After an even first half, a disappointing second period from Aylesbury saw the Ducks fall to a 2-0 defeat at newly promoted AFC Dunstable.

The reigning Spartan South Midlands League Champions were able to call upon the quality of striker BJ Christie as an early second half substitute, and as United struggled to get to grips with the hosts’, two quickfire goals put the game out of reach.

Despite a frenetic opening, it took until the tenth minute for either side to have a chance, a deep cross from Josh Humbert headed by Jermaine Hall but wide.

Six minutes later and United could have been in front when Lea Coulter – recalled along with Ellis Hercules in one of two changes from the draw at Northwood – stole in onto a throw in but saw his shot beaten away by Ricky Perks at the near post.

Aylesbury were playing some decent football, and Ollie Hogg and Vijon Sentain combined to release Reece Cameron behind the defence only for Danny Murphy to get back and make a saving challenge.

Newman Carney’s excellent set piece deliveries were a strong feature of Dunstable’s game, and brother Brandon Carney should have done better when he met a 24th minute corner with a towering header that sailed over.

Just past the half hour mark the industrious Hogg pinched the ball back from Murphy after a throw in before toe-poking an effort goalwards. Ex-Duck Perks spilled the ball under pressure from Sentain, but nobody in Aylesbury colours was able to profit.

The home side ended the first half strongly, as firstly Hall’s early-taken lob dropped over the bar as he caught out Hercules to get to a long ball and then a superb top corner-bound volley from Brandon Carney was brilliantly saved by Oualah after Newman Carney’s corner dropped to him on the edge of the box.

Half-time: AFC Dunstable 0-0 Aylesbury

Dunstable quickly picked up where they left off after the restart, Adiel Mannion playing the ball in to Brandon Carney in front of goal who in turn found Jermaine Hall whose hooked effort was heading wide across the target where it was cleared.

Cameron dragged a long shot wide on 54 minutes, but it was something of a rare sight of goal for the Ducks with Christie having been introduced six minutes earlier. The striker, who scored 50-goals in 2015/16, was soon at the heart of everything AFC did and it was his shot which nicked off a defender into the grateful arms of Oualah.

Brandon Carney failed to make the most of another of his brother’s fine set pieces when he met a left wing free kick on the volley but turned the ball over the bar.

Another Newman Carney corner kick was then punched out as far as Christie whose half volley was well blocked in the area, but United’s goal wasn’t to stay intact for long.

Neat build up play from the Blues ended with Mannion delivering a floated ball across the box, where Humbert had taken up a good position to guide a cushioned volley into the bottom corner of the net. 1-0 Dunstable

Four minutes later and it was game over as the home side scored again. That man Christie raced onto a ball forward ahead of Hercules, who brought him down with a rash challenge from behind for a clear spot kick. Up stepped Hall to send Oualah the wrong way and bag his 10th league goal of the early season. 2-0 Dunstable

Glyn Creaser responded by throwing on Taylor Collins in place of Coulter, whilst Josh Baines had already entered the fray for his Aylesbury debut.

In truth, he’d had little opportunity to make an impact, and few touches of the ball, even, but that changed on 75 minutes when he received a pass on the left flank and picked out Collins with a measured cross that the latter fired weakly straight at Perks.

Christie was still in search of a goal of his own, and when a square pass came to him his low shot brought about another top drawer save from Oualah in tipping the ball wide.

In stoppage time he was at it again, cutting inside Hercules before firing for goal where Oualah turned it past the upright.

There was to be no further scoring hosts, who were more than happy with a deserved three points. Aylesbury will be looking for better when they next host struggling Arlesey Town on Wednesday night.