The Ducks had been outplayed in the reverse fixture but showed just how much they?d improved since then by comfortably holding their illustrious visitors.

Once again the United back line of Bethan Harris, Sarah Gerrard and Gemma Franklin looked assured and behind them Georgia Smith never looked like being beaten.

Aylesbury experimented with a five strong midfield and the move seemed to work as the extra player stifled the Reading engine room.

Openings by either team were limited but Hannah Franklin and Nicola Hunt caused the visiting defenders problems with their pace and Franklin had the best of the first half chances but was twice thwarted by the Reading keeper.

Nicola Hunt and Lucy Ilic could have scored in the opening minutes of the second period and in an exciting spell close to full time, Hunt went round the keeper only to see her shot slide just the wrong side of the post, before Reading went up the other end and hit the post.

Georgia Smith pulled off a remarkable one handed save late on to keep the equilibrium and ensure that her side took home a well earned point.