In the first of a double header against Northwood, a brace from Stacey Field helped Aylesbury United to a comfortable win, ahead of the sides’ FA Cup tie seven days later.

The league leaders boasted a 100% start to the season going into the match, but were unsettled by a late defensive change and the absence of manager Mark Burgess (who may well have lined up at the back himself), and as a result were powerless to resist some at times sumptuous football from the Ducks.

From the late midweek defeat against AFC Rushden & Diamonds, United were forced into a change of their own, Sonny French only fit enough for the bench and replaced in midfield by Shaun Owens.

It was the Ducks who started on the front foot, and Jack Wood might have scored inside the first five minutes when a low Taylor Collins corner kick was miscued by a defender at the near post but flicked just wide by the Aylesbury skipper.

Four corners inside the opening six minutes also came to nothing, before the hosts registered on the attacking radar for the first time when the ball was laid back to George Nicholas whose shot was easy for Alex Tokarczyk. Michael Murray then had an effort blocked moments later.

An audacious long range chip from Nicholas was never in danger of troubling Tokarczyk as it flew over, but his opposite number wearing the six shirt – Billy Adcock – did test the goalkeeper with a long range curler four minutes later.

Chris Haigh got down to turn the ball around the post, and from the resulting Owens corner kick Alex Collard rose to head home the third goal of his embryonic Aylesbury career. 1-0 Aylesbury

As United continued to dominate, Adcock went close soon afterwards as he bent a shot over the bar, before Eoin Casey was surprised to find himself clean through on the end of a through ball with the home defence all at sea, but Haigh was off his line quickly to make a smothering save.

Seconds later and Stacey Field was agonisingly close with a superb chipped effort, as United could and maybe should have been out of sight.

Northwood felt they might have had a penalty on the half hour mark when a player appeared to be wrestled to the ground at a free kick, and although the ball fell to Woods’ leading scorer Michael Murray his finish was weak.

Tokarczyk was then called upon for more notable action when a training ground corner kick was played into the box low and dummied, where it ran on for Murray. His effort was charged down but the ball broke kindly for defender Nick Turner, but Tokarczyk was up to the task and beat the ball away on his near post.

The hosts appeared to be growing into proceedings as they enjoyed their best spell of the match, with Robbie Hastings firing a long shot over before Perry Dicker – son of former United defender Phil Dicker – got on the end of a flighted left wing cross but headed over.

Just before half time and Northwood’s improvement was made to count for nothing, as Aylesbury doubled their lead. Adcock played a fine ball forwards to Field who turned smartly and produced a neat left footed finish into the far corner. 2-0 Aylesbury

Field then ended the half by just missing wrapping up ‘goal of the season’ already. Taking Tokarczyk’s kick out of hands he produced instant control, turn and shot in one delightful motion, but the ball dropped onto the roof of the net rather than in it, and to the visiting fans’ ‘dismay’ they had to settle for a two-goal half time lead.

Half time: Northwood 0-2 Aylesbury

The Woods looked to come out strongly after the break, and they had Aylesbury under serious pressure for much of the opening stages.

Andy Lomas broke from left back, played a one-two with Murray but saw his shot charged down.

Murray then should have scored his sixth of the season when Hastings found space down the right to find his striker in the box, but his finish from eight yards was placed over the target.

Two minutes later and Nicholas received an infield pass but shot wide, and the same player then curled the ball over, and as his side continued to be wasteful in the final third he completed a hat-trick of misses having ridden a number of challenges before producing a weak shot straight at Tokarczyk.

Having come through the storm, Aylesbury then wasted a great chance of their own when Owens curled a teasing ball into the box which Field somehow managed to side foot wide from close range on the volley.

He wasn’t to be denied for long, however, and just three minutes later the Ducks finally killed the game with a third goal, and a second for Field. Some wonderful football cut a despondent Northwood apart, and Adcock provided the slick final ball for Field to run onto and score. 3-0 Aylesbury

Either side of the goal the resilience of United’s defence was being tested again, but Hastings’ effort was blocked after a neat passing move from Northwood, and after a mazy dribble Max Holland also saw a shot charged down by Alex Collard, who was superb in partnership with Steve Hatch at the back.

Aylesbury had the ball in the net a fourth time when Haigh was brave to reach a low ball across the area just ahead of Eoin Casey, and although Owens tapped the loose ball home Casey was adjudged to have fouled the keeper and the goal was ruled out.

Field went in search of his hat-trick when a ball over the defence allowed him to get in a curling shot that was caught by the diving Haigh.

Substitutes Sonny French and Joey Acheampong combined to release the former who had a shot saved when a pass might have been the better option, and again almost straight away when French released Acheampong who nicked the ball past the keeper but couldn’t retain his balance.

Aylesbury continued to look solid at the back, Greg Williams the latest man to block a shot from Stead this time and Myles Stephenson’s daisy cutter was easily held by Tokarczyk, but in the 88th minute the Woods managed to claim a consolation. Joakim Ehui made progress down the right and supplied a low cross which fellow substitute Myles Stephenson stuck out a boot to divert into the net for his first Northwood goal. 1-3

The home side launched a further barrage on Aylesbury’s goal to no avail, with Stead hammering an effort over the bar as Lee Grace’s defensive header dropped to him as close as they were to come again.

It was Field who went closer, but was cruelly denied his hat-trick by the woodwork. Greg Williams, at the age of 38 and in the 90th minute in 30 degree heat, was still hunting down balls and he played it through to Field but his shot came back off the post.

So round one to Aylesbury, a fully deserved and at times comfortable win, but Northwood will visit The ASM Stadium in a week’s time with plenty to prove in what promises to be an engaging Emirates FA Cup tie.