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Aylesbury’s unbeaten March continued as first half goals from John Mulholland and Joey Acheampong helped them notch a fourth straight win.

Mulholland’s goal was his 10th of the season, the first defender to achieve that feat since Allan Pluckrose of 1995/96, arriving after 31 minutes, and when Field doubled the advantage seven minutes later it looked like a comfortable afternoon was in the offing.

The Ducks had barely got out of second gear, but Biggleswade were handed the lifeline of a penalty kick to bring themselves back into contention, and another below-par second half gave the hosts further initiative after the break.

With Tom Barnett available again, Tony Joyce opted for a more conventional 4-4-2 system with Ben Baines and Warren Garcia occupying the flanks.

It took time for the game to come to life, neither goal seriously threatened until the 10th minute when Jack Wood’s clearance cannoned back off Ade Yusuff into the path of Sean Murray, but he finished weakly straight at Jack Sillitoe.

Aylesbury’s first chance quickly followed when Baines headed down a deep free-kick for Stacey Field to volley over from close range with his left foot when it looked easier to score.

The match continued to be finely balanced, although United were creating the better openings and Joey Acheampong turned Field’s cross wide at the near post.

Yusuff was Biggleswade’s biggest threat and he had two shots blocked as United defended strongly, before David Parker went close when he was allowed to control the ball on his chest and fire goalwards but just wide.

The Ducks probed again when Sam Slatter’s ball in was misjudged by Michael Supple, who then made amends with a good block to keep recipient Baines at bay.

It was from the resulting corner which Aylesbury edged ahead. The ball was headed goalwards where Scott Walters did well to claw it off the line, but he could do nothing when Mulholland rammed home the loose ball for number 10 of the season. 1-0 Aylesbury

Aylesbury were visibly buoyed by the goal and went in search of a second almost immediately, a flowing move saw Baines play in Field but Walters made a good save to tip the ball wide.

A second goal did arrive in the 38th minute, Joey Acheampong the architect as he waltzed his way into the box, committed defenders and keeper alike before squaring for Field to roll into the empty net. 2-0 Aylesbury

At that point it looked like Biggleswade were in danger of collapse, but they steadied their ship and had a strong shout for a penalty waved away as Yusuff went tumbling in the box.

Perhaps with that still weighing on his mind, referee Mr. Stevens then awarded a much more controversial spot kick two minutes later for a strong tackle by Tom Barnett in the box. Up stepped top-scorer Sean Murray and the result was never in doubt as he easily converted. 1-2

Half-time: Biggleswade 1-2 Aylesbury

Coming right on the stroke of half time as it did, the home side had the initiative to push forward after the break and they did so from the outset, forcing an early corner which was headed towards the target but hacked away by Daniel Jones.

With Aylesbury struggling to find their men with their passes, second half goal attempts were few and far between – Tom Barnett having one of the better ones with a 25-yard drive that Walters had to tip wide.

Biggleswade then launched a swift counter attack that saw Yusuff evade the challenge of last man Wood, but he was unable to beat Sillitoe in the one-on-one duel.

Despite their lack of attacking threat, the Ducks were defending well, and unlike Wednesday’s game managed to keep their revitalised opponents at bay, and on the rare (only) occasion that Yusuff beat Mulholland to an aerial ball, Sillitoe was on hand to pluck his header out of the air.

The closest the home side came to finding an equaliser came from the boot of Yusuff, whose deflected shot after 70 minutes appeared to be going just wide, but Sillitoe got down to tip it wide just to be safe.

As Biggleswade went for broke by introducing a third striker, Aylesbury were able to exploit the gaps at the back with a couple of late efforts.

Acheampong twisted and turned in the box before lashing a shot into the side netting, whilst Field got the better of two defenders before unleashing a rising drive which flew just past the upright.

A stoppage time effort from Yusuff was off target, which was as good as it got for Biggleswade, who will still be nervously glancing over their shoulders as the threat of relegation still remains following results elsewhere.

For Aylesbury though, another win and another unbeaten match as their excellent form continues.

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