After another frustrating weekend, with the game against Leighton Town postponed, Dave Tuttle made 4 changes for the visit to league leaders Real Bedford. Jack Hopwood, Ben Peters, Liam Batchelor Morgan and debutant Maks Jarzabek all took a place in the starting XI, replacing Luke Daley, Gianni Massi, Kajetan Halatyn and Sonny French.

The hosts, started confidently as befits a team that has swept most clubs away this season, having lost only two games and scoring an average of 3 goals per game. In the 6th minute, Ben Stevens swept the ball wide to Isaac Galliford on the left, who crossed low into the 6-yard area, where Hopwood did well to touch the ball away from Joey Evans. Four minutes later, a corner from the left by Galliford was met by Jack Morrell, but he directed his header wide of the near post.

Despite being on the back foot, the Ducks took the lead on the quarter hour, Luqman Kassim did well to beat 3 defenders and find space on the right side of the penalty area before playing a ball across the 6-yard box, where Jarzabek was on hand to tap in from 3 yards out. 1-0 Aylesbury

Two minutes later and Evans had a golden opportunity to equalise, Galliford beat Batchelor-Morgan and crossed to the centre forward, who could only direct his header across goal and out for a goal kick.

The equaliser did come shortly afterwards, as Evans and Stevens combined to play in Galliford on the left, who saw his shot from 6 yards trickle in at the far post after a slight deflection. 1-1

If those in the ground thought that this would signal more goals for the home side and a capitulation by the Ducks, they were wrong; far from dropping their chins, it was the visitors who scored next, and what a good goal it was. Tom Cove did extremely well to beat Shaheim Ward to the ball just inside his own half, before turning and making ground forwards. He spotted the run of Kassim and played a pass inside Brett Longden, giving Kassim a run in on goal; he shot from the edge of the penalty area and curled the ball inside the far post. 2-1 Aylesbury

Evans had another great opportunity in the 25th minute; Galliford played the ball to Stevens down the left, who crossed to Evans 8 yards out, but his free header was too high to trouble Hopwood.

Half-time: Real Bedford 1-2 Aylesbury

Into the second half, which saw a similar pattern as the first, with the home side dictating the play.

Morrell passed wide to Galliford who crossed towards Stevens 15 yards out; the ball was cleared to Drew Richardson who saw his shot deflected by Jake Bewley, forcing Hopwood into a fine flying save to keep the ball out of the top corner.

Just a minute later the scores were level; substitute Archie Jones combined with Galliford on the right edge of the penalty area, who made a short pass to Josh Setchell, who fired home a first time shot from 10 yards, despite the valiant effort of Jack Wood to keep the ball out. 2-2

A moment of real controversy came in the 75th minute, when Ward found Evans 25 yards out; he broke into the penalty area where he was challenged by Haziz Kone, but to the disbelief of all in green, the referee awarded a penalty. Evans stepped up and converted the spot kick, placing the ball in Hopwood’s bottom left corner. 3-2 Real Bedford

With three minutes remaining, substitute Tom Hitchcock picked up a ball outside the penalty area and hit a shot towards the top corner, but Hopwood again was a match for the effort, clawing the ball out.

The final whistle signalled the end of a valiant effort by the Ducks, a resolute defensive effort that because of a dubious penalty decision wasn't rewarded with any points to take home. However, there are positives to take from the game, the organisation and commitment of the team, carrying out the game plan well will give them confidence to take forward into the final two months of the season. Next up is a short trip to Beaconsfield Town on Saturday, followed by a home match against Stotfold on Wed 6th March.