Equal on points going into the match, Aylesbury and Bishops Cleeve couldn't be separated and shared the spoils after an entertaining 2-2 draw at Kayte Lane.
After their midweek elimination from the Errea Cup on penalties, United returned to a full strength line-up but new signing James Faulkner had to be content on the bench. His moment was to come though when, with his first touch, he scored to give Aylesbury the lead having come from behind.
The first attempt on goal came after just six minutes. A quick counter attacking move saw the ball played to Graham who headed into the path of strike partner Shed who used his pace to get away from the defence but produced only a weak shot which was easily held by Skeet.
Any optimism from United's start was quickly undone when the home side took the lead inside the first fifteen minutes. A ball across the area found it's intended target and Tom Vincent did well to save the first shot, but the ball was bundled home by Collins for the scrappiest goal imaginable. 1-0 Bishops Cleeve
The game continued without much in the way of goalmouth action, punctuated by substitutions from the home side ? their squad apparently struggling with a number of injuries going into the game ? and fouls being awarded by the referee.
A snatch shot from Andy Shed blazed well over the bar, before one genuine moment of class setup a good chance for Aylesbury. A superb turn from Ben Gallant left two men in his wake before he delivered a raking pass that Ross Taylor could only volley high out of the stadium.
Some heroic defending from the Ducks backline kept them in the game at half-time when first Johnstone had a shot blocked in the area after Slack's cross, and then when the ball dropped to Williams on the edge of the area Carl Kavanagh did superbly to charge down his effort.
Half-time: Bishops Cleeve 1-0 Aylesbury
The home side emerged quickly from their half-time break to do an additional ?warm up' routine for the second period, but it didn't help as they were caught cold by the perked up Ducks who equalised inside ten minutes.
One of Ben Stevens' penetrating long throws wasn't dealt with properly by the Cleeve defence, and the ball dropped to just who Aylesbury would have wanted. Nathan Graham still had work to do though, but a quick drop of the shoulder to beat his man and a neat finish from 15-yards and the game was level. 1-1
Momentum had shifted and United began to press for a second. With Cleeve floundering this was the time to score, and they nearly did when Taylor beat his man on the left before picking out Swonnel inside the area, but he was tackled at the crucial moment.
A second did arrive courtesy of substitute Faulkner. It was the work of Stevens again though who made space in the area to have a shot that Skeen could only parry right into Faulkner's path, and with his first touch he gave the Ducks the lead. 2-1 Aylesbury
A third goal would have killed the game, and although another long throw from Stevens lead to Skeen losing the ball and it rebounding off the bar, the killer wasn't forthcoming and the Ducks were made to pay when on 70 minutes Vincent came out to meet the ball but slipped in the process and Slack managed to collect and finish past the man on the line. 2-2 Aylesbury
Sensing that the home side's already depleted squad might be tiring, Aylesbury went for the adventurous move of introducing a third striker in Craig Henney and it was the visitors who had the better chances in the final third of the game.
Taylor might have done better when he was allowed to turn in the area, but his shot lacked the power to beat Skeen.
The best chance came in the last ten minutes when Graham got past his man at the byline and cut the ball back to Swonnel whose prodded effort had to be tipped over by the alert goalkeeper.
That was to be Swonnel's last action in the game though, as he stupidly kicked out at an opponent having been fouled, and he was duly shown a red card and Aylesbury played the last five minutes with ten men.
Aylesbury still had time for one last effort when the impressive Faulkner delivered the ball to Henney inside the area, but the former Holmer Green man smashed his effort over the bar and both sides had to make do with sharing the points.
