The third meeting of Aylesbury United and Aylesbury FC finally went the way of the first two, eventually, as the Ducks twice threw away a lead before ultimately losing against their town neighbours.

Stacey Field scored twice for the hosts, but having put United ahead again in the second half FC hit back and within six minutes had turned the game on its head to lead 3-2, which was how proceedings finished.

The Ducks were without the unavailable Steve Hatch, but Shane Wood was fit again to lineup in defence, whilst Zack Reynolds was also back in the squad. Lewis Osborne made his full debut in midfield replacing the suspended Liam Smyth.

The game exploded into life with a goal after just three minutes. Jake Bewley’s inswinging free kick was headed back across goal by skipper Jack Wood, and Field was in the right place at the far post to tap home. 1-0 Aylesbury United

United had started well, pressing their opponents strongly, and, when a ball was flicked on by Ben Baines, Field had another chance but lofted his shot over the bar.

As time passed, FC began to come more into the action and moments after winning their first corner threatened again when a long cross came all the way across to Brad Wadkins whose shot was blocked.

Both goalkeepers were in action with James Weatherill turning a Jesse Waites free-kick behind, and then Jack Sillitoe palming a dangerous ball behind for a corner kick that Sean Sonner should have scored from, but diverted wide across the target when unmarked.

Reynolds, back at the club after a week training at Millwall FC, won himself a corner midway through the half which was met on the volley by Greg Williams, but he couldn’t direct it goalwards.

It was a miss the Ducks were left to rue as their opponents equalised seconds later. Brian Haule knocked the ball on for former United winger Aston Goss, who ran through and produced a fine finish in off the far post. 1-1

Within five minutes the green and white Aylesbury had the ball in the net again when Jack Wood looped a header into the net, only to see the effort chalked off for an apparent foul on the keeper as the ball dropped over him.

Full back Danny Murphy endured a difficult half against Reynolds, but his miraculous goalline clearance kept the scoreline level on the half hour mark when Waites teed up Bewley for a fierce low drive that beat the keeper, but not the defender scrambling back. Jack Wood was free from the resulting corner but could only power a header over.

It was FC who then finished the half strongest, with a clever Goss backheel finding Wadkins whose effort was charged down, and then Brian Haule heading down to Wadkins again who could only skew the ball badly wide on the half volley.

Half-time: Aylesbury United 1-1 Aylesbury FC

Both sides made changes to their defences at the break, as Shane Wood was forced off and replaced by debutant Ryan Freshwater, signed a day earlier from Winslow United and going on to have a solid game, and FC replaced the beleaguered Murphy with Ollie Hogg.

It was the latter change which was the most significant, with the visitors doing a successful job of largely neutralising United’s attacking threat in the second half, and Reynolds in particular – with the space he was finding in the first half suddenly no longer available.

FC created the first opening when a ball into the feet of Brian Haule saw him somehow wriggle free of two men but his snapshot was well saved by Sillitoe and cleared away.

Aylesbury United edged in front again on 68 minutes, Field reacting sharply in the box to hammer the loose ball into the net after another telling free kick delivery from Waites caused FC – still adjusting having lost the influential Adam Logie to injury – all manner of problems. 2-1 Aylesbury United

This time the lead just two minutes, with master tormentor Goss – who had a hand in all three goals – taking the role of provider this time, as he jinked to the byeline before playing in a low cross that teased the United defenders into failed clearances, and Sean Sonner was lurking to fire home his first goal in Aylesbury FC colours. 2-2

Only three minutes later it was three for the Moles, as United pressed the self destruct button. A deep free kick was headed back across goal, where Aston Goss got a run on his marker and guided home a header to send the visiting fans into delirium. 3-2 Aylesbury FC

Tony Joyce responded with the introduction of Joey Acheampong and Lea Coulter, but the Ducks found their visitors well regimented in the closing stages as they successfully closed the game out.

Goss went close to a hat-trick when he headed Wadkins’s probing cross wide, whilst a number of corner kicks came to nothing except a few more seconds being run down.

It was a hugely disappointing end to the game for United, with the best they could muster a run to the byeline from Acheampong and a rising cross-shot which was plucked out of the air by Weatherill.

All that remained was for the late withdrawal of Goss, who had almost single handedly disposed of United, and two late bookings for dissent and time wasting in the dying seconds.

Aylesbury FC now go on to meet Kettering Town in the 1st Qualifying Round, and we wish them all the best against the Poppies.