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Aylesbury began their FA Cup campaign, as in the previous season, with a trip to a United Counties League side. This time the opposition were Northampton Spencer, who had beaten Ware 4-2 in the Preliminary round to earn the right to take on the Ducks.

Danny Nicholls welcomed Jamie Kearns back into the team, as he reshuffled his pack. Out went Scott McCafferty and Darran Hay, and in came Kearns and Roni Joe as the manager opted for a 3-5-2 system.

The home side started brightly, and could have taken a shock lead just four minutes into the game. Good play by Scott Colman down the right flank saw him beat Matt Hayward, and play a telling cross into the box which the arriving Darren Frost just failed to connect with.

The early scare shook United up, and they soon looked to impose their superior status on their opponents. Drew Roberts had a left-footed shot tipped well wide, and Roni Joe had a rare headed effort cleared off the line from a Mead corner.

Nine minutes later and it was Matt Hayward's turn to go close. Playing his last game before a three match suspension, he saw his half-volley brilliantly tipped over by Oliver Urquhart.

Jaggard spread the ball wide to Mead, but the midfielder's effort was straight at the keeper. Mead then had another chance, firing narrowly over after the ball was worked back to him from a corner kick. Drew Roberts saw a goal bound shot blocked en-route by Jaggard as United dominated proceedings.

Their dominance was finally rewarded by a 37th minute goal. Roberts played the ball through to Paul Edgeworth running into the area, and he crashed a shot off the crossbar past the helpless Urquhart. 1-0 Aylesbury

Aylesbury had further chances to score before the interval. Roberts had another effort go just wide, and Edgeworth should have done better when headed a Mead corner over the bar, before the referee blew for half time.

Half-time: Northampton Spencer 0-1 Aylesbury United

As the weather conditions deteriorated after the break, so did Aylesbury's performance. Having been commanding in the first half, the Ducks allowed their opponents back into the game, and it was little surprise when Spencer equalised nine minutes into the second half. Josh Urquhart crossed and O'Brien found space to head home. 1-1

The game then entered something of a lull, with both teams struggling against the showery conditions. Folds headed over a free kick, before Nicholls changed his left sided options replacing Mead with Scott McCafferty.

It was a change that paid dividends, as in the 64th minute the substitute scored what turned out to be the winner. Running onto Roberts' defence splitting pass he took his time before coolly slotting the ball under Urquhart. 2-1 Aylesbury

The goal, coupled with the upturn in weather, lifted United's spirits and they began to look confident in possession again. Edgeworth had a shot hit the side netting from just outside the area.

Edgeworth then did well to hold the ball up, before feeding second substitute Darran Hay whose first time effort fell just wide of the post.

In the dying moments Aylesbury had another chance to increase the scoring. A quality delivery from McCafferty was headed on by Hay into the path of Paul Edgeworth, who managed to turn the ball over the bar from 5-yards out.

Full time shortly followed, and although only a narrow win, it was the result that mattered for Aylesbury this afternoon, and they can look forward to Monday's draw for the 2nd Qualifying Round.