After defeat at the hands of Bedford last week, just the two changes to the starting line up, with Anthony Ball returning at right back, replacing the unavailable Chris Crook and Max Hercules starting in place of Ben Seaton. Ollie Hogg made a return to the subs bench after a groin injury kept him out of the last 2 matches. With the changes in personnel came a change of shape, with the team playing with a more familiar back 4.

The early exchanges were even, but it was the Ducks who threatened first. Good persistence by Anthony Ball saw him rob Lewis Coyle on the bye line and pull the ball back to Aaron Berry, who passed to Jack Wood on the edge of the penalty area. His cross to the far post was met by top scorer Tre Mitford, but his header was just wide of the target.

Despite their bright start, as so often of late, the Ducks conceded a soft goal. With nine minutes on the clock, a ball down the right flank was miskicked by Callum Mapley into the path of Anaclet Odhiambo. He crossed to Chris Jordan, whose shot hit the cross bar, rebounding out to Lewis Coyle who was quickest to react, slamming the ball past Archie Davis to give his side the lead. 1-0 Kidlington

In the 23rd minute, Odhiambo again beat Mapley on the right, outpacing the Ducks defender and cutting inside. He struck a shot with his left foot which was deflected into the net by Jordan, however, the celebrations were cut short by the assistant referee’s flag signalling that Jordan was offside.

Four minutes later though, the lead was doubled. Again one pass split the defence, with Jordan finding Odhiambo in the left channel. His first touch was heavy and his shot was wide of goal, but referee Michael Smith controversially awarded a penalty against Davis for his challenge after the shot had been taken. Coyle stepped up and sent Davis the wrong way, doubling his and his side’s goal tally. 2-0 Kidlington

Memories of the last away match against North Leigh were uppermost in the minds of the travelling support at this time, with many fearing a similar embarrassing defeat. However, it wasn’t to be as the Ducks staged a comeback in the last 10 minutes of the half to draw themselves level.

In the 35th minute, good work by Max Hercules forced a corner on the left. The winger took the corner himself, finding skipper Wood at the far post, but his header could only find the side netting. However, from the next attack, the lead was cut. A ball forward found Hercules in a central position 18 yards from goal; he controlled the ball on his chest, swivelled and volleyed past Sam Warrell in the home goal to score a sensational goal. 1-2

Three minutes before half time and a miskick by Mapley saw the ball fall to Declan Benjamin on the right, but his cross went through the 6 yard box and out for a throw in with no one in the danger area to apply the finishing touch. Two minutes later a good ball through the centre from Berry found his strike partner Mitford advance on goal, only to see Warrell quickly out of his area to clear.

As the clock ticked into added on time at the end of the first half, a ball into Berry was helped on to Mitford, who played in Harry Jones. As he was poised to shoot, a robust challenge by Jack Bernasconi was penalised by the awarding of the game’s second penalty. Berry stepped up, and like Coyle before him, sent the keeper the wrong way to bring the scores level. 2-2

Half-time: Kidlington 2-2 Aylesbury

Buoyed by the last 15 minutes of the first half, the Ducks came out and took the game to their hosts. On the hour they took the lead; a good ball forward by Ball found Berry, who shot from 15 yards, forcing a save from Warrell. The ball rebounded as far as Hercules who coolly picked his spot from 18 yards to score his second of the afternoon. 3-2 Aylesbury

Three minutes later and he could so easily have had his hat trick. Jake Bewley found Berry, who laid the ball into Hercules’ path, but just as he pulled his foot back to shoot, the ball hit a bobble on the uneven pitch and his shot was ballooned over the bar.

On 79 minutes, great interplay between Berry and Sonny French saw the latter clear on goal, but Warrell was again out quickly to block his shot.

On 81 minutes, French did get on the scoresheet. A throw in from Ball found Hercules, who cleverly flicked the ball into the path of French who was brave enough to beat Warrell to the ball and poke it past him as the keeper challenged him, to give the Ducks a comfortable cushion their second half display warranted. 4-2 Aylesbury

One further chance arrived two minutes from time as a corner to the far post saw Berry’s headed clearance fall to Tom Franklin, but his shot was bravely blocked and cleared.

A good response to going behind today, in contrast to the match against North Leigh, saw the Ducks deservedly take all 3 points and a position of safety from relegation this season. With the next 3 games against the top 3 in the league, they will have a say in who goes up from the division this year, all games which will test the young squad to the full. First up is Corby Town at home next Saturday.