Aylesbury substitute Jason Blackett found the net with his first involvement in the game, just thirty seconds after leaving the bench, and ended his side’s four-match goal drought and seven-match winless run.

After a somewhat poor showing a Dunstable, the Ducks squad was decimated by injury and unavailability of four players, whilst with the prospect of a cup semi final against Chesham United just two days later manager Tony Joyce opted to leave his leading strikers Blackett and Stacey Field on the sidelines. The result was that only six who started at the weekend did so in this game.

Chalfont could quite justifiably question how the left Bell Close empty handed, having had the better openings – hitting the woodwork and missing a gilt-edged open goal chance, but Aylesbury put in a hard working display for the entire ninety minutes for which they took full reward.

Half chances came United’s way in the opening moments with Joey Acheampong beating haphazard keeper Michael Power-Simpson to the ball but seeing it roll wide, and then Ben Baines striking a tame left footed volley after Paul Edgeworth had helped the ball on for him.

A free kick awarded against Jack Sillitoe for erroneously handling outside the boundaries of his area gave Saints their first attempt, when the ball was headed at the near post, bouncing up and over the bar, before Jack Wood did well in charging down a fierce shot soon afterwards.

Chalfont went close again on thirteen minutes when a long free kick was flicked on by John Carroll into the path of ex-Watford man Scott Fitzgerald who fired a half volley all the way across goal and wide.

Some good one-touch football from the visitors then resulted in Remmell Clarke bending a shot over the bar from the left corner of the box, and with the Ducks still under the cosh Alan Hedley volleyed a shot wide having been picked out by a pass over the defence a minute later.

The loss of Ronayne Marsh-Brown to injury briefly disrupted Chalfont’s flow, and a poor clearance by Power-Simpson gave Aylesbury’s Edgeworth a rare sight of goal but he lashed his effort the wrong side of the upright and into the side netting.

Richard Armstrong was having a strong game in midfield for the Ducks and he had two openings in quick succession, firstly being teed up by Petrucci but producing a weak effort at the keeper, and then meeting a corner kick delivery from Edgeworth but being unable to get over the ball sufficiently to keep it down, when the deftest of near post flicks was the requirement.

It was Saints who were to have the last word though when Lewis – who had a brief spell as a pro with Chesterfield before returning to Chalfont – scampered away down the right before smashing a strong shot against the woodwork.

The danger wasn’t yet over as the ball was worked back to Fitzgerald whose effort was blocked, as Aylesbury reached the interval the happier of the sides with the scoreline goalless.

Half-time: Aylesbury 0-0 Chalfont

The second half was a similar affair as the match was keenly contested by two committed teams. It started on a high note for United as Acheampong’s quick throw in found Edgeworth whose cross-cum-shot was smartly held by Power-Simpson.

A lull in goalmouth action nothing more than the slimmest of pickings for a good twenty minutes, Acheampong ‘nearly’ connecting with a well delivered set piece by Edgeworth about as close as either side came until the seventy-first minute.

At which point Chalfont fashioned their first of two clear-cut openings. A fine ball into the box by Carroll was met by just as good a knock down from Hedley for Fitzgerald who made a mess of the finish and produced an air kick.

Ten minutes later and the visitors had an even better chance when Hedley found himself clean through with only Sillitoe to beat, but with the crowd holding their breath (and fully expecting the net to bulge), he did what looked to be a harder task and slotted the ball wide.

With the ball out of play Joyce opted to make his second substitution of the night, an attacking move of throwing on Blackett for Greg Williams, and the Saints were instantly made to pay for their misses.

A ball forward was controlled by the Ducks striker, who shrugged off the attentions of Liam Fowler before cutting inside neatly and finding the bottom corner with a well placed strike. 1-0 Aylesbury

The goal came with less than eight minutes remaining, and there was soon to be further drama as Valchav – who had endured a miserable night – was shown a straight red card for an off the ball incident.

That left the goal-shy visitors with just too much to do and time quickly ran out as referee Mr O’Donnell brought an end to proceedings, but not before promising AFC Rushden & Diamonds youngster Liam Murphy was introduced for his Aylesbury debut.

A pleasing night for the Ducks who perhaps were slightly fortunate to take all three points, but once again proved the importance of working hard right up until the final whistle.