Aylesbury got their season up and running with their first win of the campaign, and against none other than their landlords, local rivals, and the league's early pacesetters Chesham United.
Carl Kavanagh was introduced to the starting line-up for the first time, and Liam Smyth returned in place of Matt Butler. Kavanagh was in the book in the first minute for a full blooded challenge as the derby got off to a fiery start.
Maynard had the first effort with a dipping shot that dropped wide of the goal, before the Ducks opened the scoring inside ten minutes with an absolute gift. Chesham keeper Bobby Smith lost the ball under pressure to Kevin Mealor, who advanced and finished into the empty net. 1-0 Aylesbury
Smith made some amends a minute later when he saved low at the feet of Glen Hawkins who had been released clean through.
Chesham looked out of sorts as they came up against a high-energy Aylesbury who hassled and harried them at every opportunity, and they were never allowed to get into their stride.
On 20 minutes Hawkins headed just wide after Ben Stevens had retrieved the ball and delivered a telling cross, and four minutes later Graham screwed a shot wide as a corner kick dropped to him.
Chesham's first effort on goal arrived after nearly half an hour, Dave Fotheringham trying a shot from range which deflected straight into Tom Vincent's waiting arms.
Aylesbury doubled their score two minutes later, Smith again at fault when he made a hash of dealing with a left-wing free-kick, and Hawkins was on hand to nonchalantly flick the ball into the net. 2-0 Aylesbury
The ?visitors' best effort of the half came right in the closing seconds. A clever free-kick was worked out to Danny Burnell, but the alert Vincent was quickly off his line and saved well on the floor.
Half-time: Aylesbury 2-0 Chesham
At half-time the hapless Smith was replaced by Michael Underwood between the sticks, last season of Berkhamstead Town.
As expected, Chesham took the game to Aylesbury immediately following the interval, but the Ducks continued to be resolute and managed to keep them at bay.
Fotheringham threatened with a low shot inside the area, which Vincent just managed to cling on to at the second attempt.
Having weathered the early storm, the game entered something of a flat phase, Chesham simply unable to get themselves back into proceedings.
A snapshot out of nothing from runaway top-scorer Burnell nearly reduced the deficit, but only crashed onto the roof of the net.
Then came a moment that swung the game in Chesham's favour, when midway through the second half Carl Kavanagh was shown a second yellow card, rather harshly for kicking the ball away (although he appeared mid-kick as the whistle sounded), and the Generals were suddenly back in the ascendency.
Veteran Sammy Winston flicked a headed effort straight at Vincent, but Chesham were still struggling to break through.
That was until Tom Vincent was forced to rush from his goal as the last line of defence as Winston went clean through, and he fouled the aging striker. After a lengthy injury stoppage for treatment to both players, he was perhaps fortunate to escape with only a booking, but Burnell picked up the ball to confidently convert the penalty. 2-1 Aylesbury
Craig Henney replaced Hawkins late in the game and introduced some fresh legs to continue Aylesbury's work ethic across the pitch, but it was hard going for United as the ten men clung desperately to their lead.
Fotheringham got into the area again, but flashed a shot all the way across goal, then, as seems to be the trend in recent derbies, Chesham had a goal ruled out for offside after Winston netted.
Right at the death the Generals should have snatched an equaliser, when a corner flicked on was headed well over by Dom Marsala from a great position.
But Aylesbury's dogged display and strong approach to the game had paid off, and they were rewarded with an excellent first win of the season which will set them up nicely ahead of the FA Cup tie against Windsor & Eton.
