Ryan Kinnane headed a late winner as Aylesbury United came from behind to win the proverbial ‘game of two halves’ at a wet and wild ASM Stadium.

An early saved penalty for the Ducks failed to mask a disappointing first period, and they deservedly trailed to Bedford’s solitary goal at the interval. But a vastly improved showing after that saw them level through another penalty – taken this time by Reece Cameron – before Kinnane’s goal coming seven mnutes from time.

Despite a summer of heavy strengthening, Bedford’s mixed start to the campaign meant they came into the game in 13th place, whilst Aylesbury were 6th but without match action in 12-days due to their early FA Cup exit.

The game got off to something of a slow burner with little notable action in the opening stages, until the Ducks – completely against the run of play – were awarded a 14th minute penalty.

Good work on the right by Reece Cameron saw him pick out Ollie Stanbridge with a square pass, whose fierce shot was blocked by the hand of the sliding defender. Whilst the spot kick award was slightly harsh, it mattered not as Jake Bewley’s attempt saw Ollie Sutton guess correctly and dive to turn the ball wide.

The subsequent corner kick was played back to Reece Cameron who drew another save from Sutton to push the ball around the same post, and although the new Bedford stopper – in only his second game for the club – flapped badly at the next flag kick Aylesbury were unable to profit.

Having survived those scares, Bedford resumed their position of dominance which had seen them essentially superior in every position prior to the penalty award.

And it was no surprise when they took the lead after twenty minutes.

Sam Baffour spread the ball to the overlapping Devante Stanley on the right, and his searching cross saw both Jack Wood and Kinanne taken out of the game as they jumped under the ball, leaving Josh Bamford the relatively easy task of slotting home as it dropped to him. 1-0 Bedford

United looked for a response, and after Bewley went close with a well struck volley, they should have had an equaliser when good build up down the right ended with Bruno Brito crossing to Frederick who made a complete hash of his header having got up well at the far post.

On the half hour mark a low cross to the edge of the box found Bamford who instantly swept it goalwards, only to see former Bedford goalkeeper Oualah diving on the ball, and Ben Farrell tried his luck from distance shortly afterwards.

Despite their perceived dominance and Aylesbury’s lack of enterprise, it was still the Ducks who finished the half with the better chances. Kinnane guided a floated cross into the box over the bar on the volley, whilst Cameron did exactly the same five minutes later when bringing it down would have been the wiser option.

A minute from the break Sutton was rather fortuitous that his error didn’t cost his side, as Hogg snapped in to challenge and was unlucky not to scramble the ball into the net, Sutton able to reclaim at the last.

Half-time: Aylesbury 0-1 Bedford

Glyn Creaser went for action at the interval, throwing Greg Williams on to energise the midfield in place of the off-par Frederick, and the Ducks were quickly on the front foot.

Sonny French was played free on the right where he picked out Brito with a quality cross, the Portuguese’s header blocked in the box. French was then involved again a few minutes later when his 20-yard pot shot had to be excellently saved by Sutton down low to his right.

Sutton’s handling at the resulting corner was once again far less convincing, as he dropped the ball into the box allowing Cameron an effort that went all the way across goal and wide.

As Vijon Sentain came onto the pitch, Aylesbury began to knock on the door with a number of dangerous crosses being fired into the box, one of which dropped to Williams whose shot was well charged down.

Sentain was having a positive influence, and it was from his cross to Jack Wood that drew a foul as the United skipper had his legs taken away when trying to shoot. Responsibility this time fell to Reece Cameron, and although Sutton got hand to the ball he couldn’t make it 2/2 for penalty saves. 1-1

The equaliser stirred the Eagles into life once again and they came close to retaking the lead almost immediately when a searching ball into the box found Luke Knight soaring above Wood, but he planted his header wide.

United still looked the more likely to score again though, and Sutton had to be alert to tip over Kinnane’s header from Hogg’s free kick, whilst Sentain found himself in on goal only to see a shot loop off a defender and behind, though it was from the resulting corner that the Ducks went ahead.

Cameron’s well placed ball into the box was met by that man Sentain, and although he only succeeded in helping the ball across goal Ryan Kinnane was in the right place to guide it over the line for his second goal of the season. 2-1 Aylesbury

With seven minutes still to play, Bedford came again and nearly scored two minutes later when a through ball picked out the impressive full back Devante Stanley who beat the advancing Oualah to the ball but shot just wide.

A succession of corners followed, but Town’s pressure amounted to nothing and instead it could have been United who added a flattering third through substitute Lea Coulter, who took Sentain’s cut back from the byeline and went for goal with his first touch, but found Sutton equal to it

After a shot spell of further Bedford possession, the referee duly blew for full time and another excellent result for the Ducks, one that sees them move up to the heady heights of 4th in the table.