Following defeat in the previous match against Walthamstow, manager Jack Wells was able to shuffle his squad, recalling Mark Riddick, Lee Stobbs, Jordan Jenkins, Tyriq Hunte and Ezra Anthonio-Forde into the starting line up, replacing Ben Seaton, Jaime Obama, David Lynn, Ethan Holt and Harry Jones.

From the start, the home side were the more dominant, the first chance falling to the hosts in the 12th minute, when a cross from full back George Alfieri was volleyed wide of goal by skipper Luke Alfano. A succession of chances followed, but nothing that would trouble Jack Hopwood in the Ducks’ net.

Against the run of play the Ducks took the lead in the 25th minute, when a deep free kick from Anthony Ball was met by Riddick 12 yards out, who looped a header over keeper Luke Ward. 1-0 Aylesbury

Just part the half hour, a pass from Moise Ndandani found Alfano 25 yards from goal; he turned and fired goalwards, but his shot flew over the crossbar.

Shortly afterwards, a long ball forward was flicked on by Anthonio-Forde to Hunte, whose shot from 25 yards rose over the crossbar.

On 39 minutes, a long ball forward was missed by Jake Bewley and appeared to be running out of play, but by chance it hit the corner flag and stayed in play, with Ed Davis benefitting from his efforts to catch up with the ball; he crossed the ball to Alfano who shot into the top corner from the edge of the penalty area to draw his team level. 1-1

Half-time: Hadley 1-1 Aylesbury

Into the second half and the Ducks came out in a more positive mindset, and took the game to the opposition. Five minutes after the restart a long ball forward was flicked on by Sonny French to Hunte, who rounded Ward, but found the angle too tight, seeing his shot cleared.

From the next attack the Ducks regained the lead; Stobbs did well on the right and crossed low into the penalty area. The cross was half cleared as far as Jack Moriarty on the edge of the penalty area, who calmly sidefooted home into the roof of the net. 2-1 Aylesbury

Just before the hour mark, Jack Wood made a surging run out of defence and played the ball into Anthonio-Forde, but his shot was too high to trouble Ward.

The sides were level again on 62 minutes; a foul by Riddick on Billy Hayes led to a penalty, which was taken by substitute Sam Edwards. Hopwood got down well to his right to save the spot kick, but Edwards was first to the rebound and fired home. 2-2

Having drawn level, the home side took the lead in the 74th minute; a ball wide to Billy Hayes on the edge of the penalty area saw him cut inside and shoot towards goal, only for a deflection to take the ball past Hopwood. 3-2 Hadley

The Ducks had a chance to equalise from the next attack, Moriarty’s cross was headed down by Riddick to Anthonio-Forde, but his effort from 6 yards lacked power and was comfortably saved by Ward.

Three minutes from the end and the lifeline the Ducks were seeking arrived. Referee Tom Hood gave a penalty for a handball by Cameron Ferguson, which in a spooky replay of the earlier spot kick saw Bewley tap home the rebound after Ward had saved his initial spot kick. 3-3

When all in the crowd were thinking that the game would end with honours even, and a draw would be a fair outcome on the night, the Ducks allowed the hosts to go in front once more. A ball forward was missed by Bewley and collected by substitute Jordan Edwards, who got the better of the two Jacks, Wood and Hopwood, to hook the ball home as he fell to the ground in the penalty area. 4-3 Hadley

Even then, there was time for one more chance; French made a trademark jinking run through the centre of the park, before being fouled 20 yards out. Ethan Holt, on as a substitute stepped up to take the free kick, but it was brilliantly saved high to his left by Ward, touching the ball onto the crossbar and away to safety, when most in the ground thought the Ducks had grabbed a late equaliser.

The final whistle was blown moments later, condemning the Ducks to a 4th defeat in the final moments of a match. What cannot be denied was the effort and performance, especially in the second half, which if the game had been managed towards the end would have seen the Ducks leave with at least a point to their name.

The coming games now take on a higher degree of importance, with Highworth (A) and AFC Dunstable (H) next on the horizon, both games which the Ducks will be targeting for points in their quest for survival.