Having progressed to the next round of the FA Cup on Wednesday evening against Fairford, attention turned to the first league fixture of the season, a tough looking encounter at newly promoted Stotfold. With games coming with increasing regularity at this early stage of the season, manager Jack Wells made five changes to the starting line up, with Derek Feyi, Daryl Bryan-Samuels, Jack Empson, Jonas Kalonda and Owen 'Juice' James all dropping out to be replaced by Romario Rowe, Jake Bewley, Rocko Tamplin, Jack Moriarty and Tyriq Hunte.

The game was played with a strong wind blowing down the pitch, with the home side having the advantage in the first period. The pattern of play in the first half saw the hosts in the ascendancy, making the most of the conditions and placing the Ducks defence under constant pressure. They took the lead in the 8th minute, when Aaron Hector played an inswinging free kick from the left flank, which was met by the head of skipper Charlie Briggs, who gave James Callan no chance from 12 yards. 1-0 Stotfold

The Ducks looked to hit back straight away, with strike pairing James and Hunte combining to set up a chance for the latter, but his shot from 12 yards lack power and was straight at keeper Liam Gooch, who held the ball comfortably. Three minutes later, a long clearance by Gooch was flicked on by centre forward Henry Snee into the path of Robbie Buchanan, but Callan was out of his goal smartly to make a good save.

On 17 minutes Snee won the ball on the edge of the penalty area and played it to Kade Bagge on the right side, but his shot from 18 yards was sliced high and wide of target. The threat of a second goal was ever present and it wasn’t far away from arriving; Moriarty was dispossessed in midfield with the ball passed forward to Bagge on the right corner of the penalty area; this time he made no mistake, looking up before smashing a shot across Callan and into the far corner. 2-0 Stotfold

Two minutes later a deep free kick by full back Lewis Franklin was met by Snee, this time his header floated over the bar and landed on the roof of the net. Just before the half hour the dangerous Snee was again thwarted by Callan; Franklin played the ball forward to the striker, who shot from 20 yards, but Callan again made a fine save, at the expense of a corner. Hector delivered the corner kick which was met by Snee, but his header crashed off the crossbar.

Despite the Ducks being under the pump for most of the first 30 minutes, they received a lifeline to get back into the game. A ball was played into the edge of the penalty area to Hunte, who found strike partner James just inside the area; two defenders converged and fouled him as he tried to wriggle between them, resulting in a penalty kick. Up stepped Dave Pearce and sent the keeper the wrong way to reduce the arrears. 1-2

If the travelling fans were to think this would signal a revival of fortunes, sadly this wasn’t the case and the previous pattern of the game resumed. Straight down the other end and another corner from Hector found Snee unmarked 12 yards out, but like his previous effort, his volley found the crossbar. Amazingly the woodwork was to come to the Ducks aid twice more before half time, first a long ball forward by Dan Sears found Hector 35 yards from goal, who hit a powerful shot off the overworked cross bar, before James Peters fired an inswinging cross that eluded both Snee and Callan, hitting the far post before rebounding back into the keeper’s arms.

If the Ducks thought that they could escape with no further damage to the scoreline, they were mistaken; as the half ticked into added on time Snee collected a ball forward and passed to Haroon Merai, who took advantage of a retreating defence to slide the ball past Callan from the edge of the penalty area. 3-1 Stotfold

Half-time: Stotfold 3-1 Aylesbury

There was no further action of note before the half time whistle was blown. Another important half time talk for manager Wells to deliver, in an attempt to get back into the game in the second period. Tactically the shape of the team was changed to play with a flat back 4, with David Lynn replaced by Jack Empson.

With the wind at their backs, it was the Ducks in the ascendancy right from the start, forcing a corner in the 48th minute. Pearce delivered the ball to Wood at the far post, who headed across goal to Hunte unmarked two yards out, who made no mistake with his header. 2-3

It was clear that the change of shape was suiting the team in the opening exchanges, controlling possession and dictating play; whether that was due to the conditions, or Stotfold sitting back to protect their lead is debateable, but the reaction Wells was looking for was clear to see. Four minutes after Hunte’s goal, a good cross from Bewley was glanced goalwards by Moriarty, but landed just the wrong side of the far post.

On the hour mark, Tamplin played a good ball up to James who found Moriarty just outside the penalty area; this time it was the Ducks who were denied by the woodwork, as his shot bounced off the post with Gooch helpless.

Despite having all of the play in the second period, the hosts came so close to extending their lead in the 64th minute. Snee laid the ball into the path of Bagge on the right wing, whose cross into the 6 yard box was scrambled half clear by the defence, landing at the feet of Buchanan; as he shot Callan made a fantastic save, spreading himself at point blank range to keep his goal intact.

In the 72nd minute the Ducks were level, and it was a historic goal as captain incredible Wood scored his 3rd goal in 3 games, to bring up his half century for the club. A long throw from Empson evaded all in the penalty area, falling to the skipper at the far post. His first effort was blocked by Lewis Franklin, as the ball rebounded to him his second effort was well saved by Gooch, but, incredibly as he fell to the floor the ball rebounded to him again and he was able to guide it into the far corner of the net. 3rd time lucky indeed! 3-3

Stung by the equaliser, the hosts pressed forward and came close in the 76th minute. Merai found Hector twenty yards out and he shot towards goal, but narrowly wide of the target. Heartbreak for the Ducks in the 79th minute, as substitute Archie Sayer won the ball and passed it to Buchanan just inside the penalty area; Empson, who had played well since coming on at half time was clumsy in his challenge, pushing the winger from behind, giving referee Fabio Roque an easy decision to award a second penalty in the match. Snee stepped up to power the ball into the roof of the net, giving Callan no hope of saving. 4-3 Stotfold

As the clock ticked towards 90 minutes, Sayer found Snee on the edge of the penalty area, who took a step to his left before firing a shot just wide of the post.

One final talking point in the game came deep into the 6 minutes of added on time, as Ollie Jovanovic hit a shot which (once again!) hit the woodwork, before the ball was recycled to Pearce on the left of the penalty area. He pushed the ball past substitute Ricardo Green, who appeared to foul him. However, the referee had a different view, considering it to be simulation, much to the amazement of the Ducks players and many fans behind the goal who were adamant it was a clear foul. Pearce was shown a yellow card for supposed simulation and Jovanovic for his protests.

So, another game where a half time 'chat' has brought the desired reaction from the team; the goal at this stage must be to start the game the way we have played in the second period and put together a 90-minute performance. Two big matches at the Meadow in the coming week, when the players will really need your support, first against former landlords and newly promoted Leighton Town on Tuesday, before the visit of Clevedon Town on Friday evening in the Preliminary Round of the FA Cup.