Aylesbury were rewarded for their battling performance with a well earned point against league leaders Barton Rovers, with Stacey Field’s sublime second half goal equalising Barton’s stunning opener twenty minutes earlier.

Bill Morgan returned after his broken nose to re-establish his rock solid partnership with Jack Wood, and it was from this foundation that United were able to minimise the threat of a side that had beaten fellow Division One Central high flyers Royston Town 4-0 on their last outing.

The first chance of the day went United’s way, when Field teed up Greg Williams with a square pass but his powerful shot was charged down.

United then suffered an injury scare when Liam Smyth was caught in a challenge but after some treatment on the sidelines he was thankfully able to continue.

Barton had a good chance on ten minutes as former Aylesbury man Bilal Hassan hoisted a cross in from the right which was caught on the volley by his opposite wingman Rhys Hoeness but flew well over.

The match continued in similar vein with the sides evenly matched and clear cut chances at a premium.

Field tried his usual audacious attempt with a 45-yard shot that dropped over the bar, and the same player was just unable to get a shot away after a ball in from Daniel Jones fell to him.

Two minutes later Kyle Forster punched a long ball away from the edge of the penalty area, with Dom Petrucci lobbing the ball over the empty goal, and, as Aylesbury just shaded the goal attempts count, Zack Reynolds went on a driving run into the box before eventually seeing a shot blocked.

Barton striker Bobby Dance, with five goals to his name this season, was having a frustrating afternoon with seemingly everything he attempted failing to come good, and on the half hour mark he blasted an effort badly wide after a well worked move allowed him the chance.

He went closer five minutes later when Alex Tokarczyk punched out a corner kick, the ball played back to Dance who shot just over the bar.

As Rovers ended the half strongly, Dance then turned provider when his clever lay off found Luke Knight in the box in what was the first clear opening of the game, but he skewed wide.

Half-time: Aylesbury 1-1 Barton Rovers

The visitors introduced youngster Keshi Anderson for the ineffective Hoeness at the interval, and they nearly went ahead just four minutes after the restart as Greg Williams slipped and inadvertently flashed the ball across his own goal, Kevin Kilroy somehow firing over as it came to him at the far post.

At the other end the Ducks then created a good chance of their own as Field’s pass released Petrucci who went round the goalkeeper, who was off his line quickly to meet both the ball and the United striker. Despite being felled, Petrucci still managed to squeeze a pass to Field but his finish was wide of the target.

A slick move from Barton won them a corner, which was headed behind well by Petrucci, and from the second well drilled set piece, Rovers edged ahead.

The initial delivery was met unmarked by Kilroy who could only fire against the bar from three yards, but the ball ran loose to the edge of the area where Knight crashed a rocket of a half volley high into the net giving Tokarczyk no chance. 1-0 Barton

Undeterred by going behind, United looked for a way back into the match and Reynolds zipped into the box before falling rather easily to the ground, the referee not interested, and as the ball ran on Greg Williams he swept a shot over from 20-yards.

Two minutes later and the Ducks were level again. Petrucci dissected the defence with a fine aerial through ball that Field took in his stride before lobbing Forster with a well judged effort that dropped perfectly into the net. 1-1

Field tried his luck with another long shot that flew wide, and Rovers countered through Anderson who ran clean through but his weak effort was easily saved by Tokarczyk.

Barton manager Dan Kennoy threw on a double substitution and his side upped the pressure in the closing stages and Tokarczyk had to be at his very best as he punched a number of corner kicks away, and made a blinding double save to deny Liam McDevitt at point blank range.

Try as they might, there was no way through for the visitors, as Jermaine Hall then cut in from the byeline and blazed over, whilst Hassan did similar before picking out Anderson who missed the target at the near post.

Then, in the final minute, Hassan had a clear sight of goal but slashed his shot wide – to his great and audible frustration.

A deserved point overall for Aylesbury’s determined performance after an entertaining game.