Club captain Jack Wood became only the third ever player to reach the incredible achievement of 500 Aylesbury United appearances, but it wasn’t to be celebrated with a win as the Ducks endured a frustrating night on their first ever trip to Waltham Abbey.

In the kind of rollercoaster game that delights a neutral, Aylesbury had scored early, fallen behind, hauled themselves back into contention at 3-3 but then thrown it all away with a defensive howler allowing Abbey to claim their first home win of the season.

The match was played at a frantic pace from the outset, and in the opening seconds James Weatherill made a fine save to block a low shot after Tobi Coker broke down the right and flashed in a low cross.

After just five minutes Aylesbury went ahead, with yet another early goal to their name. Receiving a throw-in from the left just inside the box, in-form Ty Deacon had no hesitation in producing a superb turn and accurate shot past the keeper and into the net. 1-0 Aylesbury

Three minutes later and it could have been even better when Deacon’s strong run ended with Max Hercules seeing a shot blocked, before Sonny French followed up but hit the post.

Instead of being two down, the hosts were gifted an equaliser. A poorly defended free kick looped up high into the air and when it dropped in the box player manager Billy Holland nipped in ahead of hesitant defenders and goalkeeper to prod home. 1-1

Not appearing unduly concerned at conceding an equaliser, United soon went back on the attack and hit the woodwork for a second time when Jake Bewley’s overlapping run ended with a great cross from which Deacon hit the post. French followed up again but this time got his shot all wrong as he screwed wide.

A minute later another good run by Hercules ended with a low shot which deflected wide, but despite all their attacking play Aylesbury then went behind. Nathan Koranteng strode infield before unleashing a fierce swerving effort that Weatherill could only beat away, and Tayo Oyebola was quickest to the rebound to score. 2-1 Waltham Abbey

Again, Aylesbury responded well to conceding. Goalkeeper Richard Hayward came out of his goal to head the ball clear, from which Ben Seaton hoisted it back towards the target only to see it cleared off the line.

But there were still alarming moments in defence, and when a nervy looking Weatherill kicked the ball straight back to Ace’a Laurent he was fortunate that the midfielder placed his shot wide.

The half ended with the Ducks twice going close again with Weatherill redeeming his misdemeanour by setting Hercules away with an accurate kick downfield, the winger beating Hayward to the ball before hooking an effort goalwards which was scrambled off the line, before a fierce Jellis shot was saved by the former Chesham United veteran shortly before half time.

Half-time: Waltham Abbey 2-1 Aylesbury

United tried to make a positive start to the second half, but, quite against the run of play, found their task even harder when the hosts added a third. A ball forwards to Oyebola had the Ducks defence all at sea and unable to clear, allowing the striker to finish into the bottom corner for his second of the night. 3-1 Waltham Abbey

Still the frenetic nature of the match continued, with Jellis driving forwards from midfield but shooting over, and Koranteng doing similar at the other end.

Just past the hour mark and there was hope renewed for Aylesbury when Sonny French took a swing at the ball just outside the box and produced a well-placed shot that nestled just inside Hayward’s post. 2-3

Two minutes later and there was delirium amongst the travelling fans when Ollie Hogg came up with a near carbon copy of French’s effort, to bring the game level and it looked like United would deservedly take something back to Buckinghamshire with them. 3-3

Sadly, it wasn’t to be the case as another awful moment at the back proved their undoing. A free kick conceded on the right saw Dave O’Connor booked, and as the ball was floated in Weatherill got himself in a mess deciding whether to stay or come, allowing Holland the easiest of chances to complete his own brace. 4-3 Waltham Abbey

This time, try as they might, United were unable to conjure an equaliser, though it wasn’t for lack of endeavour.

A long shot from Dave O’Connor was spilled by Hayward but, unlike their counterparts, Aylesbury had no-one following in to capitalise.

Five minutes from time substitute Aaron Berry got on the end of Max Hercules’ cross and flicked an effort goalwards that dropped just wide of the far post, but that was about as close as United were to come again.

In stoppage time Waltham Abbey’s Kevin Dalipi found the ball presented straight back to him by the defence but shot wide.

A frustrating night on the whole for Aylesbury who had the chances to win this game, and even after having scored three goals away from home left empty handed.

The Ducks now turn their attentions to the FA Cup and the visit of former league adversaries Bishops Cleeve who make the journey from Gloucestershire.