Aylesbury were held to a 1-1 draw by a spirited Westfield side at Woking Park, with a first half Ducks goal securing United’s first drawn match of the season after the hosts had earlier gone ahead.

Stacey Field made his first start of the season after two months on the sidelines with an ankle injury and showed fleeting moments of what Aylesbury fans can look forward to again, but it was his strike partner Jason Blackett who scored with a header just before the interval.

Both managers will feel their respective sides could have performed better, and both will go into Wednesday night’s replay with a point to prove.

In the second half Aylesbury finally looked like the side from the higher league, but couldn’t find the finishing touch in front of goal and after Richard Armstrong’s late dismissal for a second yellow card were satisfied enough with a replay.

Both sides had half chances in the first ten minutes, with Yellas forcing some early corners before the ball sat up for Liam Parrington to fire in a fourth minute long shot which was nearer the corner flag than goal.

At the other end the Ducks exerted some pressure with Ben Baines having a shot well blacked, and skipper Jack Wood thought he’d scored in the tenth minute when he met Keith Williams’s corner unmarked, headed for goal only to see the ball heroically cleared off the line, with some muted enquiries as to whether the ball had crossed the line being turned away.

Three minutes later and Westfield took the lead. A ball turned back from the byeline was fired towards goal where Jack Sillitoe made a blinding reflex save, but was left helpless as Simon Sheppard followed up to score. 1-0 Westfield

Second best at that time, Aylesbury could have fallen further behind and a long run down the left ended with a rising shot eventually being dealt with by Sillitoe, whilst a ball threaded through to Jack Williams saw him turn Steve Hatch inside out before seeing his shot deflect wide.

The home pressure continued as the Ducks had to deal with a number of corner kicks, one of which was redelivered with a miss-hit cross that had to be tipped behind by Sillitoe.

As the half went on United improved with Blackett seeing a shot from the edge of the box gathered in by Craig Bradshaw, and after successive corners Blackett then headed well over the bar from another excellent Keith Williams ball.

A decent move down the right saw Shane Wood play a cross field ball into the box where Zack Reynolds flicked just wide, and a minute later Shane Wood’s long throw was met by Morgan who guided his header straight to the keeper.

Keith Williams’s set piece deliveries were exceptional all afternoon, and it was no surprise that he supplied the ammunition for Blackett to deservedly equalise, in the last minute of the half. Williams flighted the ball from the left, and Blackett nodded home. 1-1

Half-time: Westfield 1-1 Aylesbury

Aylesbury looked to continue their upturn immediately from the restart, and a looping header from Baines was plucked out of the air by Bradshaw after Blackett had set him up.

Seconds later, and only a superb stop by the keeper – playing Conference South football with Farnborough last season – kept out Baines’s flying header following a chipped pass over the defence.

Ducks leading scorer Jack Wood should have done better with another tempting Keith Williams free kick which he headed wide after 49 minutes.

Moments later and goalscorer Sheppard was substituted having become the third Westfield player to receive physio treatment on the pitch, hobbling out of the game to be replaced by Adam Beale.

Attempts on Sillitoe’s goal were rarities in the second half, although Max Blackmore did go close ten minutes after the restart with a well hit swerving effort that struck the stantion on its way behind.

Two minutes later and yet another Williams free kick was lifted over the bar from close range by Field, and Bradshaw was called upon again soon afterwards to tip the ball behind after a corner kick.

The Ducks continued to ask questions of their hosts with Field latching onto a flick on the byeline but with the angle always against him he couldn’t beat Bradshaw. A minute later Blackett intercepted Bradshaw’s clearance after the keeper had raced from his line, lofting a shot wide of the vacant goal.

Tony Joyce introduced Lee Grace on the flank in place of Zack Reynolds to try and boost United, though it was from that man Keith Williams’s delivery that Aylesbury went close again – Steve Hatch doing everything right but flicking the ball inches the wrong side of the post.

Williams – who would have been a deserving scorer – wound up a 71st minute free kick which deflected off the wall into the path of Jack Wood, who was unable to hit the target as he side footed a volley wide.

As the game entered the last few minutes it became increasingly open, with Sillitoe off his line quickly to smother a through ball, whilst Keith Williams’s free kick was on target but easily caught.

It also became increasingly fraught with three players seeing yellow cards, including Richard Armstrong for obstructing a Westfield man as his side sought to counter attack. Whilst that may have been a little harsh, coming in late on his man in the 83rd minute was a certain yellow and Armstrong left for an early bath.

With five minutes to play, the Ducks sacrificed Field for an additional midfielder in Greg Williams, but the numerical advantage invited Westfield forward and they forced two non-productive corner kicks.

A minute from the end and Aylesbury went close again when Grace’s shot came back off Bradshaw, but neither Blackett or Grace, who curled his shot wide, were able to capitalise.

Instead, the visitors were grateful to Sillitoe for preserving their draw right at the death when he got down quickly to save from Coppard’s low drive.

In the end, a draw was a fair result and one which will satisfy both teams. The replay will take place at Bell Close on Wednesday 18th September.