A dramatic match at the Langford Rd Stadium, saw top of the table Aylesbury United take on Biggleswade, who had only gained 3 points from their opening 5 league games and started the day at the foot of the league.

However, the Waders ripped up the form book and scored 3 goals to “beat” the Ducks, although the game ended in a degree of confusion as the match was abandoned deep into injury time after a serious injury to Ty Deacon, who also saw a red card for his part in an aerial collision with Luke Oswick. As the players left the field, many in the ground assumed that the match had been ended by referee Russell Jones, including the players, but it was later confirmed that the referee had blown up with less than a minute left on his watch, to allow Deacon to be treated while the arrival of an ambulance was awaited.

Injuries continue to hamper Ben Williams selection, with Ollie Hogg, Sonny French, Liam McCrohan and Robbie Carter all still absent. With a tough run of 6 matches in the next 3 weeks, a degree of rotation was seen, Harry Jones and Lee Stobbs being rested to the bench, with Jordan Jenkins and Max Hercules starting in their place. Jack Wood switching to full back, allowing Jenkins to slot in alongside Dave O’Connor at centre back.

The match started with the home side on the front foot, controlling much of the opening exchanges. However, it was the Ducks who took a slightly fortuitous lead in the 7th minute. A good run down the left by Jamie Rudd, saw his cross headed clear as far as Hercules on the edge of the penalty area, who volley took a deflection wrong footing home keeper Tyler Josephs. 1-0 Aylesbury

It would have been easy for a team bottom of the league to have taken this set back badly, but Biggleswade continued to dominate, their packed midfield controlling much of the play. In the 14th minute, a diagonal pass from the influential Adam Hunt on the right side of midfield saw the ball headed out as far as Michael Simpson, whose first time shot from 35 yards flew wide of the far post.

In the 26th minute the scores were level, in extraordinary circumstances. Home skipper Tom Coles won the ball 10 yards inside his own half on the right-hand touchline and, noting Jack Hopwood was outside his penalty area, fired the ball goalwards, the ball rolling into the net with the keeper scrambling desperately to get back. 1-1

The Ducks came close to retaking the lead two minutes later; Hercules was fouled by Nathan George just outside the penalty area in a central position. Hercules stepped up and saw his effort rebound off the defensive wall, but this time his shot was deflected narrowly wide.

In the 30th minute, a poor pass from Anthony Ball was intercepted by Hunt, who fed it down the right flank to the dangerous Adam Drakulic. His low cross went across the 6-yard box before Wood cleared to safety; there were some anxious glances by the Ducks faithful as Hopwood stayed down and received prolonged treatment for an ankle injury sustained trying to clear the ball.

Half-time: Biggleswade 1-1 Aylesbury

The second half started with a change of personnel and shape for the Ducks. Juwon Akintunde was withdrawn to be replaced by Ben Seaton, making his first appearance after recovering from injury. The change saw Seaton playing in an advanced role ahead of Ball and Mark Riddick who were anchoring the midfield.

Seaton was quickly into the action, finding pockets of space to get on the ball and he was the creator of the next big chance. He played a quick free kick to Ty Deacon just inside the penalty area, who laid it back to Seaton; his shot from 18 yards was charged down by Hunt, with the referee adjudging he had handled the ball. Deacon took the responsibility from the spot, but saw his shot well saved by Josephs.

Deacon had another opportunity to score shortly afterwards; great vision by Rudd saw a reverse pass put the striker clear on goal, but Josephs again thwarted him, coming off his line quickly to block his shot.

Despite the Ducks being more in control of the game, they handed another goal to the opposition in the 54th minute. A cross from the left saw O’Connor head the ball out, but only as far as the unmarked Alfie Williams 15 yards out, whose shot seem to wrongfoot Hopwood, who could only palm the ball into his own net. 2-1 Biggleswade

Despite going behind, the second half was proving to be much more positive and the scores were level on 68 minutes, with Rudd scoring another fantastic goal. He picked the ball up on the right and drifted infield, exchanging passes with Seaton before making his way into the penalty area and clipping a delightful left foot shot past a helpless Josephs. 2-2

From the kick off, the home side were on the attack again, in what was becoming an exciting match. Substitute Alan Fleming collected the ball and cut in from the left before unleashing a goalbound shot which Hopwood saved.

With 73 minutes on the clock, Seaton delivered a fine free kick to the far post, where Wood was well placed to head the ball across goal, but sadly no Ducks attackers could get a touch on the ball and it was cleared to safety.

A flash point occurred in the 77th minute as O’Connor fouled Fleming just outside the penalty area. Foolishly, as he had done after a foul a few minutes earlier, the home substitute got up and retaliated, both players rightly receiving a yellow card.

With 9 minutes remaining, a Stobbs corner from the right was collected by Rudd, who chipped the ball into the 6-yard box, where Seaton rose in front of Deacon but saw his header clear the crossbar, with his colleague perhaps better placed to attack the ball.

The game had descended into quite a niggly affair by now, with yellow cards being distributed at frequent intervals. The most significant of these came in the 91st minute and was delivered to Fleming, his second of the game. He went to retrieve the ball for a corner but took exception to Hopwood preventing him doing so and rather foolishly pushed the keeper over, giving referee Russell Jones no choice but to send him off.

However, despair for the home side turned to joy, as Hopwood failed to claim the resulting corner, Sam Dreyer arriving at the far post to sweep the ball home to give his side the lead. 3-2 Biggleswade

Despite being deep in injury time, the drama was not over; Deacon challenged with Oswick for a cross into the box, with what looked like a clash of heads the result. Initially Deacon appeared to be less hurt than his opponent, but after a few seconds he too fell to the ground, with much concern for his condition. Both physios treated him carefully, with all precautions taken to protect what looked like a serious neck injury, before an ambulance was called.

After 10 minutes of treatment, referee Jones took the players aside and explained that with no prospect of Deacon being moved in the foreseeable future, he was ending the game. Two points of controversy emerged after the final whistle had been blown, as the referee explained that he would be sending Deacon off for violent conduct, adjudging he had led with his elbow in the challenge on Oswick, but more controversial was his decision that them match was abandoned with 30 seconds remaining, where most on the pitch understood that the match had been completed.

Following a November board meeting, the Southern League have since decided that the result should stand.