For this match at rock bottom Arlesey Town, manager Ben Williams made just one enforced change to the team that beat Egham convincingly last week. Striker Horatio Hirst who suffered a broken toe in that match was replaced up front by Aaron Couch, with new signing Matt Peake-Pijnen starting on the bench.

The game started very much like last week’s encounter with Egham, plenty of midfield passing, with little goalmouth action to speak of. The nearest either goalkeeper came to having any active involvement was an 8th minute corner forced by the Ducks which was cleared.

It was in the 19th minute of the game when Dion Gibbs in the home goal was first called into action. Good work by Sonny French on the right saw him drive infield and find Ben Seaton, who sidestepped his marker and fired a shot straight at the keeper from 20 yards.

As if stirred into action, the home side had the next opportunity; a short pass from Jeanmal Prosper to Callum Mapley was intercepted, with a shot from Taz Andrews the result, however it sailed high over the crossbar.

The deadlock was broken in the 27th minute with the first piece of real quality in the match. Seaton found Harry Jones in space on the right who in turn played the ball down the line to Aaron Couch. The striker looked up and played a first-time ball towards the penalty spot, where French arrived to strike a half volley into the net. 1-0 Aylesbury

Two minutes later a cross from Couch on the left saw an almighty goalmouth scramble, with both French and Seaton having opportunities to shoot, the latter putting the ball over the bar when under pressure from the home defence.

The lead was extended in the 36th minute; from a throw in on the left, the ball found its way to French on the edge of the area, again he hit a first-time volley which squirmed under Gibbs and into the far corner of the net. 2-0 Aylesbury

Soon after, a deep Ollie Hogg corner found Mapley unmarked at the far post; he returned the ball into the six-yard box and saw it ricochet onto the cross bar. It rebounded to Greg Williams, but the veteran midfielder could only send his shot over the bar. As the half came to a close, Jones robbed the ball from Arti Krisniqi on the right and crossed to Seaton 12 yards out, but again the midfielder couldn’t keep his volley down, his attempt sailing high over the bar.

Half-time: Arlesey 0-2 Aylesbury

The second half started as the first had finished with the Ducks firmly in control. Couch found Jones on the right, who beat substitute Bill Plumpton and advanced towards the penalty area. Unfortunately his shot was straight at Gibbs, who fielded the ball comfortably.

On 52 minutes Seaton won the ball in midfield and moved the ball to Hogg, who in turn found Couch on the right side of the area, but again his shot was off target, wide of the right-hand post. Couch came close minutes later, when his volley from a Jones cross was deflected wide for a corner.

A double substitution on the hour mark saw Williams and Jones replaced by Ollie Stanbridge and Matt Peake-Pijnen, making his debut and taking up a position on the left of midfield. The new man was quickly into the action; Hogg wo the ball on the right and crossed into the area, where Peake-Pijnen arrived, collected the ball and turned his defender, only to steer his shot just wide of Gibbs’ right-hand post.

A short corner routine saw French carry the ball along the goal line before shooting. Gibbs saved his first shot at the near post, when it rebounded French again saw his shot saved and rebound to Jamie Keen, just on as substitute for Couch, who saw his shot rebound off the post.

Keen had another opportunity to open his Ducks’ account in the 80th minute. Hogg found Peake-Pijnen on the left, whose measured cross was met by the head of Keen, but sadly was directed just wide of the target.

With 3 minutes left on the clock, French collected the ball and drove infield searching for his first club hat trick, but his shot was wide of the near post.

As the game drifted into added on time, two further chances presented themselves. First French collected a ball across the penalty area and laid it into the path of Seaton, who in turn found Hogg 25 yards out, but the midfielder’s shot was high over the bar. Finally, a deep cross from Seaton found French 12 yards out, but his header was over the cross bar.

This was a very one-sided match, against a young Arlesey team lacking confidence and striking options. Keeper Jack Hopwood’s main problem today was maintaining concentration and keeping warm on a day when he wasn’t called into action to do anything other than take goal kicks and field back passes! Stronger tests await as the season approaches its climax, but the team should take confidence that it is playing well and adapting well to manager Williams’ thoughts and ideas. Like in previous games though, if there is one weak link it is being more clinical in front of goal, with countless attempts failing to trouble the goalkeepers. Nonetheless, the win takes the Ducks up to 14th place in the season, with the top half of the table in sight.