Aylesbury came within five minutes of a major league upset at high-flying Chalfont St. Peter, only for two late goals by the hosts sending the Ducks home empty handed and still searching for their first point of 2016.

An action packed game from start to finish had seen Tyrone Taylor give the Ducks a shock early lead with two goals in the first twelve minutes. Even though the Saints halved the deficit before the break, Aylesbury were doing a fine job of containing their hosts, before they finally broke through with an 85th minute equaliser, and the drama continued as Chalfont had a penalty saved before forcing a winner at the death.

With only one game to their names in 2016 – a 1-4 home defeat by St Ives Town two weeks earlier – Chalfont were clearly lacking sharpness as the game got underway, and Aylesbury could have been ahead with just two minutes played. Sonny French latched onto a loose ball, running through before seeing his shot clawed away at the second attempt by Michael Power-Simpson with the linesman well placed to judge the ball not to have crossed the line.

90 seconds later and United did take the lead. Midfield maestro French sprayed an excellent arced pass for Taylor to run onto, and although Power-Simpson saved from the one-on-one, the ball rebounded to the striker to fire home the rebound. 1-0 Aylesbury

Taylor nearly struck again when he got on the end of Greg Williams cut back from the byeline, the ball smuggled behind for a corner kick that Alex Collard headed wide, and it was Williams who inadvertently had the Saints’ first effort on goal when he guided Jack Hutchinson’s cross towards his own goal, Zaki Oualah reacted smartly to tip the ball wide.

To the delight, and some disbelief, of the travelling faithful, United then extended their lead when a terrible kick out from Power-Simpson went straight to Taylor. The experienced striker still had work to do but showed good skill to direct a half-volley back on target and into the empty net. 2-0 Aylesbury

It wasn’t until the midway point of the first half that Chalfont finally mustered a shot of their own – newly signed striker Hutchinson, on loan from Staines Town, fired in an effort from outside the box which was easily held.

Just a minute afterwards and Saints did have a goal back. Former Northwood man Michael Murray got his second goal of the season against the Ducks, and second in three games since his move to Chalfont, when he was on hand to nod in a cross from the right after some poor defending by the Ducks. 1-2

With their tails up the Saints then sensed the chance for an equaliser, and a ball into Aaron Lansiquot saw a sharp turn and shot but Oualah made another good save to turn the ball wide.

Aylesbury were still posing a threat as a succession of three corner kicks came to nothing, before a ball out of defence was helped on by French to Reece Cameron who could only drag a long shot well wide.

It was the hosts who ended the half the strongest, spurning two good chances to equalise as firstly a ball into the box was missed by the Aylesbury defence, coming quickly to Alex Paine whose shot was saved by Oualah. In the final minute of the first period a free-kick into the box was headed wide by the well placed Adam Kirby, and United retained their slender advantage.

Half-time: Chalfont 1-2 Aylesbury

The second half got off to a slow start, French crashing over a long range free kick before Chalfont introduced fresh legs in attackers Tyrone Pink and Anthony Thomas, and later Kofi Lockhart-Adams as they switched to a more offensive shape.

Just past the hour mark Collard missed the target with his second free header from a Shaun Owens corner kick of the afternoon, and as the half reached its’ midpoint Williams went close to a third when he combined with Jack Wood before firing a high shot across goal and just wide.

Three minutes later and a last-ditch intervention from Lewis Ochoa kept the Ducks at bay, French finding Taylor whose low cross was just nicked away at the last ahead of the arriving Cameron who looked certain to score. The resulting corner was met by Collard, who was then allowed to collect the rebound and fire for goal with the ball stopped on the line.

Still Aylesbury pressed and another poor kick from Power-Simpson was seized on by a combination of Taylor and French, with the latter having the last touch with a poked shot that tricked just wide of the vacant goal.

Despite their chances, the Ducks had been unable to find the killer third goal, and Chalfont’s introduction of a third fresh attacker in Kofi Lockhart-Adams saw the pendulum begin to swing in the home side’s favour.

On a very heavy pitch and going into the last ten minutes of the match, it was little surprise when a tired looking Aylesbury suddenly began to be pinned back and under immense pressure.

Even so, Chalfont had yet to have a meaningful effort on goal in the second period, although they had forced a number of free kicks and corners. And it was from a flag kick that the eventual equaliser came, the ball coming all the way across to substitute Lockhart-Adams, amongst some lacklustre marking, who cut inside and placed a good finish high into the net. 2-2

With time running out, Williams met a free kick with a flying header that could have re-established Aylesbury’s lead but Power-Simpson was able to hold onto the ball.

As the game moved into the second minute of stoppage time, Alvin Rajaram was left devastated as he referee Mr Heward decided his last-ditch challenge in the box to be illegal, but he was soon back up and celebrating after Oualah made a great save to keep out Lockhart-Adams’s penalty kick.

Cruel game that football is though, the joy was shortlived for Aylesbury, as in the 94th minute Chalfont carved out a winner. A ball into the box found Anthony Thomas completely unattended in the box, and the well-travelled substitute calmly crossed back for Alex Paine to easily head home and seal the win. 3-2 Chalfont

Tough on the Ducks who had given an excellent account of themselves, certainly their best performance since the turn of the year, and one that didn’t deserve them going home empty handed, but if the positives can be taken forward to upcoming league games against the likes of Fleet and Leighton then points won’t be far away.