Aylesbury met Enfield on the opening day of the season at a sun-drenched Southbury Road. New United manager Steve Ketteridge had been busy in the transfer market during the summer months and no less than six players made their Aylesbury debuts.

Enfield had finished the previous campaign as runners up to Stevenage Borough and with the Ducks languishing down in mid table a difficult fixture was expected.

It was the men in green and white who drew first blood, as a mix up between Mickey Engwell and Andy Pape allowed Michael Danzey to nip in and score. Danzey had only signed the day before but soon showed his class and the former Cambridge United man was at the heart of every Aylesbury move.

A lack of understanding in the United defence left Leroy Wheale time to equalise before Danzey set up Blencowe to fire home only to have the effort ruled out for an alleged handball.

Hercules, Pluckrose and Blencowe all had good chances thwarted before the Ducks fell behind to a sucker punch. Jon Bailey played Gary Abbott into space and the prolific striker made no mistake.

Then just when the travelling fans were resigning themselves to defeat Andy Pape came up with what was his customary error against Aylesbury. As Allan Pluckrose looped a hopeful cross into the area, the Enfield keeper failed to clear and Cliff Hercules was on hand to steer a header goalwards. Despite clipping a defender's hand the ball crosssed the line, the big man was awarded the goal and the Ducks secured a point.