A good week for the Ducks concluded with a third consecutive victory in another entertaining game at the wonderfully-named Hertingfordbury Park, and although United, lining up in a bold 4-3-3 formation, were again a regular threat going forward, no doubt Tony Joyce will have been every bit as delighted to see his side earn their first clean sheet of the campaign.

The early stages of the game saw only half chances for either side, as firstly Hertford striker Attila Korsoveczki?s long range effort drifted wide in the strong wind, before a couple of minutes later Aylesbury?s own number nine, Ben Baines, hit his shot on the turn high over the bar. Ten minutes in came the first clear cut chance for the Ducks, as Craig Townsend?s ball over the top of the Hertford defence put Leon Gordon through on goal, but home goalkeeper Lee Robinson spread himself to save. Three minutes later however, United did open their account. Lea Coulter?s deep cross from the left was headed back across goal by Warren Garcia, and Baines was on hand to convert from close range. 1-0 Aylesbury.

Almost immediately following the restart the Ducks were on the attack again, as the lively Leon Gordon?s well-struck shot flew narrowly over the crossbar from the edge of the area. Fleet-footed winger Reese Dobben would prove to be Hertford?s most prominent threat throughout, and it was he who forced Jack Sillitoe into his first save of the game on 15 minutes. For a time Aylesbury seemed to be almost shooting on sight as they tried to double their lead; Garcia shooting well over from 20 yards, and a 35 yard lob from Coulter also failing to find the target with Robinson out of position. On 22 minutes, Leon Gordon?s unlikely aerial threat came to the fore for the umpteenth time this season, as his header from Jamie O?Grady?s near post free kick flashed narrowly over the bar.

Aylesbury were given a sudden reminder of the fragility of their one-goal lead as the hosts threatened twice in quick succession. With 25 minutes played, Dobben showed Ducks left-back Will Smith the true meaning of Gettin Jiggy Wit It, as he twisted and turned his way past him, finally forcing Sillitoe into a smart stop at his near post. Moments later, a break down the Ducks right saw O?Grady outnumbered three on one, and he was unable to prevent a cross finding the head of Korsoveczki, who headed wide. The Ducks responded with more chances of their own, firstly O?Grady?s cross finding its way to Coulter who was only able to shoot tamely wide. A minute later Baines? flick sent Coulter through on goal, but Robinson again came out on top in his second one on one situation, saving low before Baines struck an acrobatic follow-up over the bar.

After an action-packed opening half-hour, the game became a little more scrappy at the end of the first period, as Hertford were repeatedly frustrated by the offside flag as they tried to get in behind the Ducks defence. Likewise, Aylesbury?s Ben Baines twice found himself in the six-yard box with the ball at his feet, only for the linesman to stop him in his tracks on both occasions. The only real effort on goal in the final fifteen minutes of the first half came as the ever-alert Baines reacted sharply to a mishit shot from Townsend, but was only able to guide his header wide of the far post.

After a first half largely dominated by the Ducks but the teams still only separated by a single goal, Hertford came out in the second half with renewed vigour, and set about trying to punish United for not putting the game beyond them. Three minutes after the restart, a twisting run from Arin Fehmi preceded a shot which was well held by Sillitoe. Four minutes later came probably Town?s biggest opportunity, as Fehmi?s cross from the left found his fellow wideman Dobben, who contrived to blast the ball over the bar with the goal gaping. A reminder of Aylesbury?s poor disciplinary record thus far this season followed as John Mulholland, sent off in the week, was booked for a reckless/clumsy challenge. The otherwise impressive Justin Gordon would also be yellow-carded for a similar challenge later in the game. Fortunately both of these challenges were just outside the area, bringing to a timely end the run of four consecutive games in which United have conceded a penalty at the start of this season!

Hertford were unable to maintain their early second-half control as the game reached the hour mark, and the Ducks? first notable effort of the second period came from the recently free-scoring Paul Edgeworth, who struck over the bar from long range. Richard Pringle, on for Baines up front, quickly became involved as he headed Smith?s cross into the path of Leon Gordon, whose acrobatic volley was again well saved by the capable Robinson.

Hertford were still by no means finished, and midfielder Shaun Glidden turned and shot just wide in the 65th minute for the home side. Two minutes later however, Aylesbury finally earned some much-needed breathing space. Leon Gordon found Warren Garcia, who went on a driving run into the penalty area, beating a man and squaring to the waiting Pringle, who gleefully tapped in from a few yards to double his personal tally for the season. 2-0 Aylesbury.

Five minutes later, Leon Gordon was threatening the Hertford goal yet again as a superb effort from 20 yards struck the outside of the post. As he was replaced by Jimi Emefuni a couple of minutes later, Leon must have been wondering just what he had to do to bag that elusive first competitive goal for the Ducks. Hertford, much to their credit, were still showing great urgency and, cheered on by their vocal supporters (including the sounds of the dreaded vuvuzela and, in a more original and tuneful slant, a mouth organ), continued to push forward in search of a goal. Town substitute James Peagrum turned Smith but was only able to shoot across the face of the goal on 77 minutes, while a minute later Fehmi cut inside from the left and found Attila Korsoveczki, who struck wide from the edge of the area.

Fortunately for the Ducks, Hertford were unable to create anything else as clear cut as Dobben?s chance towards the beginning of the half, and their only noteworthy shot of the closing stages came again from Korsoveczki, who dragged wide after possession had been sloppily conceded by the Ducks in their own half. Indeed it was Aylesbury who came closest to adding to the scoresheet again, as on 88 minutes Jimi Emefuni muscled the ball off of a defender but tamely shot wide, then, deep into added time, third Ducks substitute Carl Clay almost found himself credited with a goal he?d have known nothing about, as an attempted clearance cannoned off of the midfield man and smacked against the cross bar.

Match report courtesy of Leon O'Sullivan