On the back of two harsh defeats to last minute goals, the Ducks looked to bounce back for the visit of Highworth Town, themselves no stranger to conceding late goals of late, having drawn their last two games from winning positions. More changes in the starting XI, with Harry Jones, Nasha Mukwada and Sonny French replacing George Joyce, Jake Bewley and Pierce McNamara.

It was a nervy start, with the visitors close to opening the scoring in the 4th minute; a headed clearance only found Tom Ballard 25 yards out; his first time volley was well saved by Jack Hopwood low at his near post. Three minutes later, French played the ball into the patch of the overlapping Jones, but his shot from outside the area was high over the crossbar.

Back down the other end and a long ball found Felipe Barcelos, who moved the ball onto Ballard, who in turn found Sol Pryce; his shot was well saved by Hopwood, with Dave O’Connor quickest to the rebound to clear the danger.

The Ducks took the lead in the 13th minute; a long ball forward by O’Connor found Nasha Mukwada on the left, who beat two defenders and cut inside, the ball fell to Herbie Townsend who set Alfie Anderson up to whip a low cross into the 6-yard box, where French ghosted in at the far post to open the scoring. 1-0 Aylesbury

The score was doubled on 34 minutes, when French played a fine pass inside the defence to spot the run of Tom McElroy, who beat the onrushing James Walker to steer the ball home. 2-0 Aylesbury

If that wasn’t good enough, the Ducks faithful would be excused for rubbing their eyes with disbelief as a third was added just before half time. Mukwada won a corner on the left, which was taken by Lee Stobbs, perfectly on to the head of McElroy 8 yards out, who scored his second of the evening. 3-0 Aylesbury

Half-time: Aylesbury 3-0 Highworth

A double change for the visitors at half time saw a change of shape and the addition of pace into the team. The impact was almost instant, as the two substitutes combined; Dan Grieve broke down the flank and crossed to Charlie McCrae, but his shot from 10 yards was well saved by Hopwood at the second attempt.

The end-to-end pattern of play continued, as McElroy outmuscled Aleksander Novakovic, but his shot from 15 yards was well saved by Walker, pushing the ball away to safety.

A scare for the Ducks on 51 minutes, when a chipped ball forward appeared to be headed backwards by Townsend, into the path of Grieve, who slotted past Hopwood, but his attempt was ruled out by the asst referees flag.

Just past the hour mark, a fine diagonal pass sailed over the head of Alfie Anderson into the path of Jack Carter, but his shot flashed across the goal, with no one close enough to get a touch.

The visitors came close to scoring, when a cross found McCrae, but his shot from 15 yards clipped the angle of post and crossbar before rebounding to safety. Two minutes later, McElroy won the ball in the centre circle and played the ball forward to Jack Moriarty. He shot hard and low but was unlucky to see his shot from 15 yards strike the foot of the far post.

In the 68th minute the visitors pulled a goal back. Grieve again provided the chance, flicking the ball into the path of Barcelos, who picked his spot to score. 3-1

With 15 minutes to go, a corner from Nic Stanley was flicked goalwards by Barcelos, but Hopwood made a fine save on his goal line to claw the ball away from danger. Soon after it was the Ducks who went close, as a corner from Anderson was headed on, with Mukwada getting a touch on the ball, only to see it cleared off the line, with the Ducks (and their fans behind the goal) claiming it was clearly over the line.

McElroy had a chance for his hat trick soon after, Anderson did well on the left, before cutting in and playing the ball square to the striker, who turned inside Novakovic, but his shot from 20 yards was just wide of the post with Walker beaten.

Any nerves that the Ducks faithful had were eased 6 minutes from time; Townsend did well on the right and played a ball down the flank to Stobbs who fired in a low cross to the far post, where French was on hand to score a replica of his first goal. 4-1 Aylesbury

Pierce McNamara, on as a substitute for the last 10 minutes almost added to the scoreline. He exchanged passes with Mukwada on the left before firing in a powerful shot from 25 yards which whistled past the near post.

A fifth goal did arrive in the first minute of added on time to add a gloss to the evening; McNamara played the ball to Anderson inside the penalty area, who had a shot blocked; he collected the rebound and squared to McElroy, who gleefully accepted the opportunity and beat Walker from 10 yards to claim the match ball. 5-1 Aylesbury

So, the dreadful run of defeats was ended in some style, but tougher tests lie ahead, firstly with the visit of 6th place Biggleswade FC on Sunday, followed by a trip to second place Ware the following week.