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Aylesbury went into this match with a mixed record against Tigers having beaten them 5-1 at home and lost 0-3 away previously and it looked like a first draw between the sides was on the cards as Erhad Ponxha netted five minutes from time.

Joey Acheampong’s late heroics rescued the day for the Ducks though when he scored a superb individual goal in stoppage time to ensure the points stayed in Bedfordshire.

The first half was a fairly engaging affair as the contrast between Aylesbury’s direct play and Tigers’ continental style proved compelling.

Aylesbury started well, and a surprised Stacey Field placed a second minute shot wide – surprised that the Acheampong’s low ball into the area had got through to him, and a minute later Acheampong got on the end of a long defensive clearance which allowed him to flash in a shot which came back of the keeper.

In the fourth minute the Londoners came a fraction away from opening the scoring when Terence Cariba fired in an early snapshot which Sillitoe managed to get fingertips to, John Mulholland stretching the hook the ball off the line at the very last second – the ball not going in according to the well positioned assistant referee.

Both sides had further half chances, but nothing clear cut. Edgeworth did well to get on the end of Sawyer’s cross, but couldn’t generate enough power on his header to beat Woodley, whilst a shot from Field out wide also lacked the power to beat the visiting stopper and at the other end Cariba shot well over having got the better of Jones, and Njozeka wasted a free-kick by firing past the near post and into the side netting.

The biggest first-half talking point was in the 29th minute when John Mulholland was headed by his opposite number Dimitri Larin at a corner kick.

Larin came off far the worst, suffering a nasty head injury and heavy landing for his efforts. There were then distressing scenes as he suffered a fit whilst on the ground, requiring swift paramedic treatment. Thankfully, he was able to later walk to the ambulance but was taken to hospital for precautionary checks.

When the match restarted twenty minutes later, both sides continued to struggle with their finishing as Baines for Aylesbury and Barinovas for Tigers hit weak efforts which were easily dealt with by their opposing keepers.

Half-time: Aylesbury 0-0 London Tigers

Tigers took the challenge to the Ducks early in the second half and the ball was in the net in the first minute when Cariba finished crisply, only to see his effort ruled out by a very belated linesman’s flag. Some strong defending from Jack Wood – a recurring theme of another superb game by the youngster – then kept the visitors at bay again.

Cariba and Ahmidi linked up well on the edge of the box with the latter ultimately firing high and wide, before the tide began to turn as the hour mark approached.

Field should have done better from 5-yards when Sawyer’s low ball into the area was expertly dummied by Edgeworth, but the young striker’s effort was straight at Woodley.

Woodley then produced a brilliant reflex save to stick out a fist and deny a low drive by Sawyer and turn the ball over, and a minute later Edgeworth curled a shot past the upright having been played in by Field.

Acheampong was then guilty of another poor finish when he capitalised on a defensive mistake to go through for a clear shot at goal, but his effort was weak and Woodley was able to gather.

It mattered not as the Ducks had their tails up, and an opening goal arrived a minute later. Great play on the right by Field saw him win back the ball and cross for Edgeworth, who lashed home his 51st Aylesbury goal, and his third goal in three games. 1-0 Aylesbury

The game entered something of a lull immediately after the goal, and it took ten minutes for another attempt from either side – Field and Edgeworth both firing powerful efforts out of the ground at the Buttles end in quick succession, and a volley from Tom Barnett also flew wide.

As the game ticked into the final 5 minutes, the Londoners forced an equaliser out of nothing. A low ball in from the right had Aylesbury caught out and Erhad Ponxha was on hand to score with the aid of a deflection. 1-1

Suddenly, and for the first time of the game, Aylesbury were ragged and came close to conceding a second when Elteferi’s shot was deflected just wide and substitute Ben Kargbo was left free at the resulting corner but volleyed high and wide.

Ellekhlifi was never likely to score with a 45-yard free-kick which flew over the crossbar, but his teammate Wadah Ahmidi nearly did when he ran at the retreating Ducks’ backline before driving a low shot all the way across goal.

Aylesbury survived the pressure, and, against the run of play, nabbed a winner for themselves in stoppage time. Another mistake at the heart of Tigers’ defence gifted the ball to Acheampong, who produced a moment of magic as he weaved his way past two defenders and lifted the ball over the keeper and into the net. 2-1 Aylesbury

It was a dramatic ending to a well contested game and though London Tigers may argue that a point would have been fair result, the win was very much welcomed from Aylesbury’s point of view.

One change for the Ducks today sees Tom Barnett in for the unavailable Lewis Hallford. And nice to see Craig Townsend back in the squad after his knee injury.

We're underway at Bell Close...

2. Ball in low from Acheampong caught the defence out, reached Field who could only touch it wide. Surprised to find the ball come to him
3. Acheampong counters on the end of a long defensive clearance, gets a shot away which comes back off the keeper
4. Good football from Tigers put in Cariba for a half volley. Saved by Sillitoe and cleared off the line at the last second by Mulholland
10. Sawyer ball in from left met by Edgeworth, couldn't get enough power on the header
16. Shot in from wide by Field easily caught by the keeper. Great play from Edgeworth had released him
17. Ball sat up for Cariba after getting the better of Jones, shot well over
22. Clumsy challenge from Barnett on on Ponxha the left corner of the box
Njozeka fires into side netting, waste
27. Two 'near misses' for the Ducks as Field narrowly misses to connect with a great left wing cross, then Acheampong beats the keeper to the ball but it takes an unfortunate bobble and gets away from him
29. Horrible collision of heads here, Larin down for London Tigers after heading Mulholland. Completely accidental, but he's not in a good way at all
31. Ambulance is being called
32. Mulholland also still receiving treatment for head injury, but he's off the pitch and seems well
37. Emergency response paramedic has arrived
44. 15 minutes now since the incident occurred and the Tigers player is still down, but he is at least conscious
45 3. Larin is stretchered from the pitch, to applause from all sections of the ground
45 4. Tigers sub: Movelisze on for Larin
45 6. Decent move ends with Baines having a low shot outside the box, easy enough for the keeper
45 9. Ball dropped to Barinovas outside the box. Well struck shot but not enough power to beat Sillitoe
45 11. Cariba smashed over from inside the box, but should never have had the chance as Aylesbury can't clear their lines
Aylesbury need to get to half time, only one team in it right now!

HT: Aylesbury 0-0 London Tigers: Fairly engaging but not the best of games, could go either way still

Second half is underway...

1. Tigers put the ball in the net through Cariba's crisp finish, only to be denied by a very belated linesman's flag
1. Under pressure, a great challenge from Wood keeps Tigers at bay for now
A goal seems imminent if this keeps up...
3. Neat counter attacking move involving several players ends with a weak left footed finish from Field, easily caught
5. Mulholland booked
8. Cariba and Ahmidi link up well on the edge of the box, before the latter shoots just over
11. Low ball in from Sawyer dummied by Edgeworth, for Field 5-yards out. Fails to get hold of the shot and easy for the keeper
12. Brilliant save to deny Sawyer! Keeper extends a strong fist with lightning sharp reactions and tip it over
13. Edgeworth curls a shot past the post on the end of a swift counter, with Field playing him in
17. Edgeworth volley sails over the bar after corner comes to him beyond the far post
17. Tigers sub: Kargbo for Njodzeka
18. Poor defending allowed Acheampong in for a clear shot at goal, poor finish
19. GOAL! 1-0 Aylesbury. Edgeworth lashed home a fine finish after great work by Field on the right to win back the ball and cross
29. Move developed down the right ends with Field poking a shot over
29. Edgeworth tries his luck from the edge of the box under no pressure, but fires over
33. Field hammers an effort over the bar after another opening comes Aylesbury's way
35. Tigers sub: Manuel on for Cariba
39. Barnett volley goes wide
40. GOAL! 1-1. Ball in from right, first player missed his chance, Ponxha made no mistake
42. Aylesbury living dangerously. Ball in from left, Elteferi's shot deflected wide
42. Kargbo free at the back post at the corner, volleys high and wide
43. Ellekhlifi hits a 45-yard free-kick effort over
44. Tigers pushing hard for the win! Ahmidi runs at the defence before driving a low shot all the way across goal
Aylesbury have completely lost it!
45. GOAL! 2-1 Aylesbury! Acheampong capitalises on a defensive howler to set off on a slalom run and score superbly!

FT: Aylesbury 2-1 London Tigers: Late heroics from Acheampong save the day!