Boosted by the return of Max Hercules, manager Ben Williams made three changes to the starting line up against bottom club Wantage Town. Hercules started in place of Ty Deacon, Lewis Osbourne replaced Greg Williams and Dave O’Connor came back into the starting line up to replace the unavailable Jordan Jenkins. The visitors collected their first win of the season on New Year’s Day and included former Ducks loanee Sydney Ibie leading their attack.

The Ducks were first to threaten, Harry Jones overlapping on the right and swinging a cross towards goal, forcing back pedalling keeper Ronell McKenzie-Lyle to palm the ball down in his six-yard box, sadly none of the attackers were in place to take advantage. Four minutes later, a ball in from the right found Sonny French on the edge of the penalty area, who laid the ball off to Osbourne, who fired a shot from 25 yards just wide of the left post.

The Ducks faithful thought they had taken the lead in the 14th minute. A deep cross from Jake Bewley was turned back across goal by Anthony Ball towards Hercules, whose goal bound shot was deflected in by Ken Feyi. Unfortunately the celebrations were cut short when the Assistant Referee’s flag was raised to signal that Feyi was offside.

Hercules didn’t have to wait long before he was on the scoresheet legitimately. On 19 minutes, a fine diagonal pass out of defence by O’Connor saw Hercules clear of the defence. McKenzie-Lyle unwisely came charging out of his goal to intercept, but the winger was quickly to the ball and slid it home beyond the stranded keeper. 1-0 Aylesbury

The visitors had their first chance on goal 5 minutes later. A free kick 35 yards from goal by Charley Tuttle was headed goalwards by Ibie, but a watchful Jack Hopwood tipped the ball over the bar for a corner. From the corner, the Ducks broke away with speed, jones making good ground down the right and crossed low towards the 6-yard box where Hercules got a firm shot away, only to see McKenzie-Lyle get down well at his near post to pull off a superb save.

Two minutes later the lead was doubled; good work on the left side of the penalty are saw the ball played in towards the centre, where Shirmash Shakti miskicked into the path of Osbourne, who unselfishly laid the ball off to Feyi, whose shot was deflected past the keeper. 2-0 Aylesbury

There could, and perhaps should have been a 3rd goal for the Ducks just past the half hour; Hercules sprayed a glorious cross field pass to Jones, who in turn crossed into the penalty area, where Jamal Sule could only head the ball down to Sonny French. He passed to Feyi 20 yards out, but his shot was too high to trouble the keeper.

As the half came to an end Hercules picked the ball up in midfield and slid the ball through for Feyi, who found himself with just the keeper to beat, but McKenzie-Lyle did well to thwart the striker with his feet as he attempted to dribble round him.

Half-time: Aylesbury 2-0 Wantage

After a dominant first half, home fans were hoping for more of the same in the second half. Three minutes in, another goal was chalked off for offside; after a good passing move involving Jones, Osbourne and Feyi, the ball was played into French who finished well, only to see the flag raised once again.

Ten minutes into the half, Jones and Feyi combined well down the right, with the striker driving a low ball into the 6-yard box, where Sule diverted the ball towards his own goal, forcing McKenzie-Lyle into another fine save at the base of the near post.

On the hour mark, Ibie beat Jack Wood to the ball on the half way line and made ground down the left and crossed towards the near post, where Hopwood made a smart save.

With 15 minutes remaining, a Jake Bewley corner was headed clear as far as French, 25 yards out. His shot was charged down and fell to Bewley, who fed it to Osbourne. The midfielder turned his defender and fired a goal bound shot which was blocked by a defender.

The final action of the match saw Hercules take a quick free kick to French, who advanced on goal and shot, but was disappointed to see his effort clear the crossbar.

Plaudits to the visitors, who never gave up and were resolute in defence and indebted to their keeper who made a number of fine saves to keep the score down. The Ducks go from playing the bottom team at home to the top team away, as Corby Town are the opposition next Saturday.