Coming into the game on the back of an impressive League Cup win at Bishops Cleeve fresh in the memory, Manager Glyn Creaser stuck to the adage of never changing a winning team and chose to name an unnamed starting eleven, welcoming Ollie Hogg and Lea Coulter back to the subs bench.

On a blustery, showery afternoon, the conditions played a big part in preventing the Ducks settling into their normal passing game, with the early stages seeing them struggling to impose their game on the opposition.

Indeed, it was the visitors who had the early chances. On 3 minutes, Jamaine Ivy beat Jake Bewley to the ball on the left and crossed towards his skipper Ash Fuller, whose shot from 20 yards was miscued and wide of the goal. However, Fuller was to make amends for that miss in the 16th minute, when he was left unmarked to side foot the ball past Oualah after a low ball across the face of the goal had evaded the Ducks defenders. 1-0 Kempston

The Ducks fashioned a half chance shortly afterwards. Following a Kempston corner, Oualah quickly released the ball and found Bruno Brito on half way. He controlled the ball and played it towards Sonny French breaking into the penalty area, but he could only get a slight touch on the ball, diverting it straight into the arms of Carl Knox as he came off his line.

French then fed Reece Cameron, who rode 3 tackles on the edge of the box, with the ball falling to the feet of Brito, whose shot was wide of the goal.

In the 24th minute, the Ducks almost equalised in the most unlikely of fashions. A foul on Brito on the half way line saw Oualah take a wind assisted free kick which almost caught Knox out, the visiting keeper palming his opposite numbers unexpected attempt around the post.

A more orthodox free kick shortly afterwards from Cameron was the closest the Ducks would come to scoring in the first half, his stinging shot from 20 yards beaten away for another corner by Knox.

As half time approached, the Ducks had one more opportunity to level; a trademark mazy run from French saw the ball fall on the volley to Brito, but again he could only direct his shot wide of the post.

Half-time: Aylesbury 0-1 Kempston

Into the second half and Jordon Frederick found Brito wide on the right flank. He cut inside his defender and curled a shot just wide of the far post, with many in the crowd expecting to see the net ripple, such is his ability in similar situations.

Just two minutes later, French had a golden opportunity to equalise; a long ball forward found its way to him unmarked 15 yards out, however he lashed wildly at the ball and sent his shot wide.

In the 72nd minute, the visitors scored the all-important second goal. A poor header from Gavin Hinds-Cadette and a scuffed clearance by Ryan Kinnane saw the ball drop to substitute Luke Heneghan 25 yards out in front of goal. His powerful shot took a slight deflection, leaving Oualah helpless to prevent the goal. 2-0 Kempston

A second goal was the signal for Kempston to shut up shop and sit deep, allowing the Ducks plenty of possession in their own half, while stifling opportunities to make incisive passes to penetrate the defensive line.

As the home sides frustration built, the opposition won a free kick with 10 minutes left to play. A great delivery saw Robbie Goodman unmarked 12 yards out, but he could only direct his header wide of the goal. Just two minutes later and the same player had another great opportunity to add gloss to the victory; a cross from Fuller on the left flashed across goal, with Goodman the closest player, albeit not quite close enough to get a touch on the ball.

That was to be the last meaningful action of the game, one which was very frustrating for the home side, stifled by an opposition which had obviously done their homework and prevented them from profiting from their usual slick passing game. The focus now switches again to the Southern League Cup and a semi-final tie at St Ives on Tuesday evening. We can only hope that this season’s good away form continues as we chase a place in the final.