Going in to a game needing a point to complete the escape from a potential relegation play off, Ben Williams was forced into changes before today’s match. Jamie Rudd started in place of the injured Harry Scott and Harry Jones, initially named on the bench with Ben Seaton replacing him in the team, received a late call up as Ollie Hogg suffered an injury in the warm up.

The visitors, in a much worse position than the Ducks, starting in the play off position, made a great start, opening the scoring in the 9th minute. Tremayne Charles got away down the left, outpacing the defence before driving a ball into the 6-yard box, where Rafal Wielblad coolly connected to send the ball past Archie Davis, despite the keeper’s best efforts to keep the ball out. 1-0 Kempston

Somewhat shocked by this, nonetheless, they began to take a grip on the game and thought they had equalised in the 16th minute. A long ball over the defence from Harry Jones found Rudd on the left flank, who played a low ball into the 6-yard box, where Tyrone Lewthwaite arrived to tap in; sadly for him and the team, the assistant on the main stand side had raised the offside flag.

Two minutes later though the equaliser did arrive, and what a goal it was! Jones again involved down the right, passing inside to Rudd. He worked some space and found Lewthwaite on the edge of the area with his back to goal. The striker laid the ball back into the path of Seaton, who unleashed a powerful strike into the top corner from 25 yards, giving Joe Ringer in the visiting goal absolutely no chance; a real goal of the season contender. 1-1

Midway through the half, great interplay between Lewthwaite and Rudd on the right saw the former cross low into the 6-yard box; Jones arriving at the far post was disappointed to see his volleyed effort bounce over the crossbar when it looked easier to score.

Half-time: Aylesbury 1-1 Kempston

Into the second half and the Ducks almost took the lead with a slick move straight from the kick off. Seaton sprayed the ball wide to Jones on the right, who cut inside and slid the ball to Lewthwaite who advanced into the penalty area and shot, but Ringer was down well to make a good save at his near post.

Four minutes later, a diagonal ball found Jake Bewley in an advanced position the left edge of the penalty area, who fired a volley across the keeper, but while his effort beat the dive of Ringer, it bounced back off the far post and was cleared to safety by the defence.

The lead that the Duck’s dominance deserved came in the 52nd minute. Rudd and Seaton combined well on the left to set Bewley free down the left. His cross rebounded off substitute Emmanuel Dahie, falling to Jones; he squared into the 6-yard box where Lewthwaite did well to get in front of Miguel Lopes De Matos to crash the ball home off the underside of the crossbar. 2-1 Aylesbury

Lewthwaite again became creator as he was instrumental in the third goal, which arrived after 64 minutes. A Kempston free kick was easily claimed by Davis and immediately cleared to Lewthwaite on the half way line. He did well to control the ball ahead of Perry Ronayne and spotted Jones making ground in support. He delivered a well weighted pass allowing Jones to hit a first time shot, under pressure from Lopes De Matos to send the ball into the far corner of the net. 3-1 Aylesbury

Now in control of the match, the Ducks could have added more goals had their finishing been better, against a dispirited opposition. Three minutes after the third goal, Jack Wood sent a pass down the left wing to Lewthwaite; he cut inside and lined up Seaton for another shot from 22 yards; unfortunately, unlike his strike in the first half this time his shot cleared the crossbar. Two minutes later Anthony Ball attacked down the right and drilled a pass into Sonny French on the edge of the penalty area; He took a good touch to take the ball out of his feet and fired at goal, where Ringer made a good save low at his near post.

The visitors did have a number of great opportunities around the 70 minute mark; first, a deep free kick was half cleared as far as Charlie Hayford, but his powerful shot from 12 yards was well saved by Davis.

The next move saw Charles break free on the right, cut inside Bewley and fire a shot at goal, but his curling attempt was narrowly wide of the far post, when he might have felt he should have done better. Soon afterwards, Hayford had another great chance; substitute Ben Baker did well on the right and passed to Wielblad, who got to the byeline and cut back into the 6-yard box, however Hayford at the far post could only direct his effort over the bar under pressure from Ball.

Having survived these threats, the Ducks saw out the game comfortably, and could and perhaps should have extended their lead. French played a slide rule pass through to Jones, who turned his defender and sent a curling right foot narrowly wide of the far post, with Ringer completely beaten. The final chance saw Jones fire in a cross from the left which was deflected by the outstretched leg of Dahie onto the near post, the rebound wrongfooting the incoming Ducks attackers.

So, back-to-back wins for the first time since beating today’s opponents and Kidlington in November. We move on to a match at Barton Rovers on Saturday, before games at home to Berkhamsted on Easter Monday and away at likely League winners Bedford on the final day of the season.