In their final midweek league game, tired Aylesbury reached the milestone quarter century of unbeaten matches with a hard fought 1-1 draw at fifth placed Hanwell Town, their third successive 1-1 result away from Bell Close.

Aylesbury made two changes with Bill Morgan starting in defence as Shane Wood’s injury forcing him to drop to the bench, whilst Greg Williams replaced Liam Smyth in midfield, but at least five starting players were known to be carrying knocks after such a testing schedule.

Like at Stotfold two days earlier, the Ducks could have had another very early goal when, in the very first minute, a low ball into the area found Paul Edgeworth, but he shot straight at the keeper.

That proved to be something of a rare opening and both defences were on top in a half of too many high balls and not enough quality.

Zack Reynolds had a half chance when a clearance fell to him but struck well wide from range, before a Ben Baines hooked effort deflected off a defender and went behind.

A short spell of pressure ended with Ben Butler pulling a shot wide from the edge of the box, but Aylesbury were in the ascendancy at this stage and capitalised with the opening goal, on 26 minutes.

Kyle Watson was warned for his firm challenge on Williams, and from the resulting set piece Edgeworth’s searching ball into the box dropped to Steve Hatch who rifled into the opposite side of the goal from a tight angle. 1-0 Aylesbury

Hanwell were immediately straight back in the action and it took a fine saving challenge from Hatch and a good clearance from Jack Wood to keep the hosts at bay. The latter released United for a swift counter which ended with Butler shooting over.

Town’s front pairing of Billy Healey and Nicolas Taravov, prolific since returning from Harrow Borough, were a constant threat, and the two combined to create Hanwell’s first meaningful attempt on goal. A nice touch from Healey set up Taravov for a 20-yard shot that was straight at Jack Sillitoe who could field comfortably.

The game continued in similar vein with Aylesbury shading the chances count, although few were clean cut as Hatch heading a corner kick in the vague direction of goal, a Louis Austin faint header easily caught, Field slicing a shot badly wide, and Ben Baines seeing his effort deflected behind after Reynolds’s cross had fallen for him.

All Hanwell could muster was a shot over the bar by Michael Buckley, and a dangerously placed free-kick on the left flank on the stroke of halt time which was wasted, allowing Sillitoe an easy catch.

Half-time: Hanwell 0-1 Aylesbury

From the restart, Town pressed hard and Taravov placed a shot wide from the edge of the area early on, before nervy moments for the Ducks saw Sillitoe punch uneasily and Edgeworth produce an air kick when trying to clear, but the goal wasn’t yet breached.

Aylesbury fashioned a good opening on 52 minutes when Austin outpaced his marker to reach the ball before laying it square into the path of Butler whose low drive was parried away by Charlie Fanner.

The match continued in a frenetic manner and Baines fired over a minute later as Hanwell were unable to clear their lines. On the hour mark Austin wriggled clear of the defence and won a corner, from which Jack Wood powered an unmarked header over the bar.

After Williams had made a superb tackle to block a shot, Sillitoe then made a brilliant save to tip wide a snapshot from Healey after he had ridden a number of challenges to work his way into the box.

The subsequent corner kick was headed wide across goal, where Hatch but it out for the relative safety of another corner as Hanwell continued to up the heat on Aylesbury’s goal.

Edgeworth did see a near post shot plucked out of the air by Fanner, but as Taravov blasted over from the edge of the area the home pressure was soon renewed and the inevitable goal wasn’t long in arriving.

Reynolds shepherded the ball out of danger with some panache, only to concede possession cheaply. Kyle Watson took up the mantle with an early shot across goal which bounced off the turf and over the dive of Sillitoe into the net. 1-1

Aylesbury weren’t quite a spent force and had a great chance created by the brilliance of Louis Austin. Receiving a ball in from wide, he rolled his marker superbly but tried to power the ball home and blasted past the upright.

There were still fifteen minutes remaining, and although both sides were looking leggy it was Hanwell who spent more time on the offensive with United’s defence increasingly tired.

Yet it was Aylesbury who had the last remaining chance when they were awarded a free-kick five yards outside the box, in the 92nd minute. Late substitute Ben Hill had the chance to make himself a hero, but despite his effort dipping late, it dropped just over the bar.

As a result, the game ended all square with an increasingly familiar 1-1 scoreline, but a decent point for the Ducks that keeps the run going.