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Nathan Graham's stoppage time strike gave Aylesbury all three points against Woodford United after a forggetable game and a below par performance from the Ducks.

With one win to their name and just five goals in the league, many expected an easy Aylesbury win, but with a still severlely depleted squad they were frustrated and seemed to be heading for a bore draw with the basement side.

Woodford are a side in transition though, having changed their management team recently, and they looked a better outfit than their league position implied.

It was the visitors who had the first efforts on goal, Richard Adams drawing a save out of debutant keeper Steve Smith early on after being afforded far too much room in the area. Five minutes later his strike partner Jason Ramsay tried an ambitious effort having spotted Smith off his line, but the keeper recovered to claim the ball.

It was a buisy start to the match for the new stopper, and on ten minutes he made a great save to tip Martin Crawford's header wide of the post with United's new look defence not picking him up.

Aylesbury raised their game after that warning and quickly fashioned their first opening of the game, Matt Butler receiving a great infield pass from Danny Mead as he burst forward, but shooting wide with the goal gaping.

Woodford had Matt Finlay to thank for keeping Aylesbury out when a Graham skipped past two challenges before picking out Glen Hawkins at the near-post, his shot somehow stopped on the line by the clawing save of the keeper.

Butler was inspirational in the midfield, finally looking like his old self, the bustling, hard tackling man in the engine room he was prior to his injury curtailed year. He set up the next chance by releasing Graham who might have done better, seeing a low shot saved by Finlay.

The Ducks' period of revivial in the game then ended as quickly as it had come about, and Woodford were back on top in terms of chances created for the remainder of the second half.

Jamie Coleman made the most of a huge gap in Aylesbury's defence when the ball was switched to him, closing in on goal but only shooting straight at Smith.

Five minutes later his side wasted another good chance when Adams managed to work his way to the byline and cut the ball back to the waiting Ramsay, who, luckily for Aylesbury, only managed ot turn the ball into Smith's arms.

Butler had another effort without testing Finaly as he would have liked, this time his low effort was easily claimed after he picked the ball up and drove forward.

Five minutes before the break and the visitors again spurned a decent chance, Aylesbury only able to clear as far as Ramsay on the edge of the area, but he placed his shot wide to ensure a goalless first half.

Half-time Aylesbury 0-0 Woodford

The second half began extremely slowly, and it looked like it was going to be a long half for the spectators. But then things took off, with a literal bang, as Hawkins ran through and struck with his left-foot a shot which cannoned back off the upright, after Mead had flicked the ball into his path.

From a corner kick seconds later Ben Stevens crashed a left-footed shot over the bar as the ball dropped to him. Hawkins then had another effort after Chris Marsh's cross shot had deflected into his path, shooting early and on the turn, but straight at his former teammate Finlay.

Woodford's first effort of the second period came from a free-kick, which was fired in low and saved low down by Smith. Although he allowed the ball to run away from him, he did well to recover and scramble it to safety.

Both sides were now having chances, as a shot flew over from Mead, Graham the provider this time, then at the other end a deep cross was met by Adams but he could only volley into the side netting, with Smith covering the near post anyhow.

Aylesbury's brief spell on top had now come to an end, as in the first half, and it was Woodford who suddenly looked the more threatening, and an inswinging corner flashed dangerously across the face of goal.

Three minutes later Ramsay was allowed to turn and unleash a shot which skipped up off the surface and all the way across goal, with Smith motionless, before Fellows hit the target with a free-kick, but it was easily held by Smith.

The game continued, with Aylesbury continuing to be frustrated in front of goal. Marsh drew a fine save out of Finlay with a shot out of nothing which had to be tipped wide, that coming after Hawkins had another effort held by the visiting keeper.

As the minutes ticked by it looked like it wasn't going to happen for either team, as Danny Mead tried his luck with two free kicks from the exact same spot in a matter of seconds. After the first was curled over the bar, he tried a different approach for the second, aiming lower and hoping someone would apply a finishing touch, unfortunately the attackers running across the box narrowly missed out and Finlay was able to claim.

Roni Joe had entered the fray in the 85th minute for Rob Kean, and it was a change that ultimately lead to the winning goal. In the second minute of stoppage time, he got on the end of a ball into the box, flicking across goal where Nathan Graham arrived to apply the finishing touch. 1-0 Aylesbury

Cue jubilant scenes from the home side, borne more out of relief than anything else, but their work wasn't quite over. Woodford won a free-kick with the referee ready to blow for full time, but Karl Fellows could only power the ball out of the stadium.

The defeat was a little harsh on Woodford for their efforts, having matched Aylesbury for most of the game, but there was much relief from the Ducks as the respective league positions were finally reflected in the end result.