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Kevin Mealor's last minute free-kick gave Aylesbury a dramatic three points in a rollercoaster derby game at the Meadow.

The Ducks were boosted by the return of James Faulkner to their strikeforce, and it was he who had the game's first effort when he blazed over after four minutes.

Chesham's new signing from Braintree Eugene Ofori should have done better when he was played through, but he lobbed a shot well off target.

Shed lashed a shot wide for Aylesbury, and Matt Skinner fired a free kick straight at Tom Vincent as the game continued at a lively pace.

Aylesbury's massed ranks of vocal support were sent into raptures as they witnessed their side take the lead inside twenty minutes. The ball was crossed back in after a half-cleared corner, and in the melee Nick Leach claimed the final touch to carry the ball over the line. 1-0 Aylesbury

From that point on the Ducks went on to control the game, and created a host of chances with Chesham repeatedly guilty of squandering possession.

Sam Swonnel saw a rising shot held by James Beasant, then Gallant and Shed linked up down the right before the latter crossed for Faulkner who headed wide.

Ross Taylor was then heavily involved when he first saw a header held by Beasant from a free kick and then showed great strength to hold up the ball for Stevens who drove a shot over.

Then came the turning point of the first half. Faulkner was cleverly released down the right, his low ball into the area picked out Shed who looked certain to score, but his effort struck the post.

Chesham launched a quick counter attack which resulted in veteran Sammy Winston having a shot deflected out, and from the resulting corner Ofori was left unmarked to nod home and score on his debut. 1-1

Beasant was still called into action before the half was out as he made a sprawling save to keep out Swonnel's low effort.

Half-time: Chesham 1-1 Aylesbury

Momentum had swung the way of the home side and they went on to dominate at the beginning of the second half.

After just five minutes they were awarded a controversial penalty when Winston took a tumble under an innocuous looking challenge. The visiting fans could claim justice was done though when Vincent did superbly to save and then hold Marsala's spot kick.

Comical moment of the match then followed when Winston beat Vincent to the ball and fired home, running off to celebrate and gesticulate wildly ? only to turn to see the linesman's flag raised for offside.

Shed had another great chance to re-establish Aylesbury's lead when he stole the ball from Michael Sharman, broke free, rounded Beasant but could only slot the ball wide of the far post.

In almost identical fashion to their earlier goal, Chesham made Aylesbury rue their missed chance by immediately scoring themselves. A vicious free-kick delivery was headed into the net by ex-Aylesbury Vale man Mark Lambert. 2-1 Chesham

Chesham continued to dominate, but Aylesbury had a secret weapon in Nathan Graham up their sleeve and he was unleashed with twenty minutes remaining.

The Ducks had Vincent to thank for keeping them in the game again though when he tipped over Marsala's fierce effort, but it marked the end of the General's dominant spell.

Aylesbury finally started applying some pressure and forced a succession of corners.

Craig Henney was introduced as Tony Thompson went with three strikers to try and get back into the game, and it was a ploy that worked as Chesham found themselves overrun in the closing stages.

From a short corner the cross in resulted in a header being cleared desperately off the line by Ofori.

The equaliser then followed to the delight of Aylesbury's fans. A deep cross from the right picked out Graham who powered a superb header into the bottom corner from some distance. 2-2

Shed had another chance when he rode two challenges but pulled his eventual shot wide of the target, then Taylor saw a header dived on by Beasant.

But the big drama was still to come, when Henney was brought down on the edge of the area. Mealor stepped up and curled home a delightful free kick to send Aylesbury's players and supporters into delirium. 3-2 Aylesbury

That was the very last kick of the game, and what a game! The Ducks will be top of the league at Christmas for the first time since 2001.