Aylesbury United made a winning start in the Berks & Bucks Senior Cup with a second half goal from Shaun Owens proving the difference on their first ever visit to Alfredian Park and sending the Ducks into the second round.

Both managers opted to ring the personnel changes, four for Town and six for United, for whom defender John Mulholland was given a first competitive start after eighteen months injured, and he showed signs of feeling his way back into action before being forced out at half time with a tight hamstring.

It was the giant centre back who inadvertently nearly set up the opening goal when he and Jack Wood made a mess trying to play out from defence, with Mulholland’s attempted lay off to Jack Sillitoe nearly intercepted, the Ducks goalkeeper having to slide in and clear the danger.

Wantage made all the early running, and three minutes later a 25-yard free kick was blazed over the bar by Jake Johns, before Richie Guy seized on a loose ball before setting off on a long dribble but only producing a tame curling effort which Sillitoe could easily catch.

Sillitoe’s quick kick downfield set up a counter, and lead to Aylesbury’s best chance of the first half. Joey Acheampong contested the bouncing ball with home custodian Gareth Tucker, legally in the eyes of the referee, and as it ran loose Lea Coulter stabbed the ball towards the vacant goal only for Danny Lachacz to clear off the line.

Aside from a long shot from Owens which was charged down in first half stoppage time, that was as good as things got for the Ducks in an uneventful opening period.

Sillitoe remained the busier goalkeeper and after 18 minutes he did well to parry a low shot from Ryan Pearce. The ball went out for a throw in, from which the Freds worked the ball into the box to Brad Shaw who acrobatically hooked wide.

Aylesbury’s stopper was soon called upon again when Tom Melledew drove through the midfield and saw his driven effort tipped over by Sillitoe.

Guy’s turn and shot in the box went just over the bar, whilst Sillitoe just beat him to a Pearce through ball before Owen’s blocked effort meant a goalless end to the half.

Half-time: Wantage 0-0 Aylesbury

Lee Grace’s half time introduction as Mulholland’s replacement meant a slight reshuffle, with Ryan Freshwater switching to centre back and the impressive youngster continued to give a good account of himself with another mature performance.

The game’s flow was still in one direction though, with Melledew firing an early shot over the bar and then a run through the defence by the lively Shaw ended with him finding Guy whose effort was dived on by Sillitoe.

Shaw went close himself when he cut in from a wide right position and went for goal with a curling effort that just skimmed over the bar.

On the hour mark Aylesbury finally created a noteworthy chance when a deep cross was headed down and volleyed just over by the arriving Greg Williams.

Three minutes later and the Ducks lead, though very much against the run of play. After a failed corner kick and subsequent redelivery, Owens won the ball back on the left before jinking into the box and firing in a low shot that found the opposite corner of the net. 1-0 Aylesbury

Wantage looked to hit back immediately, and drew another good stop from Sillitoe who got down smartly to turn a long shot from Melledew wide.

Midway through the half and the hosts wasted a great chance to level, a long free kick nodded on by Guy for Shaw who could only head over from close range.

As the minutes ticked by the home side’s threat appeared to be waning, whilst United’s substitutes of Stacey Field and Paul Edgeworth had injected some new attacking threat. Even so, the best they could conjure was Field touching the ball back for Owens who skewed his shot badly wide.

The Freds’ wastefulness in front of goal was evident again in the last minute when the ball came to Melledew in the box, but he seemed to take an eternity getting a shot away allowing United’s defence to regroup and block the ball out for a corner.

Not for the first time, the two Wantage set pieces that followed were both wasted, and after a stoppage time long shot flew wide of Sillitoe’s goal, full time duly sounded.

Far from Aylesbury’s best performance of the season, but a fourth straight win and another clean sheet to celebrate, making the long journey home much more enjoyable for the Ducks.