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After a number of postponements, United returned to league action against promotion candidates Braintree, and will consider themselves unlucky to have come away from the game without at least a point. The Essex club had their keeper Mahoney to thank for a number of fine saves.

Aylesbury started brightly and took the lead on 13 minutes through Ollie Stanbridge, who fired home from the edge of the box after Louis had won the ball. Ten minutes later they almost extended the lead when Mason's long-range shot brought a superb flying save out of Mahoney.

Hoever, soon afterwards Gallagher lost the ball in midfield, allowing Noble to break away. He went down under challenge from Scott Honeyball, and Reinelt drove home the resultant free kick. For the rest of the first half, United lost control of the midfield and of the game, with Braintree twice putting the ball in the net only for the goals to be disallowed for fouls on Courtnage.

The visitors took the lead just before half time, Game converting from close range after United failed to clear a corner.

The early part of the second half was not up to the standard of the first - it took twenty minutes for United to come to life, when Callinan turned and made space in the box, but fired well over. Soon afterwards Mahoney denied the Ducks with an excellent double save, parrying Gallagher's long-range effort and scrambling to deny Stuart Maynard on the rebound.

Braintree spent most of the second half defending their lead, but should have extended it late on when a breakaway attack led to Noble putting a free header wide of Courtnage's far post.

In the closing stages, the Braintree goal lived a charmed life, with Mahoney again denying Maynard, Roni Joe firing over when well-placed and a series of corners leading to frantic goal-line scrambles. But that deserved equaliser just wouldn't come.