Aylesbury went into their game with basement side North Greenford United in search of back to back league wins for the first time since September. What they got, however, was alarmingly close to an embarrassing defeat, with veteran Greg Williams’ late volley saving his side.

In doing so the Ducks did at least end a bizarre long sequence of win one-lose one, but it really was a poor day for United against a side who were well organised but offered little.

Shane Wood returned from America to resume his spot at right back, and with Jason Blackett suspended it was he Wood replaced, as Lee Grace and Joey Acheampong pushed into midfield and attack respectively. The Ducks also welcomed new goalkeeper Dan Green, signed from Leighton Town, onto the bench.

It was the defender’s long throw which set up the first chance – flicked on from the right into the path of Stacey Field who could only volley high and wide in the third minute.

Greenford started stronger though and a mistake by Bill Morgan let in Anton Robinson for a shot that he took too long with, allowing Jack Wood to get in a good block. Then, Robinson made inroads down the left but Tahj Bell stood tall and blocked his shot on the near post.

Robinson’s strike partner Marlon Kabi had a chance at a corner kick, but produced an awful shot, and as the minutes ticked past Aylesbury gradually began to improve and Field nearly had a good sight of goal from Coulter’s raking pass but the ball just wouldn’t sit kindly for him.

The duo combined again just before the half hour mark when Field’s fine control from Bell’s goal kick lead to him feeding Coulter whose first time rising drive just cleared the crossbar.

What rare moments of quality were on offer in the game were usually produced by Field, but he wasted a glorious opportunity to break the deadlock. Jordan Frederick played the ball forward, Field turned his marker inside out but could only fire a shot against the post with the goalkeeper a spectator.

It was then the visitors’ turn to spurn their best chance (to that point), with Jessy Yoboue shanking the ball horribly over from six-yards after a low ball across the box was just as badly miscued by Robinson on the near post.

Moments later and Field was missing the target again when Tahj Bell’s long goal kick wasn’t dealt with by the defence, the alert Field nipping in but placing his effort the wrong side of the upright.

Whilst it was a long way from pulsating fare, the action continued to be end to end with Yoboue latching on to Ivan Ruiz’s head on at a free kick but seeing his effort blocked, before Joey Acheampong sprung quickly on the counter attack but lashed an early shot wildly wide of the target. Robinson then produced some good skills to tee himself up on the edge of the box but saw his attempt deflected straight into the arms of Bell.

A minute before the interval, North Greenford edged ahead, with yet another to add to the extensive list of soft Aylesbury goals conceded this season. A low ball wasn’t cut out as it made its way across from the right, allowing Jessy Yeboue the simple task of slotting home his third goal of the week. 1-0 North Greenford

Half-time: Aylesbury 0-1 North Greenford

Tony Joyce opted to give Green his goakeeping debut for the second half, but far from his side upping their game, the quality of the match somehow deteriorated yet further after the break, and for a long period it looked like the Ducks were going to suffer the indignity of being beaten at home by the bottom two sides in the division after AFC Hayes had won at Bell Close back in October.

Vianney Kokolou might have added to the scoring on the hour mark when, with the first meaningful attack of the second period, he ran through but shot wide, as might Charlie Mitchell - who rode a challenge from Coulter but planted his effort wide across goal.

A free kick, flicked on by Acheampong but smuggled away before anyone could have a shot was the closest desperate Aylesbury were to come in the first half hour of the second period.

Instead, their spirited visitors had further chances to extend the lead with Yeboue off target again after Shane Wood has misdirected a defensive header straight back to him, and from a charged down indirect free kick inside the box awarded after Green picked up what was adjudged to be a pass back from Jack Wood. The resulting corner was headed straight at Green by Ambroisine.

With a little over ten minutes remaining, the Ducks finally registered an effort on goal when a move started by Field ended with Grace finding the club’s leading goalscorer whose shot was comfortably fielded by Tangara.

There was nothing the keeper could do in the 84th minute when Aylesbury hauled themselves level, with probably their best move of the game. Acheampong was released on the right, and his wicked ball to the near post was met by a crisp Greg Williams volley which flew into the net. 1-1

With the hosts now sensing a previously unlikely looking comeback on the cards, Jake Bewley’s free kick had to be smartly saved by Tangara, but it was a brief response as North Greenford ended the match on top.

They forced two corner kicks from which first Agebane was gifted a free header that he could only make poor contact with, the ball bouncing up and having to be tipped over by Green. Yoboue met the subsequent flag kick but put his header wide, and the sides had to be content with a point apiece.