Aylesbury were held to a disappointing 1-1 draw at home by Stotfold in a match of complete contrasting halves. Before the break the Ducks were dominant but spurned chance after chance before falling behind, only for Paul Edgeworth to keep up his excellent scoring record against Stotfold by equalising.

The second period, on the other hand, was a dismal affair with chances scarce and the sides locked in stalemate as United were made to regret their missed opportunities.

The visitors created the first opening when Adam Furness spread the ball to top-scorer Paul Garrett who cut inside and drew a comfortable near-post save from Jack Sillitoe.

Aylesbury were soon pressing forwards though and Lea Coulter was looking particularly lively in the opening stages. Mulholland?s driven pass set him away and as he left the defence for dead and went for goal the low shot was somehow not turned in by the arriving Ben Baines, who ended up in the net himself without taking the ball with him ? much to the bemusement of spectators.

A minute later Coulter outpaced the defence again with his low shot being saved by veteran keeper Brad Gillham, with the ball popping up for Daniel Jones to try his luck but he could only blaze well over the bar.

In the tenth minute Coulter jinked his way past two men before firing high past the near post, following some good work in the box by Baines who had a shot blocked.

Another flowing move soon afterwards saw Jack Wood put in a deep cross with men flooding into the box, Warren Garcia the man on the end of it but he could only turn the ball wide at the far post when completely unattended.

Garcia went close again moments later when he fired Coulter?s downward header over the bar.

The game began to settle down as Stotfold were able to gather themselves together, and Aylesbury were left wondering how they weren?t out of side.

Such thoughts were compounded on 20 minutes when Stotfold took the lead. Hamilton still had plenty to do and produced a brilliant dipping strike from 25-yards to beat Sillitoe all ends up, but it came about through Mulholland?s second indiscretion in as many days as he passed the ball straight back to an attacking player in something of a gift. 1-0 Stotfold

Fortunately, on this occasion, Aylesbury were able to respond in the perfect manner and less than five minutes later they were level again. Baines made a great sliding challenge to rob Andy Carter before playing in Edgeworth who rifled in a clinical left-footed finish. 1-1

The chances were still going the way of United, and Baines went close himself when he took a pass from Townsend on his chest before turning his marker and going for goal on the half-volley, the ball whistling narrowly past the far post.

United?s defending continued to be shaky and presented a rare attempt at the other end as a half clearance fell to Andy Carter who rolled Adam Furness in but his shot was easily dealt with by Sillitoe.

As the half entered the final ten minutes it was almost complete domination from Aylesbury, as Stotfold seemed to have totally dropped from their game.

But still there was no way through for United with Wood very nearly rounding off a wonderful passing move, only to be blocked at the last, before Townsend fizzed a cross-shot in which missed the target.

Paul Edgeworth nearly doubled his tally with a stunning volley which struck the crossbar, Ben Baines volleying the rebound over the bar as United were to leave the field somehow still on level terms.

Half-time: Aylesbury 1-1 Stotfold

After such a bright display in the first half, Aylesbury fans were looking for their team to push on after the break and finally turn the game around, but for whatever reason it just didn?t happen as the Ducks fell completely flat.

A dismal 45 minutes of football followed with chances few and far between.

The visitors had an early sniff of goal as Furness played in Garrett, only for Mark Toms to make a saving challenge.

Daniel Jones missed the target again when Wood?s ball over the defence found him, but the young midfielder could only guide the ball over the bar.

Apart from that, there was little else in the way of goalmouth action as both teams made substitutions, including a debut for Aylesbury?s Mickey O?Farrell, without improving the quality of the match.

It took until the 84th minute before the next notable effort, as the Ducks staged a brief late rally. Townsend tried his luck from the edge of the area, and as the ball took a slight deflection it looped up, drawing a fine tip over from Gillham.

The resulting corner kick dropped to Mulholland in the area, who, unlike Wednesday night, couldn?t get anywhere near with his low shot.

Coulter shot wide from Garcia?s cross in the final seconds, but that was as good as it got from Aylesbury and they were left, not for the first time this season, to reflect on what could have been had they taken their chances.