Aylesbury recovered from their early FA Cup exit a week earlier by twice coming from a goal behind to earn a useful point at Barton Rovers.
At a subdued Sharpenhoe Road, Stacey Field continued his return to form with another two goals as the Ducks put in a good display that was a mile away from their last visit to Rovers when they were beaten 4-0.
In Shane Wood’s absence, Ryan Freshwater made a very good full debut at right-back, whilst Lea Coulter, Steve Hatch and Paul Edgeworth were all drafted back into the team as Tony Joyce opted for a 4-4-2 lineup.
Barton should have been ahead after just two minutes. A throw in found ex-Duck Bilal Hassan who cut the ball back to Nat Peacock, scorer of five FA Cup goals the previous Friday, but he skied his effort.
United had their first attempt five minutes later when Edgeworth headed the ball out wide to Jesse Waites, who cut inside and curled it just past the far post.
Hassan bicycle kicked over the bar following a corner kick, and with Aylesbury having to work hard to keep their hosts at bay, a long shot from Billy Lannon came back off Jack Sillitoe before the away keeper gathered at the second attempt.
Lannon had another chance when he was found by Louis Lee, scuffing a shot wide, and Peacock again should have done better when a long ball set him free but his weak shot was easily smothered by the advancing Sillitoe.
Decent openings for Field and Edgeworth came and went, as Aylesbury seemed to be ending the half the strongest, but were regularly found guilty of losing possession in the final third as final passes went astray.
And Barton took full advantage by opening the scoring in first half stoppage time. A typical long ball caught the United defence, and Jack Wood in particular who was struggling having twice received treatment, allowing Peacock to run through and he made no mistake in slotting past Sillitoe. 1-0 Barton
Half-time: Barton 1-0 Aylesbury
It was something of a flattering lead for the hosts, and one which lasted only six second half minutes as Field scored his first. Jake Bewley sent a free kick into the area where it was cleared only as far as Waites whose first time strike was skewing badly wide, only for the predatory Field to head it into the net from close range. 1-1
The goal marked the start of three goals in a seven minute spell, and just three minutes later the hosts were ahead again.
Louis Lee produced the pass of the game with a through ball dissecting the Aylesbury defence that youngster Lannon ran onto to mark his debut with a really well taken goal. 2-1 Barton
Hatch had a chance for an instant reply when he was found by Reynolds but shot wide, so the mantle fell to Aylesbury’s number ten to double his tally and bring the game level again.
A fine passing move from the Ducks ended in Reynolds making tracks into the box before teeing up Field with a square pass, and the striker couldn’t miss. 2-2
Aylesbury kept up the pressure on the home goal with Reynolds twisting and turning in the box, his shot eventually being held by Forster, and then Bewley’s free kick nodded just wide by Edgeworth, who was ruled offside in the end anyway.
The last fifteen minutes could have seen the game go either way, with Waites firing straight at Forster for United and Kevin Kilroy’s ball into the box being turned wide by Lannon for Rovers.
Four minutes from time, Barton had the best chance to snatch all three points when the ball was headed on for Louis Lee who ran through and chose to shoot, but slashed his fierce effort wide of the target.
In stoppage time Field snatched a left footed effort wide after a half clearance dropped to him on the edge of the box, with what was the last chance of the game, and both sides had to settle for a point.
