Aylesbury United reached the FA Trophy 3rd Round for the third successive season, but few would have predicted the dramatic nature of this game. For the trip to Staines Town new manager Danny Nicholls included Jay Gould for his first start, and Leon Gutzmore returned up front to link-up with Gavin Jaggard. Staines included ex-Aylesbury players Richard Gell, Danny Gordon, Paul Ellis and Gavin Tomlin in their team.

The first half was a scrappy affair lacking in real chances, and certainly no indication of the pulsating action to follow. Staines made all the early efforts, with Elliott Onochie flicking a header goalwards and Julian Sills firing wide. Danny Gordon then stepped up from defence, and released Gavin Tomlin with a superb pass. Tomlin found himself clear, but steered his effort wide of the post, when faced only with Rashid.

After Gell fired a powerful effort wide, Aylesbury made their first opportunity of the game. Gutzmore's greatness on the right-flank saw him drive a pinpoint cross which was headed over at the near-post by Dean Cracknell, who struggled to react to the venomous delivery.

The home side took a deserved lead in the 25th minute. A free-kick fired in from the left touchline was cleared, but sent straight back in, and Onochie beat Rashid to the ball to head home. 1-0 Staines

Ellis saw a quick shot on the turn go wide, before Aylesbury suffered a blow when Gavin Jaggard limped out of the game, to be replaced by Colin Baker just before half-time.

Half-time: Staines 1-0 Aylesbury

Whatever Danny Nicholls is saying to his players at half-time these days is certainly working, as Aylesbury once again left the dressing room in determined fashion. And their desire to score paid off after only four minutes, with the scores level once more. A cross was headed down by Gutzmore, and fell to Gould who just couldn't squeeze the ball in. The ball was then fired back in by Daniel Mead, and in the melee smacked home by Paul Edgeworth. 1-1

Suddenly only one team was in the game, and the Ducks duly took the lead three minutes later. Colin Baker, once more full of direct running and energy, surged into the box before being fouled by Jon McDonald. Leon Gutzmore calmly converted the resulting spot-kick. 2-1 Aylesbury

The visitors went on to enjoy the lions share of the posession, dominating the game for large periods, and had chances to extend their lead. Greg Williams hit a strong effort wide, and a training ground free-kick routine found Mead, whose effort was scrambled clear.

Mead then turned provider, swinging in a superb cross which was met at the far-post by Edgeworth, but his header was saved by Matt Lovett. Leon Barnett had a great opportunity to score, after Gutzmore flicked on a Cracknell free-kick, but headed over from two-yards. Gutzmore himself then got on the end of a flighted cross, volleying wide what would have been a spectacular goal.

The missed chances appeared to be coming back to haunt Aylesbury when Staines pulled out an equaliser of their own - with their first effort of the half. A corner kick caused problems in United's area, and full-back McDonald lashed the ball into the net. 2-2

An amazing sequence of events followed which saw the Ducks more than fortunate to survive with the scores level. Having been outplayed for the entire second half, Staines suddenly hit the post with a header, watched as McDonald turned the rebound wide. Another two goal-line clearances were to come, as Aylesbury were panicked by Staines' corners and deliveries from wide.

For the Ducks though, the best was yet to come. Substitute Danny Gray, so often the scorer of crucial goals in the FA Trophy, netted in the 87th minute to send United into the next round. It was a fine finish, justifying the superb efforts of his team-mates in the second half.

Staines did come close (again) to scoring another equaliser. Danny Mead at the far post keeping Jon Henry-Hayden's effort out from two-yards.

But it was Aylesbury who eventually won through - and another fantastic second half comeback in one of the most entertaining second halves witnessed.