A stunning Zack Reynolds hat-trick meant manager Tony Joyce could celebrate his 250th game in charge of Aylesbury United with a first win of the season, at the first time of asking at Bell Close.

Reynolds was the difference in what had largely been a frustrating match for the Ducks; unable to find a way past a very good Egham Town team that had been forced to play the majority of the match with ten men, and twice having to come from behind.

Aylesbury showed one personnel change from their opening day defeat at Kettering Town, with Jesse Waites replacing Lea Coulter in midfield, switching to a 4-4-2 shape, whilst Egham were without new striker Dan Read, who had scored on his debut the previous Saturday.

It took just seven minutes for his replacement – Duane Antonio – opened the scoring, meeting a right wing cross to head home via a deflection which wrongfooted Jack Sillitoe. 1-0 Egham

Egham continued their bright start and moments later Reis Stanislaus latched onto a misplaced defensive header but screwed his shot wide with Sillitoe stranded well out of his goal.

After Reynolds had tested the visiting defence for the first time, beating his man but curling an effort wide, the Sarnies’ good work in the first ten minutes began to unravel. A flick on released Steve Hatch who was taken out in the box by Richie Byrne for a clear penalty, and a red card for denying a goalscoring opportunity.

Paul Edgeworth retained spot kick duties, and having narrowly squeezed one home at the weekend there was no saving this emphatically taken penalty that gave Jamie Norris no chance. 1-1

Midfielder Joe Chandiram went close for the visitors with a decent long range effort that flew just wide, but it was Aylesbury who should have gone ahead when Reynolds got to the byeline and picked out Edgeworth who hammered over the bar from close range. Hatch then tried his luck with an early effort but, as the rain lashed down, he scuffed the wet ball straight at Norris.

Although Egham were being restricted to long shots – Josh Andrew the latest to fire one wide – the numerically reduced Sarnies were doing well in frustrating a disjointed looking Aylesbury.

Most moments of threat were to come through the impressive Reynolds, and on 26 minutes he won the ball back before drilling in a low cross-shot that hit Stacey Field virtually on the goal line. Then, he won a free kick that gave Edgeworth the opportunity to shoot low and through the wall, but straight at Norris.

Edgeworth had one last opening in stoppage time as the ball was headed on to him in the six yard area, but it wouldn’t sit up quick enough allowing Norris to make a smothering save.

Half-time: Aylesbury 1-1 Egham

An early second half chance for the Ducks saw Field flick on for Reynolds who in turn found Edgeworth who could only divert the ball wide, but on the whole it was an awful start to the second period by Aylesbury and they were duly made to pay.

Within less than a minute of the restart the ball was given away by Lee Grace and quickly worked through to Antonio whose shot hit Sillitoe and went behind.

Five minutes later, amongst more poor defending, the Sarnies reinstated their lead. The excellent Reis Stanislaus cut in from the left and drilled a low shot past the unsighted dive of Sillitoe. 2-1 Egham

Again, to their credit, the Ducks refused to let their heads drop and were behind for just nine minutes. It was a goal out of nothing as the ball dropped to Reynolds 25-yards out who returned a perfect half volley into the far corner. 2-2

Aylesbury still weren’t able to dominate in the way their supporters wanted as both sides had chances to score next: a thunderous effort from Steve Hatch blocked as the ball broke to him, and Bill Morgan making a superb block at the other end.

The nature of the game continued with Stanislaus dragging a shot wide, and Hatch heading over a deep free kick delivery from Liam Smyth.

But two late moments of magic from Reynolds finally swung the game Aylesbury’s way.

They took the lead for the first time eight minutes from the end when Reynolds set off on a typical slalom run before slotting the ball into the far corner of the net perfectly, for a stunning solo effort. 3-2 Aylesbury

When a half clearance dropped to Waites he tried to make his mark with a debut goal but curled his shot wide, and there was still time for a corner to be headed goalwards and cleared off the line by Hatch.

There was an even better chance two minutes into stoppage time when, after Sillitoe spilled a shot, the ball was played back across goal but headed wide by substitute Matt Grave.

Instead, it was left to Reynolds to crown his superb evening and complete his hat-trick with the best of the bunch and condemn Egham to conceding four goals for the second game running.

The ball was played in from the left to substitute Ben Baines whose attempt from six-yards was somehow blocked on the line. Scrambled away as far as Reynolds, the Aylesbury winger showed no hesitation in unleashing a classy 25-yard strike which found the top corner. 4-2 Aylesbury

Four minutes into stoppage time and the points were finally safe for the Ducks. Egham will be a danger to many sides this season, so a pleasing way to start the campaign for Aylesbury.