Following the win over Wantage in midweek, there were 4 changes to the starting line-up, one enforced by the injury suffered by Ollie Hogg seeing Harry Jones start at right back, with Anthony Ball filling in for Hogg in midfield. Jack Hopwood was recalled to goal after missing the past 3 matches following his sending off against Long Crendon in the FA Cup, with Jamie Rudd and Ty Deacon rotated to start the match on the bench, Lee Stobbs and Max Hercules starting in their place.

Following heavy rain over the past 36 hours, the pitch was in fine condition, with no danger of being classed as unplayable. The start of the match was quite a cagey affair, both sides having 100% records in the league so far, fighting hard in midfield for supremacy.

It was the visitors who opened the scoring in the 11th minute. Hercules under hit a pass to Jake Bewley, which was collected by Archie Elmore. He played it down the left wing to Joel Nketiah who made a beeline for the bye line and crossed to the near post where Jack Bowen clipped a fine finish past Hopwood. 1-0 Daventry

In response, Hopwood played a fine long clearance towards Hercules on the right touchline. Jefferson Woodward misjudged the flight of the ball, allowing Hercules to collect the ball and make progress towards the penalty are before Woodward cynically fouled him from behind, earning himself a yellow card. Unfortunately, despite the good position, the Ducks were unable to capitalise from the free kick.

The visitors doubled their lead in the 18th minute, again from a mistake by the Ducks on the left side, seeing Bewley out of position and struggling to get back into position. Elmore capitalised and worked his way down the flank before crossing to Taylor Orosz on the edge of the penalty area, who rose and volleyed a superb goal past the helpless Hopwood. 2-0 Daventry

It took until the 24th minute for the Ducks to register a meaningful attempt on goal, as Sonny French found Juwon Akintunde who in turn passed inside to Hercules; unfortunately, the winger’s shot was wide of the target, but the signs were starting to show that the Ducks were getting back into the game.

Ten minutes later and the Ducks were back in the game. Lee Stobbs took a free kick wide on the right, which was half cleared as far as Jack Wood twelve yards out. His shot was fumbled by visiting keeper James Martin, before being bundled over the line by Akintunde, before being cleared by the defence, however the assistant referee was well placed to signal the goal. 1-2

Four minutes later a good clearance from Aiden Print prevented an equaliser, taking the ball off Hercules’ toe at the far post after a searching cross from Stobbs. From the resulting corner, Wood had a headed attempt cleared by Ross Harris from in front of his keeper, conceding a second corner, from which Wood again rose well but could only direct his header wide from 10 yards.

Half-time: Aylesbury 1-2 Daventry

The second half started with the Ducks on top from the off. French won the ball on half way and spread it wide to Hercules on the left. He cut inside Print and fired in a shot which was deflected wide of the far post.

Two minutes later, the referee played a good advantage following a foul by visiting skipper Ross Harris on the hallway line, returning to show the player a yellow card. That was the signal for a 15-minute spell in which the visitors seemed to lose their discipline and received 4 yellows, including a second yellow for Harris, meaning he was sent off for the second match running against the Ducks.

The sending off was the signal for the Ducks to turn the screw and exert pressure on the visitors. From the resulting free kick, Stobbs fired into the defensive wall, and saw his follow up shot go wide of the near post.

In the 68th minute, delivered a fine cross field ball to Jake Bewley, who cut inside and saw his shot well saved by Martin, with a follow up shot cleared off the line by Kurt Parsons, who had only just joined the game to bolster the defence as a result of the sending off.

Four minutes later, Hercules delivered a corner to the near post which was flicked on by Mark Riddick to Dave O’Connor, who saw his header from 5 yards expertly saved by Martin. The keeper was having a really impressive spell, keeping his side in the game with a series of impressive saves. The next came in the Duck’s next attack; a cross from Harry Jones found French 18 yards from goal. His shot was deflected, but Martin again made a fine save.

Despite his best efforts, the scores were level with 14 minutes remaining. A long ball forward to Stobbs on the right saw him play an early ball to substitute Deacon, who held off Woodward, turned and fired into the far side of the net from 6 yards. 2-2

Three minutes later and the Ducks could have taken the lead. A deep cross from Bewley was headed across goal to Deacon, whose acrobatic volley, reminiscent of that of Orosz earlier in the game drew another outstanding save from Martin to keep his side in the game. With 10 minutes remaining Deacon turned provider, collecting a cross and laying it into the path of Hercules who yet again saw his shot saved.

From dominating the match, the Ducks almost fell behind. A foul by Ball on Orosz allowed Adam Confue the opportunity to deliver the ball onto the head of Woodward, whose attempt was well saved by an alert Hopwood at the near post

With two minutes remaining of the 90, a Hercules corner from the right was cleared as far as Stobbs on the far corner of the penalty area. His shot had Martin beaten, but this time the far post came to his rescue, the ball rebounding away to safety.

As the game entered the 5 minutes of added time, a long ball from O’Connor split the defence and saw Hercules free in front of goal. He rounded Martin, but the keeper brought him down to concede a penalty and see referee Mark Stevens brandish the second red card of the match. Midfielder Nketiah took the responsibility of donning the keeper’s shirt, but couldn’t prevent Hercules from despatching the penalty to give the Ducks a deserved lead. 3-2 Aylesbury

The final action of the match saw Deacon do well to win the ball and play in Hercules, who saw his curling shot drift wide of the far post with Nketiah well beaten.

As was the case on Wednesday evening the Ducks had made a slow start this afternoon and this time they were penalised with two clinical finishes. They say the test of a good team is how they respond to adversity, it is true to say that after the early setback, this Ducks team showed plenty of resolve when the chips were down and responded brilliantly to take a deserved 3 points against a Daventry side which lost their discipline the longer the game went on.

Next up are two away games, firstly at Berkhamsted on Tuesday, then Coleshill the following Saturday; coincidentally these two teams played today at Broadwater, with the Colemen scoring the only goal to defeat the Comrades.