After what may be described as a baptism of fire with tough opposition in his first 3 matches, Jack Wells was hoping for a much improved performance and hopefully some points on the board as the Ducks took on mid-table Waltham Abbey today.

Changes were enforced again, as Harry Jones and Nasha Mukwada we both unavailable for the match and Alfie Anderson and George Joyce absent from the squad; however, he was able to welcome new signings Chief Boateng, Shaquille Ishmael and David Lynn into the starting line up together with Pierce McNamara and Lee Stobbs to replace them.

A low key opening period was most notable for an injury to new signing Ishmael, who pulled up with what looked like a muscle injury after just 15 minutes, forcing a reshuffle of the shape of the team, with Herbie Townsend replacing him shortly afterwards. Soon after the change, Osaretin Otote cut in from the left flank and curled a shot towards Jack Hopwood’s goal, but his effort was high and wide of the target.

On 26 minutes, Otote beat Jake Bewley, playing in an unfamiliar right back position due to the absences, before playing a low cross to the far post, where Luis Fernandes was alert enough to get in front of Richard Asamoah to clear effectively.

The first opportunity for the Ducks came from a Bewley corner, Jack Wood meeting the cross at the far post and directing a firm header on goal, but a defender was on hand to clear before the ball crossed the line.

A minute later Godson Mongwele crossed to Declan Rydings in the centre of the penalty area, but his header was wide of the near post. Stobbs then robbed Mongwele of the ball 35 yards out and advanced towards goal, before unleashing a powerful shot with keeper Jimmy Parker appeared to touch around the near post but a goal kick was awarded.

The visitors took the lead in the 33rd minute as the dangerous Asamoah skipped past two tackles on the left edge of the penalty area before driving a cross from the bye line into the 6-yard box, where the ball was deflected home, with on loan Barking striker George Okoye wheeling away claiming the final touch. 1-0 Waltham Abbey

Half-time: Aylesbury 0-1 Waltham Abbey

A positive start for the Ducks saw Sonny French collect a throw in before passing to Fernandes, whose shot from 25 yards was just wide of target. Shortly afterwards, Okoye could and perhaps should have claimed a second goal; a pass forwards by Nathaniel Orafu was collected by the striker, but Hopwood was out quickly to narrow the angle as he entered the penalty area, forcing a rushed shot into the side netting.

A second goal was not far away though; Orafu again the creator as he received the ball on the right flank, before pulling back to Okoye on the edge of the penalty area; he took a touch and shot past Hopwood, with the aid of a deflection to double the scores. 2-0 Waltham Abbey

The Ducks were indebted to Hopwood for keeping the score down in the 68th minute, as a ball forward found Asamoah clear on the right, but his shot to the near post was well saved by the keeper.

On the 80th minute, a fine run by Stobbs, outpacing two defenders saw him paly a cross towards the penalty spot, which was headed out as far as Jack Moriarty, whose shot from 30 yards was straight at Parker, for a comfortable save.

Shortly afterwards Stobbs had a great chance to pull one back for the Ducks, as Boateng collected a ball and spotted the run of Stobbs behind the defenders playing a good ball into his path; however, his effort from 20 yards was well saved by Parker as he advanced off his line.

A similar opportunity fell to Stobbs in the dying seconds of the game, this time French threading the ball through the defence, but again Parker was equal to the shot, making another good save.

So, another disappointing defeat for the Ducks, although thanks to the results of the teams around the bottom of the league, seeing them all lose, the position in the league table remains unchanged. Up next are two away matches, first at Kidlington on Wednesday evening, before a trip to play Hertford on their 4G pitch next Saturday.