Aylesbury recorded their sixth straight win by seeing off Biggleswade United 3-1 at Bell Close without ever really hitting top gear.

The Ducks showed one change to their starting lineup with Zac Reynolds returning in place of the unavailable Louis Austin, and it was he who scored the decisive goal – his first in Aylesbury colours - at a time when the Ducks were threatening to wobble slightly.

Also included in the squad for the first time was new signing Ben Hammond, joining from Hillingdon Borough.

Biggleswade as the only side remaining Premier Division side without a league win to their name, but they threatened first when giant striker Josh Dance brought the ball down and struck a half volley which was always going wide.

Six minutes later Jack Sillitoe was called into action when Stuart Childs fizzed in a cross-cum-shot from the right which Aylesbury’s stopper got down well to save, and then smother the rebound with Chris Butler closing in.

It had been a slow start by United’s standards as the Ducks were unable to find any attacking quality, but in the fifteenth minute Stacey Field – looking to repeat his two hat tricks in the last two games - had a shot cleared off the line after Bircham’s free-kick caught goalkeeper Scott Waters in no man’s land.

Greg Williams then went close moments later with a long ranger as the ball sat up perfectly for him to half volley, the ball falling just wide of the scrambling Waters’ goal.

Midway through the half Reynolds surged down the left before cutting inside and firing in a shot which was saved by Waters at the second attempt.

But it was the visitors who should have taken the lead when Mulholland fell at a corner kick, affording Dance a free header which he could only glance wide inside the six-yard box.

Despite a somewhat lacklustre start to the game, United edge in front with nine first half minutes remaining. Bircham’s deep free-kick again had Waters unsure whether to come or stay on his line, allowing Baines to nod home his first goal of the season past the stranded keeper. 1-0 Aylesbury

Again the visitors asked Aylesbury questions as they looked for an immediate response when substitute James Peters fired in a cross-shot all the way across goal after United had failed to clear their lines.

Reynolds was putting in a great attacking full back display and he drew a good save out of Waters having played a nifty one-two to burst into the box but the keeper was out smartly.

United’s resulting three corners in a row came to nothing, but a second goal wasn’t long in coming and was delightful in its simplicity. Joey Acheampong received a throw on the right, rolled past his marker before crossing for the unmarked Ben Butler to head home from close range. 2-0 Aylesbury

With United opening up a clear advantage over their lowly hosts there looked to be no way back for the visitors as the interval arrived.

Half-time: Aylesbury 2-0 Biggleswade

But Aylesbury were determined to make life difficult for themselves, and Josh Dance scampered down the left touchline before firing in a low shot which cannoned off Mulholland and past the wrong footed Sillitoe to stun Bell Close. 1-2

There could have been more as United remained under the cosh; Baines making a good challenge to deny a goalscoring opportunity at a corner kick, whilst Angus Stewart got his shot all wrong having been presented a decent shooting opportunity on the edge of the area.

The home bench recognised the need for changes and opted to replace their central midfielders of Butler and Williams with Paul Edgeworth and new boy Hammond just before the hour mark and it had a steadying effect on the Ducks.

Baines should have netted his second when he met Bircham’s floated free-kick delivery, but made poor contact and the ball tamely found its way to Waters.

The Ducks number 9 was having an eventful game, and he and Aylesbury were somewhat fortunate not to be penalised for handball in the area from a corner kick.

United were back in the ascendency though, and after an Edgeworth dipping effort went close, the third and clinching goal arrived. Great football all around ended with Reynolds spraying the ball out wide to Field who played it back into the box where Reynolds had continued his run to turn the ball into the net. 3-1 Aylesbury

Still Biggleswade wouldn’t lie down and almost straight from kick off Dance went for goal with a smart turn and shot which was spectacularly tipped wide by Sillitoe, the ball dropping to Stewart again from the corner kick who again fired well wide from distance.

A cross fell to Peters who cracked a shot straight at Sillitoe, and Stewart met a corner kick but headed wide with plenty of room in the box. Dance then turned and another low shot from him was well saved by Sillitoe.

Whilst the game was safe due to the two-goal cushion, Biggleswade had never looked like a side in the bottom three as much as Aylesbury had never looked like a side in the higher echelons of the table such was the close nature of the affair.

Waters made two decent saves in the final five minutes to deny Steve Hatch’s effort after a goalmouth scramble, and then a Baines header to keep the scoreline respectable.

Aylesbury came away with a comfortable-looking win in the end, and although at times it wasn’t, this was another very satisfactory afternoon for a side who are definitely in the winning habit just now.

With Dunstable Town and Oxhey Jets both winning their matches, the top 3 of the league table remains unchanged.