Looking to build on Saturday’s late show against Hanwell, Aylesbury United made the trip to Wellingborough to take on last season’s United Counties League Premier Division Champions, AFC Rushden & Diamonds, a club which has had some fall from grace over the past few years. Tony Joyce made just one change to the starting line up, with Stacey Field replacing Paul Edgeworth, who in turn replaced Joey Acheampong on the substitute’s bench.

A good start to the match, with both sides creating early opportunities; the home side were first to threaten in the 5th minute, Tommy Berwick breaking down the right flank and laying the ball into the path of full back Brad Harris, whose hurried shot was high and wide of Tokarczyk’s goal. 6 minutes later, Berwick again provided the threat, beating the offside trap and breaking towards the penalty area, only for Steve Hatch to make a fantastic saving tackle just as the striker was primed to shoot. The Ducks were establishing themselves in the game steadily, and it was they who would threaten next. Billy Adcock made a fine tackle in midfield and found Eoin Casey, who moved the ball out wide to Taylor Collins whose cross from the left was met by a glancing header from Stacey Field, but just wide of the far post. Shortly after, a Sonny French corner was headed narrowly wide by Jack Wood. From the resulting goal kick, Casey headed the ball forward into the path of Field; unfortunately despite being one on one with the home keeper, the striker’s shot lacked power and was easily saved. Field had his 3rd opportunity inside 5 minutes moments later, more good work by Adcock and Casey setting him up to shoot, but again Finlay was able to save. Following this, Rushden were forced into an early substitution, Jack Ashton limping off to be replaced by former Ducks loanee Liam Dolman.

In the 20th minute, great work down the left from the impressive Hoban saw him lay the ball into the path of Berwick, who in turn found his skipper Bunting; his shot from 25 yards had Tokarczyk well beaten, the keeper relieved to see the ball strike the outside of the post and rebound to safety. The woodwork was to come to Aylesbury’s rescue again 8 minutes later, this time after good work by Steve Spriggs, Tom Lorraine found the post with his shot from just inside the area, Hoban following up could only fire the rebound high over the bar. Two minutes later, Hoban opened the scoring; a good tackle by Sam Brown just inside his own half, followed by an incisive pass inside Jack Wood saw the winger break into the area and fire a shot across Tokarczyk and into the far corner.

AFC Rushden & Diamonds 1 Aylesbury United 0

The response from the Ducks was almost instant, Adcock again winning the ball in midfield and advanced towards the penalty area, firing a shot from 30 yards which Finlay did well to save. Just a minute later, Hatch played a long ball through to Casey, whose chip over the keeper landed just wide of the target. Five minutes before half time a corner from Hoban was met by Dolman, but his firm downward header was cleared from off the line by Jack Wood.

The second half started encouragingly for the Ducks, Casey and Field combining well again, with Field curling a shot from 20 yards just over the bar. Following a foul on Adcock in the 63rd minute, a free kick found the head of Alex Collard 10 yards out, but his header was over the bar. A series of corners for the home side saw some desperate defending by the Ducks, with the third corner finally headed over the bar by Lorraine. In a match which was quite end to end, the Ducks were working hard for an equaliser; in the 77th minute a driving run by Hatch down the right was followed by a hard low cross which was sliced over his own bar by Dolman. From the corner, the ball fell to Hatch, whose low shot was blocked on the line. In the 85th minute, the hard work of the Ducks finally paid off. A great cross from the right from Wood found Collard at the far post, who headed firmly past Finlay to equalise.

AFC Rushden & Diamonds 1 Aylesbury United 1

A much deserved equaliser, the third game running that the home side had conceded in the last 5 minutes. However, unlike their previous matches, there was to be another goal. A ball into the penalty area saw Dan Quigley go down under a challenge from Tokarczyk, resulting in a penalty. Dolman stepped up to convert the spot kick, which was followed by rapturous celebrations, including the home keeper racing the whole length of the pitch to join his team mates.

AFC Rushden & Diamonds 2 Aylesbury United 1

The Ducks didn’t give up, pressing forward for the final few minutes, including keeper Tokarczyk spending almost as much time in the opposing penalty area for corners and a free kick. However, it wasn’t to be and the home side held on for their first win of the season.

Unlike the performances of the previous two home games, the players can feel proud of their efforts on the night, matching a good home side and playing a full part in a very entertaining match. With a tough looking run of games ahead, including top of the table Northwood in the next 2 matches, the performance should give the team plenty of confidence to take into those matches.