Two penalties were the story of Aylesbury’s first match against Buckinghamshire rivals Marlow in three years, the Blues successful with theirs whilst the Greens’ was saved, as the visitors claimed their first away league victory of the season.

With suspended top scorer Stacey Field still watching from the sidelines, the Ducks drew a blank against the newly promoted Hellenic League Champions, although the squad was boosted by Richard Armstrong’s return after his ban and Paul Edgeworth back after holiday.

The match got off to a frantic start with Richard Witt striking a first minute rising drive straight at Alex Tokarczyk and Ben Gladwin crashing a long shot over the bar, whilst at the other end Armstrong was just unable to poke the ball into the empty net after Dom Petrucci had taken the ball beyond the wandering Simon Grant after a free kick.

Four Aylesbury corners in a short space of time came to nothing, before in the ninth minute Lee Grace’s header from Ben Baines’ right wing cross was saved by Grant. Baines himself then went close with an opportunistic chip that dropped just over.

Bill Morgan got back to make an important block on Michael Bartley, and while it proved to be a rare moment of threat as United began to take control of the first half, the same player did have the ball in the net having been played through only to see the offside flag raised.

At the other end Blackett played the ball inside for Grace who planted a shot over, Petrucci’s low ball into the box was dummied by Baines with the ball cleared away just before it ran on for Blackett, and a number of set pieces came and went as Aylesbury were unable to make their pressure count.

In the 34th minute they were stung when the Blues were awarded a debatable penalty as Armstrong seemed to have just taken the ball before bringing down Bartley, but the appeals fell on deaf ears and the impressive Gladwin stroked home his 13th goal of the season. 1-0 Marlow

The goal gave Marlow a foothold in the game and the confidence to push on in a dominant end to the first half.

Morgan made another saving challenge to deny Jon Bennett from Gladwin’s through ball, and, two minutes from the break, the former Hayes & Yeading man drove a fierce effort which was beaten away by Tokarczyk.

Half-time: Aylesbury 0-1 Marlow

Jon Bennett has been prolific for Marlow since his move from Ascot United, and he should have doubled his side’s lead in the first minute after the restart when Gladwin’s free kick was met with his towering header, but placed just wide.

Aylesbury then won a free kick in the exact same position in the opposite corner, but United’s set pieces were contrastingly poor for most of the afternoon, as that opening and a number of corner kicks were wasted.

With United struggling to make headway, Tony Joyce threw on a double substitution of Joey Acheampong and Paul Edgeworth in place of Petrucci and Lee Grace.

Yet it was Marlow who nearly scored again when Tokarczyk was hesitant in coming off his line to a long ball, allowing Bennett a shooting chance which was well saved by the keeper.

In the seventieth minute Aylesbury were handed a lifeline of a penalty kick of their own when Blackett was sent sprawling having burst into the box, but, for the second weekend in a row, United’s spot kick was saved – this time Blackett the man denied, as Grant dived to his left and made a good save.

Tokarczyk made another save to keep Marlow at bay when Witt struck a powerful shot that had to be beaten away, and Witt was soon employed defensively as he made a sensational block to stop Acheampong’s goalbound effort after good work by Blackett to set him up.

That was as close to registering an equaliser as the goal-shy Ducks were to come though, and the closing stages saw Marlow repeatedly pick them off on the break with Aylesbury men caught upfield.

One move saw Bennett run clean through, only to be denied by yet another fine Tokarczyk save with Ian Davies somehow putting the rebound wide of the empty goal.

Davies them completed a miserable cameo from the bench by scooping a shot over the bar when, for the second time, it looked easier to score.

It mattered not as, despite a late set piece that saw Tokarczyk venture into the Marlow penalty area, the points were secured for the visiting side.

A tale of two penalties, and another reminder of how fine the margins are between success and failure at this level of the game.