Following defeat in the Berks & Bucks Cup by Chesham on Tuesday, the games don’t get any easier; today saw the Ducks visit the Corinium Stadium to play Cirencester Town for the first time since 2006, after their transfer from the Southern division of the Southern League. The hosts, who had a slow start to the season were certainly in good form, having won 4 of their previous 5 matches, including impressive results at ware and against Kempston.

Jack Wells welcomed Jack Hopwood back into the team, as well as Luis Fernandes, Harry Jones, Herbie Townsend, Sonny French and Alfie Anderson, with new signing David Lynn taking a place on the subs bench.

The hosts started strongly, with a powerful run down the left by Levi Irving, who broke into the penalty area, before pulling the ball back to Nick Hancock, but Jake Bewley was quickly on the scene to intercept the ball. In the 7th minute a free kick from near the corner flag was delivered by Joseph Turley into the penalty area, where Joshua Nelmes met it with a firm header, but his effort flew over the crossbar.

A quick goal kick from Hopwood found Nasha Mukwada wide on the right; he skipped away from the challenge of Ellison Dunton and broke into the penalty area before squaring the ball to Jones 12 yards out, but unfortunately his shot was cleared by the legs of Alex Harris in the home goal.

Two minutes before half time a cross from Reegan Messenger was blocked by Jack Moriarty, but fell to Turley whose shot was well saved by Hopwood. The ball was cleared and found French, who in turn found Jones on the left side of the penalty area. He did well to work himself a shooting angle, but his effort curled wide of the far post.

As the half moved into added on time the hosts won a corner on the left; Turley’s delivery was met powerfully by skipper Jake Lee to score with a header from 8 yards. 1-0 Cirencester

Half-time: Cirencester 1-0 Aylesbury

The second half started badly for the visitors, just two minutes on the clock and the hosts had doubled their lead. The ball was given away in midfield and played to Levi Irving, who was unmarked 20 yards out; his shot giving Hopwood no chance. 2-0 Cirencester

It was almost 3 a minute later, as Irving cut in from the right to the edge of the ‘D’ and curled a shot towards Hopwood’s top corner, however his shot was just too high.

On 53 minutes Bewley fouled Irving on the edge of the penalty area to concede a penalty. Up stepped Lee, after successfully converting two penalties in his previous game, but this time Hopwood was equal to the test, saving to his right.

In truth the second half was turning into a struggle, as the Ducks tried to play out from the back, but found themselves pressurised into mistakes, with no obvious out ball often the problem. Just before the hour mark, the short passing game was undone again, as Irving intercepted a pass and fired home his second from 18 yards. 3-0 Cirencester

The last real chance of the match was a rare moment of promise for the Ducks, which saw French play a ball down the left flank to the overlapping Bewley, who crossed to Mukwada; he took a touch on the edge of the penalty area and fired a touch towards goal that Harris was able to tip over the bar.

So, another sobering defeat for the Ducks, with much to ponder for the new management team as they strive to introduce their thoughts and tactics to the players and reverse the poor current run. Next up is a home encounter with Waltham Abbey on Sat 19th Nov.