The Ducks looked to bounce back from the defeat at home to Kempston Rovers, when the Railwaymen from Didcot visited on Tuesday evening. Just the one change from the line up, with Herbie Townsend replacing Jack Moriarty, who dropped to the bench.

The hosts started on the front foot, striving for an early goal to settle the nerves. In the 4th minute Tom McElroy collected the ball in midfield and played a reverse pass to Sonny French; he in turn found Nasha Mukwada cutting in from the right, but his effort from 15 yards was well saved by keeper Leigh Bedwell, conceding a corner. After the first corner was cleared at the expense of another, the second fell to Townsend, who hit a good volley from 15 yards, which was well claimed by Bedwell above his head.

The first chance for the visitors came in the 11th minute, when Harley Giles passed wide to Andi Noka, who had a shot deflected wide for a corner. This was taken by Sam Barder, deep to the far post where it was met by a powerful header from skipper Adam Learoyd, but Jack Hopwood made a save low down. The same duo combined again from another corner 5 minutes later, this time Learoyd’s header was higher, but again Hopwood was equal to the challenge, saving comfortably.

Ten minutes before half time Bedwell made a fine save to keep out a defensive header after Jake Bewley swing in a cross after a corner, the save clipping the crossbar and away to safety.

Two minutes before the break, Jamar Smith chased down a back pass and appeared to catch Hopwood with a late challenge, which required lengthy treatment before the keeper was able to continue; Smith receiving a yellow card for the challenge from referee Kyle.

Half-time: Aylesbury 0-0 Didcot

Ten minutes into the second period Mukwada combined well with Harry Jones to set up Pierce McNamara, whose shot from 25 yards just cleared the crossbar.

The second half was a close affair, mostly fought in the middle of the pitch, with few clearcut chances for either side. The best chances fell to the Ducks, as in the 72nd minute McElroy played the ball to Jones 25 yards from goal, but his shot was too high to trouble Bedwell. Seven minutes from time a cross from the right found Mukwada whose shot was blocked and scrambled clear as far as substitute Mark Riddick, but his left foot effort from 18 yards flew just wide with Bedwell beaten.

As the game neared its end, the cruellest of blows for the Ducks; a pass down the left appeared to have been flicked into the path of an offside looking Josh Hedges. Despite the appeals, no flag was raised and Hedges ran clear of the defence to squeeze a shot inside Hopwood’s near post to take all 3 points back to Oxfordshire. 1-0 Didcot

Football is often a game of clichés, a couple come to mind for this evening’s match. 'You don’t always get what you deserve', which was certainly the case considering the effort the Ducks put in tonight, also the feeling is ‘the big decisions often go against you when you are struggling’; again, the rub of the green didn’t favour the home side this evening. To rub salt into the wound, Bewley received a red card after the final whistle for an expression of frustration towards the visiting dug out.

As the search for a replacement for Ben Williams continues, the Ducks now look forward and prepare for a trip to Walthamstow, a team that has been transformed by the introduction of their new manager Nicky Ironton.