied past two men before planting a fine 25-yard drive into the bottom corner past the motionless keeper. 1-0 Aylesbury

United were to hit the woodwork three times in the second half, but in the 10th minute Steve Hatch struck the post for the first time, only to see the linesman’s flag raised for offside.

The 13th minute proved unlucky for the Ducks with their lead cancelled out, only six minutes after it was established. John Flood – Chertsey’s outstanding player of the day – delivered a vicious inswinging corner that Matt Morris headed in via the post. 1-1

Both sides then began to cancel each other out for much of the first half’s remainder, with the torrential rain making the going difficult. Both had set pieces that came to nothing, the most notable a 30th minute free-kick which Keith Williams curled goalwards trying to catch Stuart Norman out, but the stopper was faultless in routinely handling the ball.

Chertsey’s Andrew White should have done better when suddenly finding himself in behind the defence, but he blazed high and wide as players closed in.

Just before the break, a defensive howler from Jerome Paul gave Paul Edgeworth in for a free shot at goal, which Norman did well to save with his legs and prevent the United man crowning his first start of the season with a goal.

In stoppage time Aylesbury were denied a penalty as Blackett, having won a corner with an outrageous bicycle kick attempt, headed goalwards only to see the ball blocked by a defender’s up-reaching arm. It looked a nailed on claim to everyone, except the man in the middle and he is who matters mos.

Half-time: Chertsey 1-1 Aylesbury

Starting the second half with a strong feeling of injustice, Aylesbury quickly got into their stride and Hatch headed over an early corner.

Chertsey went close through Jordan Esprit, whose quick turn and shot had to be turned behind by a surprised Jack Sillitoe, and as the match continued to be action packed it was the Ducks who next went on the attack as Edgeworth teed up Ben Baines who was unlucky to see his thumping shot fly back off the post.

Having made a change at the break, Curfews boss David Johnston then introduced himself in place of Jerome Paul, who had been having a torrid time in defence against Zack Reynolds/Dom Petrucci.

The pressure from the visitors was growing as Aylesbury saw plenty of the ball in the final third, but there was danger on the counter just before the hour mark as Flood made a good run down the left before finding Esprit whose finish was skewed well wide, wasting all his teammate’s effort.

Once again, play quickly switched back to the other end and a fabulous save by Norman denied Morgan’s header from another Shane Wood long throw, before some neat interplay between Shane Wood and Reynolds down the right ended with the former’s cross-shot almost finding the net.

After a long shot from Williams was dived on by the keeper, Tony Joyce opted to throw on Acheampong in search of the necessary, and deserved, goal, and he was rewarded just two minutes later as the scoreline favoured Aylesbury once more. 2-1 Aylesbury

Despite the lead, it was clear to see that the game was far from safe but the chances continued to fall United’s way. Petrucci cut inside and saw a shot spilled by Norman, recovering the rebound ahead of the keeper only to be sent sprawling, the referee deeming the challenge legal and once more turning away shouts for a penalty.

Seconds later and it was Acheampong’s turn to be denied by the woodwork, as his shot on the rebound after Blackett was denied by Norman ricocheted off the crossbar and away.

Next it was Hatch to hit the frame of the goal, sliding in to turn the ball against the post and the third goal still wouldn’t come when a superb slalom run from Reynolds ended with him going around Norman, dinking a cheeky finish towards the line only to see the ball heroically hacked away at the last.

Four minutes from time it looked like Aylesbury were to be punished for their fruitlessness in front of goal. A free kick pumped into the box was headed on by giant defender Daniel Alderton into substitute Alex Jeffers’s path who spooned the ball over from six-yards.

A big let off, but anything other than a United win would have been rough justice, and in stoppage time the third goal finally arrived.

Blackett outmuscled Morris to get goalside of his man before being bundled over, the referee this time having no choice but to award a spot kick, which Keith Williams clinically converted for his first Aylesbury goal. 3-1 Aylesbury

With their second win of the week making a decent start to life back in the Southern League, the Ducks sit seventh in the table ahead of a Bank Holiday Monday meeting with Aylesbury FC.