It was honours even at Ampthill Park as Aylesbury United’s unbeaten league record away from Bell Close was extended further despite being largely second best against Ampthill Town.

Stacey Field’s welcome return to the scoresheet after came against the run of play to give the Ducks a 17th minute lead, and a resolute defensive performance gave potential for all three points.

But, after much test, United’s resolve was finally broken when Robbie Goodman poked the ball home after a scrappy free-kick to level proceedings with twenty minutes remaining.

The opening seconds provided optimism for the vociferous travelling faithful as Louis Austin blasted over after Jack Wood’s miss hit shot fell kindly for him, but the linesman’s flag was raised in any case.

Ampthill had the better of the opening exchanges though as Daniel Jones had to head behind a telling cross by Gary Ridgeway, whilst a free-kick was hit far too high by ex-Arlesey and Bedford winger Philip Draycott.

Having successfully absorbed some early pressure, a moment of quality counter-attacking from Aylesbury nearly broke the deadlock after 15 minutes when Austin won the ball in midfield, raced down the right flank and produced a superb cross for Field which cruelly smacked back off the crossbar.

Two minutes later and United and Field struck gold this time. Ampthill’s side included three former Aylesbury players in Lea Coulter, Tyrone Taylor and Warren Garcia, with the latter making a mistake in midfield that allowed Austin to release Field. His awareness told him keeper Tom Kennard was dangerously stranded, and with sublime technique he executed a 25-yard lob which found the top corner of the net. 1-0 Aylesbury

Fast forward another two minutes and Paul Edgeworth spotted Kennard off his line again and tried an ambitious 35-yard effort that lacked the elevation and provided a fairly routine catch for the stopper.

Another worthwhile audacious effort from Field, confidence restored, then followed but dropped well over the bar.

At the other end United were soon under renewed pressure once again and Draycott should have done better when the ball fell to him in the area, only able to produce an air-kick, before Taylor fired an acrobatic volley wide after Ridgeway’s cross was nodded back across goal.

Aylesbury’s best attempt came via previous top-scorer Lea Coulter who nearly headed an Austin cross into his own net had Kennard not been alert in plucking the ball out of the air.

Town continued knocking at the door but regularly found it slammed shut in their faces, with John Mulholland and Shane Wood outstanding in a fine defensive team display.

Christian Lester crashed a 25-yarder over, Coulter crossed for Draycott who guided a volley inches wide, and a poor long shot from McKenzie was easily fielded by Jack Sillitoe who, despite all the pressure United were under, didn’t have to make a serious save, as Greg Williams going close to an own goal and a wayward shot from Coulter were the remainder of first half Ampthill attempts.

Aylesbury ended the half winning their first corner kick which was met by Jack Wood who flicked Edgeworth’s skimming delivery goalwards but couldn’t test Kennard sufficiently.

Half-time: Ampthill 0-1 Aylesbury

United were forced onto the backfoot again as Town won a corner straight from kick off, flashed all the way across goal by Gary Ridgeway, and, after Jack Wood appeared to be clipped in the opposing box at one end, Ampthill then won a corner at the other in one swift move which was headed over this time by Lester.

Taylor should have done better in the 53rd minute when a quickly taken free-kick resulted in the ball being crossed into him for a free-header which lacked the pace to beat Sillitoe.

Aylesbury then had a goal disallowed when, after another midfield miss-kick by Garcia, Austin drove forward before firing in a shot that was parried by Kennard to the following up, but offside, Ben Baines who tucked it away for some short-lived joy.

With his charges generally second best, manager Tony Joyce opted to shake things up in midfield by introducing Zac Reynolds and Ben Butler in place of experienced duo Williams and Edgeworth.

The changes couldn’t alter the course of the game though, and two good smothering stops from Sillitoe kept United’s lead intact. First, a weak back-header from Steve Hatch was seized upon by substitute Stephane Kemoagna but Sillitoe was swiftly off his line to save at feet, repeating the act seconds later to cut out a through ball.

Growing momentum from the home side had to pay dividends eventually, and United’s long clean sheet in the league – which stretched four games and over 400 minutes – was finally ended by a scrappy goal. A free-kick was half dealt with by Aylesbury, Lester firing in a follow up shot which deflected before bobbling around the box where Robbie Goodman was stationed to poke the ball home. 1-1

Immediately after the goal the one-way traffic continued without end product, and it was Austin of Aylesbury who had the next shot when he fired in a fierce effort which was bravely charged down by Dave Murphy.

Three minutes later and Austin was at it again, this time firing a half volley over the bar as Jones’ free-kick was partially cleared as far as him.

Neither side could make a breakthrough as the minutes ticked away, Mulholland hooking a volley to Kennard and Kemoagna hitting a wild attempt for Ampthill as both sides had to settle for the point.

A result which does little for Aylesbury in the upper echelons of the league table with their main rivals victorious elsewhere, but a tough match which might be looked back on as a point gained on balance of the 90 minutes.