The Ducks returned to the Meadow to play the rescheduled match against AFC Dunstable, after the original fixture was abandoned 7 weeks previously due to fog. With Jack Hopwood serving a one match suspension for his sending off against Walthamstow, youngster Josh Ameganvi was recalled from his spell with Holmer Green to keep goal. Other changes to the side from last week’s defeat saw David Lynn fill in at left back in place of the unavailable Jake Bewley, and Ethan Holt replacing Tyriq Hunte.

From the start the visitors were on the offensive; in the first minute Max Bustamante picked up a loose pass from Jack Moriarty, before finding Nathan Frater, whose shot from 25 yards was wide of goal.

From the next attack, Ezra Anthonio-Forde escaped the attention of right back Brynn Davies, only to be clipped from behind by the full back 20 yards from goal, with referee Sam Olhausen choosing to give a warning to the defender rather than a yellow card that many expected. From the free kick Holt’s effort was just too high to trouble Jamie Head in the away goal.

The Ducks took the lead in the 6th minute, when a clearance by Gedeon Okito was collected by Mark Riddick 30 yards from goal. He played a lofted pass across to Sonny French on the right side of the penalty area who met the ball on the volley to score into the far corner of the net. 1-0 Aylesbury

The visitors drew level in the 17th minute, when Mark Riddick was adjudged to have fouled Bustamante just inside the penalty area. Up stepped Nathan Frater to fire the ball just past the dive of Ameganvi and into the bottom corner. 1-1

After his unsuccessful previous free kick attempt, Holt had another opportunity in the 21st minute, this time his effort from 25 yards was on target, but well saved by Head, deflecting the ball over the crossbar for a corner.

Dunstable came close to taking the lead in the 30th minute, a corner from Luke Beckwith was met with a powerful header by Ryan Frater, but his attempt crashed off the crossbar and was cleared to safety.

Half-time: Aylesbury 1-1 AFC Dunstable

Five minutes into the second period, Anthony Ball found Anthonio-Forde in space on the left, but his shot from 15 yards was just wide of the near post. Good work by French found Anthonio-Forde on the left, he did well to get a cross towards the near post, but it was just behind Holt, who couldn’t sort his feet out quickly enough, the ball dribbling into Head’s hands.

On the hour mark, Lynn earned himself a yellow card for a foul on ex-Duck Jordan Frederick 25 yards from goal; Ryan Frater stepped up to take the free kick, but saw it deflect off the wall and out for a corner. Shortly afterwards the younger Frater brother collected a cross from Davies, but his shot from 15 yards was too high to bother Ameganvi.

Ben Seaton was introduced with 25 minutes left to play, his first impact on the game saw him thread a fine pass into Ball breaking forward, whose shot from 15 yards was well defended by Frater, blocking the attempt at point blank range. Seaton again was pivotal in the next Ducks attack, passing wide to substitute Tyriq Hunte before continuing his run into the penalty area where he collected a return pass; however, his first attempt was blocked, with his follow up shot from the rebound lacking the power to beat Head.

As the game approached the final stages, there were chances for both sides to snatch a winner. First Hunte found strike partner Anthonio-Forde through the centre. He outpaced Okito and shot from 18 yards, but saw Head pull off a good save low to his right, conceding a corner.

As the game entered added on time, panicky defence from the Ducks saw them give the ball away cheaply twice, leading to two opportunities for substitute Zion Selassie-Yoseph, but he saw his first effort saved, the second moments later was over the crossbar.

So, the nervy end to the season continues, as the Ducks look to gather the points needed to stay away from the relegation play off places. Next up is a trip to Waltham Abbey on Saturday, before we entertain former landlords Thame United on Easter Monday.