A double from veteran Greg Williams, his first ever brace for the club, a debut goal from Jamie Nicholls and another from star man Sonny French gave Aylesbury a much needed win against fellow bottom-markers North Greenford United.

With new signing Chris Crook brought straight into defence, Williams was back in his more natural midfield position, whilst Nicholls debuted in one of five changes from the heavy defeat against Petersfield Town.

Nicholls had to wait until the half hour mark for his goal to arrive, but he could have marked his first game with one as early as the fourth minute when, following a recycled corner kick, Paul Edgeworth headed down to him but he blazed over.

After that early chance, Greenford went on to fashion a number of openings for themselves without seriously testing goalkeeper Dan Green.

George Moore was afforded space on the edge of the box but leathered a shot well over the bar, before Vianney Kokolou drove forwards from defence but saw his own driven attempt easily fielded by Green.

Greenford’s leading goalscorer Moore could have added to his seven-goal tally for the season when he spurned two more presentable chances in the space of a minute. Firstly Ahmed Mohamed cut in from the right to find him, but he slotted wide after Crook had dived in, and then from a half clearance he fired wide.

Aylesbury escaped unscathed as the home side’s chances kept coming with Sayon Keita next to go close having taken a free kick on his chest and turned smartly but shot wide, whilst a good ball in from the left found Sandro Costa who could only lash it over the bar.

A rare Aylesbury foray saw French having a fierce shot turned wide by the keeper, but the other end continued to be the main area of action with Costa and then Moore both off target, though the latter’s shot grazed the upright after a neat pass from Zezinando Gomes.

So it was somewhat against the run of play when the Ducks went ahead. Jack Wood’s throw was worked back into the box for Greg Williams whose shot on the turn fell kindly for Nicholls to clinically dispatch into the net. 1-0 Aylesbury

Six minutes later and the Ducks nearly had an unjustified two-goal lead when Wood met Jake Bewley’s corner with a firm header which Pal managed to keep out, but after he lost the ball Nicholls could only find the side netting.

After an ambitious Gomes effort, Greenford had a glorious chance to level but, with players queuing up for a tap in, Costa chose to shoot rather than square the ball having been released over the top, and the ball flew over.

A minute later and Kokolou headed over from corner kick to ensure the Ducks maintained their slender advantage at the interval.

Half-time: North Greenford 0-1 Aylesbury

Glyn Creaser’s half-time team talk went straight out the window for Aylesbury as the hosts drew level within 90 seconds when Orlando Rodrigues was left completely unmarked at a corner kick to easily head home. 1-1

Things could have got worse when Moore broke into the box a minute later, but he opted to shoot instead of pass and saw his shot go wide as Greenford were once again ruing an attacker’s selfishness.

They paid the biggest price too, with Aylesbury reinstating their lead straight away. Half-time substitute Alvin Rajaram – another debutant - won possession and his long ball to the left wing set French on his way, and when he reached the box his speculative shot took a deflection to wrong foot Pal and sneak in. 2-1 Aylesbury

Once again, the Ducks nearly quickly added another when a charged down clearance rebounded to Edgeworth whose rising shot was on target but clawed away by Pal.

Lea Coulter, who had started the match at right back but spent the second half in attack, wasted the ideal opportunity the extend the advantage on the hour mark when he beat the offside trap to go clean through, but before he was able to get a shot away found Pal in his way to smother the ball.

This time it was Aylesbury who were made to regret their missed chance when a break into the box lead to Greenford finally passing the ball where McLeish was in place at the far post to tap home from close range. 2-2

After Keita twice went close with decent efforts, the hosts completed a hat-trick of failed scoring opportunities when a pass would have lead to a certain goal. Moore made his way in from the left, and with strike partner McLeish screaming for a pass he went for it himself and the ball flashed across the face of goal to leave McLeish fuming.

Instead of the hosts leading the match for the first time, it was Aylesbury who went ahead for a third time just five minutes later. Sonny French’s free kick from the left was met with the faintest of touches by Williams as the ball found the bottom corner. 3-2 Aylesbury

The closing stages became rather nervy for the Ducks as Crook made a goal-saving tackle after Green had done enough to ward off a Greenford attack. The new defender nearly went from hero to zero when his mistimed tackle gave the hosts a free kick on the edge of the area, from which substitute Ike Nzuruba stepped up and saw his curling shot cruelly rebound off the crossbar.

With that let off behind them, Aylesbury then went to the other end to score a killer fourth goal. Taylor Collins was released by French down the right, and his pass inside found the marauding Williams who defied his 38-years to reach the box and fire home with his left foot. 4-2 Aylesbury

With barely time to kick the game off again, a mixture of relief and elation engulfed the Aylesbury players at the final whistle. The three points were imperative, and though they weren’t easy to come by it was job done for the Ducks who were at last able to celebrate a first win since August, and a first for new manager Glyn Creaser.