Aylesbury began their FA Trophy campaign with a tough looking away trip to Billericay Town, who were sitting mid-table in the Ryman Premier Division.
United's opponents quickly proved themselves to be a tough proposition, playing quality passing football. They threatened as early as the third minute when a dangerous cross in was sliced wide by returning defender Nathan Liburd.
At the resulting corner the Ducks continued where they left off in Monday's game against Woodford, allowing winger Chris Whelpdale a free-header but he headed well wide.
The danger of Whelpdale was a reoccurring theme throughout the match, and in the twelfth minute he beat Kevin Mealor to head a left-wing cross just wide of the far post.
To the shock of most of the 388 strong crowd, and quite against the run of play, Aylesbury took the lead after 21 minutes. A mix-up in Billericay's midfield allowed Matt Butler to nip in and spray the ball forward to Leon Gutzmore. Under great pressure the former Billericay striker managed to square for Pringle, who guided the ball calmly home. 1-0 Aylesbury
Normal service quickly resumed with Billericay back on the attack, Whelpdale winning another header from a cross, but again heading wide.
On a rare foray into their opponents half, winger Shane Garricks did well to dribble into the area, but should have gone for goal himself instead of attempting to square the ball.
Two minutes later the Blues came as close as ever when Jo Flack beat the offside trap onto a long-ball, lobbed Tom Vincent but placed his effort just wide of the post.
A rising drive from Lee Hodges caused Vincent no problems, before Flack went close again after outpacing Liburd, but shot wide of the goal.
The chances kept coming as Billericay dominated the game. Another great bit of play by Whelpdale resulted in a fine delivery which was headed just wide by Nathan Elder.
A training ground corner-kick routine forced the Ducks to clear the ball off their goal-line, before 'Ricay went even nearer to scoring when Elder headed another Whelpdale cross against the upright.
United were hanging on, and they survived a penalty appeal ten minutes before the interval when Kilmartin brought down his man - just outside the penalty area according to Mr. Long the referee. The set play was again well worked, but slashed well wide by Jamie Dormer.
The final actions of the half belonged to Aylesbury, as Enzo Silvestri popped up in the area with four minutes remaining, but passed his shot across the face of goal.
Right on half-time Aylesbury sent their supporters into dreamland by doubling their advantage. Silvestri played a superb ball into the path of Garricks, who lobbed the keeper and continued running to tap the ball into the empty net. 2-0 Aylesbury
Half-time: Billericay Town 0-2 Aylesbury United
A two-goal half-time lead was flattering to United to say the least, so holding onto the lead was always going to prove difficult. Billericay soon started applying the pressure when Flack wriggled his way through the box and smacked a shot against the post.
Daniel Mead blocked a fierce shot on the line and Lee Hodges fired a free-kick way over the bar, as the Ducks just couldn't escape their own half. Whelpdale turned smartly and hit a left-footed drive which Vincent clung onto well.
The breakthrough the home side craved finally came after 55 minutes. A quickly taken long through was taken down by Nathan Elder, who went around Vincent before rolling the ball into the net. 2-1 Aylesbury
Elder could have equalised as quickly as three minutes later when a cross came all the way to him at the far-post, but his shot on the turn lacked power despite a distinct lack of pressure from Aylesbury.
Jon Franklin re-organised his side by replacing the disappointing Liburd with Luke Melisi, and deploying Kevin Mealor as a centre-back alongside Kyle Kilmartin.
It was Melisi who had United's first chance of the second period, but he blazed a half-volley well over after a corner kick had been cleared to him on the edge of the area.
It wasn't long before the home side got their much deserved second goal. One diagonal through-ball left the Ducks backline for dead, and Elder took the ball on his chest before firing past the advancing Vincent. 2-2
The Blue waves subsided slightly in the final twenty minutes of the match, but chances still came for the home side. Whelpdale cut inside and went for glory with his left-foot, but missed the target.
With five minutes remaining both teams wasted two good chances to win the match at the death. A flighted ball in from the right just needed a contact to divert it in, but instead dropped narrowly wide of the far post. Then Whelpdale broke clear but elected to pass instead of shoot, and Vincent easily gathered.
For Aylesbury, substitute Craig Henney firstly managed to turn inside the area, but his shot was blocked and deflected through to goalkeeper Ronnie Worster. Then, in stoppage time, he was played clean through but shot wide with the goal gaping.
A winner for the Ducks would truly have been unfair on Billericay, who outplayed Aylesbury for most of the match and lived up to their higher league status. But football is a funny game, and the two sides will now have to do it all again in a replay at Haywood Way.
