United travelled to Oxford City for their first away friendly of this pre-season campaign, featuring a side depleted through injury whilst also containing a number of Youth Team players. Oxford's squad came complete with ex-Duck Justin Merritt in the starting eleven, and Matt Brandish and Nando Perna coming off the bench in the second half.

Young goalkeeper Sam Styles was Aylesbury's hero, making a string of saves throughout the evening to keep City at bay. He was called into action for the first time after just five minutes, when Neil Crosby beat the offside trap, and hit a good effort across the goal which was clawed away by Styles.

A rare Aylesbury attack saw evidence of the recently missing slick passing style, as Darran Hay set Drew Roberts away down the right flank, and his pinpoint cross picked out Neil Lazarus who could only arrive to head the ball wide.

Ray Spence of Oxford looked lively throughout the evening, and he saw his early effort comfortably held by Styles. Danny Keen made him less comfortable, as he ran clear of the defence, but Styles came out of his goal with authority and made a good stop to remove the danger.

Great play from Lazarus at the other end saw the winger use his pace to take the home side by surprise and burst into the box, but he could only slot his shot wide of the near-post.

The Ducks best chance of the half fell to Paul Edgeworth after 24 minutes. John De Souza turned a half-cleared corner back into the area, and Edgeworth was waiting at the far-post to guide a header back across goal, but sadly just wide of the back-post.

Six minutes later and Edgeworth did find the net, unfortunately it was the wrong one! Some excellent play from Oxford resulted in a break down the right, the ball being cut back into the area, kept in play and then squared, and as the ball zipped across Edgeworth was on hand to turn it into his own goal. 1-0 Oxford

Spence nearly doubled the lead moments later, after turning Bartek and running for goal. Styles was on hand to make another fine save though, scrambling the ball away. The goalkeeper's impressive night continued, as he made another stop to keep out a headed effort from a free-kick.

Darran Hay saw a headed effort cleared off the line from Drew Roberts' corner, before the half-ended with Greg Williams being replaced at left-back by youngster Justin Gordon.

Half-time: Oxford City 1-0 Aylesbury United

The second half was a quieter affair, as substitutions broke up play before it had chance to get going. Dean Powles and Roni Joe both took to the field after the interval, replacing Roberts and De Souza.

Spence fired wide with an early shot, and a point blank header by Harry Burnley was miraculously tipped over by Sam Styles. On this form it would seem Jack Rashid has some serious competition for the number one jersey!

Joe used his pace to sprint away down the right-flank and he set-up Darran Hay with a squared pass, but Hay could only poke the ball wide of the target when sliding in.

Joe Wright, last year's Youth Team Manager's Player of the Year, replaced Paul Edgeworth midway through the half, and his pace caused some headaches to the Oxford backline towards the end of the game. The useful looking Spence then curled a free-kick over the bar for Oxford.

Further changes came for Aylesbury as Kieron Schmidt replaced Bartek, Jamie O'Grady replaced Millington and Jamie Nicholls replaced Neil Lazarus.

Darran Hay had two late chances to salvage a draw for his side. First he headed a corner towards goal, but it was a routine claim for Oxford's substitute goalkeeper. Secondly he received the ball in a wide-right position, before coming inside and hammering a shot towards goal that whistled just over the bar.

Dean Powles had a late effort zip wide of the post, before the full-time whistle sounded. Another useful friendly workout for Aylesbury, especially with none of the Youth Teamers looking out of place.