After two creditable draws against high-flying opposition, Aylesbury took a very welcome three points at bottom of the league Ashford Town (Mx) with a 2-1 win.

Never a comfortable afternoon against the improving Middlesex side, the Ducks survived a number of late attempts to spoil things with the ball cleared off the line and hitting the woodwork, whilst Alex Tokarczyk – playing the scheduled last game of his loan from Hemel Hempstead Town – making a number of saves.

With Ben Baines the latest injury victim, the returning Zack Reynolds took his place in the starting lineup, whilst Jack Wood – who made the goalline clearance – was back from suspension to replace the unavailable Dom Petrucci with Daniel Jones moving to the wing, as the Ducks lined up with two changes. New signing Dale Turney was an unused substitute.

The opening to the match belonged to Aylesbury, with Ashford looking devoid of confidence and guilty of too many basic mistakes all over the pitch. The hosts gradually grew into the game and by the end there was little to choose between the sides.

A Jason Blacket turn and shot from a tight angle called Tyler Tobin to claim the ball for the first time, whilst Stacey Field might have done better two minutes later when Steve Hatch’s bombarding run ended with the ball falling kindly for Field who slotted it wide from 12-yards.

After Russell Canderton tamely headed a deep free kick wide, a first bit of football by the Tangerines saw Cyril Ocansey cut in from the left flank and hit a decent effort over the bar.

Daniel Jones’s set piece deliveries were fantastic all afternoon, and from his corner Blackett met the ball cleanly but headed wide of the target with what was an excellent chance.

Town went on to have plenty of pressure with a succession of set pieces, but they were defended well by Aylesbury who cleared their lines on every occasion. The Ducks made more of their own opportunities and a deep free kick was guided straight to Tobin by Jack Wood’s deft header, and then Hatch had a free header as he soared to get on the end of another Jones corner, but put the ball over the bar.

Two quick bookings for Ashford paved the way for a busy afternoon for the referee, who, despite it not being a particularly physical contest, issued a total of five yellow cards and dismissed Town’s new manager Ben Murray from the dugout for one protest too many.

Aylesbury finally broke the deadlock ten minutes from the break, and predictably a set piece lead to the goal. Jones played in a free kick from deep, and after the ball had looped up in the air, Blackett’s weak looking header deceived Tobin and crossed the line. 1-0 Aylesbury

On the stroke of half time the Ducks had another great chance to score when Jones latched onto Blackett’s flick and squared the ball across the box where Reynolds eventually fired over.

Half-time: Ashford 0-1 Aylesbury

On balance of the chances, clear cut ones at least, United deserved their slender interval advantage, and it wasn’t long before Blackett had his second to set up what appeared to be heading for a comfortable Aylesbury win.

It was a cracking goal too, as the powerful striker linked up cleverly with Field to get in the area, hold off his marker and rifle home a thumping finish. 2-0 Aylesbury

Blackett very nearly had a hat-trick as he outmanoeuvred the defence to get to Tokarczyk’s long goal kick but fired just wide and into the side netting on this occasion.

To their great credit, Ashford refused to let their heads drop, and hauled themselves back into the game ten minutes after the Ducks’s goal. There appeared to be little danger, but Elliott Jones was given too much room and his long shot took a deflection to wrong foot Tokarczyk and find the net. 1-2

It was very much game on now and Reynolds looked odds-on to reinstate United’s two-goal cushion on the hour mark when Blackett set him free, but a superb last-ditch challenge denied him before he could get a shot away.

A feint Stacey Field header was caught by Tobin, as Aylesbury continued to have chances, and Tobin made a great save to block another Reynolds shot and Blackett and Field combined to slip the ball through.

At the other end Adam Turner nodded a free kick wide at the far post, before Wood’s miracle clearance in the 76th minute. Tokarczyk could only push a shot back out into a waiting striker’s path, and with the home fans and management already celebrating, Wood somehow got back and scraped the ball out of the empty net at the very last second to preserve United’s lead.

The last twenty minutes of the game were end to end, and Field teed up Liam Smyth for a shot which was charged down, whilst substitute Jayan Alexander’s snapshot flew wide for Ashford.

United had a well-placed free kick which Keith Williams hammered over the bar, but the remaining minutes were all about defence as Ashford pressed hard for a precious point.

In the last minute Ocansey strode forward and fired in a shot across Tokarczyk which rebounded off the post. The ball came straight back to Joe Bennett – playing his first game of the season having returned from university – but he slotted the rebound wide with the goal gaping.

There was still time for one last shot which Tokarczyk beat away, and this time there was no home player waiting to capitalise and Aylesbury had done enough to claim victory.

Although good in first and starts, it was far from a fluid performance by United, but on this occasion luck went the way of the Ducks who next travel to St Ives Town, smarting after a 5-1 defeat by Aylesbury FC.