Today’s match pitched the leaders of the Southern League Division One Central against the leaders of the Isthmian League Division One North. Both teams have had a great start in the league, although both will be disappointed at their early exits from the FA Cup, meaning the FA Trophy was their last chance of a decent cup run this season.

Manager Ben Williams faced a selection dilemma, with a number of players injured and absent today, and some others passed fit after late checks. Most notable for their absence were Ollie Hogg, following an injury sustained at Coleshill last week and Sonny French who suffered a knee injury in training this week. This forced a change of formation for the Ducks, with Juwon Akintunde starting alongside Ty Deacon in a two-man strike force.

The visitors started well, very well indeed; a corner from the left by Lee Noble was taken short to Lewis Smith, who played the ball back to Noble. He progressed to the edge of the penalty area, where he fired in a shot which took a touch off Cameron Brodie, leaving Jack Hopwood helpless as it flew into the far corner to open the scoring. 1-0 Tilbury

The Ducks were finding it hard to put pressure on the visiting defence, the game being battled out in the centre of the park for the most part. Their first opportunity fell to Akintunde in the 17th minute, when a low ball in from Lee Stobbs found the striker on the edge of the penalty area. He controlled the ball well, but found himself outnumbered and his shot was deflected wide for a corner. Jamie Rudd’s delivery was accurate, finding Mark Riddick at the near post, but his header was wide of the target.

Three minutes later, Akintunde did well on the left to cut inside his defender and find Ty Deacon in the penalty area. As he turned his defender he was fouled and referee Tom Green pointed to the penalty spot. Akintunde stepped up and calmly sent keeper Harry Girling the wrong way to level the scores. 1-1

Four minutes later and the Ducks could and perhaps should have taken the lead. A throw in was headed on by Riddick into the path of Jamie Rudd, who was clear of Ryan Boswell and bearing down on goal; however, his shot with his left foot was across goal and didn’t trouble the keeper.

In an all action match, tricky winger Olajuwon Ogunwamide got clear down the flank and crossed into the six-yard box where Jack Wood cleared, but only as far as Brodie, whose shot was straight at Hopwood. Two minutes later, Deacon found Anthony Ball 25 yards from goal, but like Brodie just before him, his shot was also straight at the keeper.

Next, a long ball down the right was chased well by Lee Stobbs, who looked up and delivered a fantastic cross to the near post where Akintunde glided ahead of Darren Phillips to head the Ducks into the lead. 2-1 Aylesbury

As the half time whistle loomed, the visitors had a great chance to equalise. A ball forward was collected by giant striker Brian Moses, who advanced one on one with Hopwood, but the keeper was out well to block his shot at the concession of a corner.

Half-time: Aylesbury 2-1 Tilbury

Another injury to add to the list forced a half time substitution, Riddick suffering after a collision with Lee Noble could not continue, with Jordan Jenkins replacing him, which meant Wood moved into midfield.

The visitors started the half well, forcing the Ducks backwards from the off. Their pressure looked to have paid off in the 57th minute. Jenkins and Moses chased a long ball into the penalty area, where the defender was judged to have fouled the striker, although to many it looked like a “shoulder to shoulder” challenge. Regardless, up stepped Eljay Worrell, with a strangely curving run, but his shot was well saved by Hopwood.

Twelve minutes later, a ball forward to Moses saw the defenders back off him, allowing space for a shot, but fortunately a deflection saw it clear the cross bar. Moses was becoming a constant threat as the half developed, next up another ball through to him saw him turn Jenkins and be one on one with Hopwood, but again the keeper did well to save at his near post.

Tilbury came very close to an equaliser with 12 minutes remaining; a corner delivered by Noble to the near post was mis headed by Wood and appeared to be going over the line for an own goal, but Hopwood reacted well to scoop the ball to safety.

With 6 minutes remaining Tilbury got the equaliser their pressure had deserved, and it was Moses who scored it. Another pass forward to him saw him advance towards the penalty area and hit a well-placed shot into the far corner of Hopwood’s net. 2-2

Sensing a late winner, Tilbury swept forward looking for further opportunities, which soon came. A free kick found newly signed substitute Tony Stokes on the left; he turned Harry Jones, but shot straight at Hopwood. Stokes came close as the game entered added on time, getting free on the right and firing in a shot which the Ducks’ faithful were relieved to see rebound to safety off the near post.

The depleted Ducks probably deserved that stroke of luck and almost put the icing on the cake of a superb resilient performance in the 92nd minute, when a corner from Max Hercules found Dave O’Connor at the far post; he headed back into the 6-yard box where Wood saw a superb acrobatic effort equally well saved for a second corner by Girling.

The final chance came the way of the visitors, as Boswell did well to find Stokes who again drew a fine save from Hopwood.

So, the game ended all square, and the prospect of penalties loomed. With memories of the recent FA Cup exit still very fresh in the mind, the Ducks’ faithful joined the away support of the Dockers behind the cricket pitch end goal. This time though it would be the home side who would be victorious, with Ball, Bewley, Jones and Hercules all converting their spot kicks with precision, while Hopwood emerged as the hero saving from Worrell (again!) and Ogunwamide twice, after the referee observed him being off his line for his first save.

So, a weakened Ducks team won the day, a match where they showed that they are going to be a difficult side to beat this season against a strong Tilbury outfit. We wish them well in their quest at the top of their league as we turn our thoughts to the draw for the next round of the Trophy which will take place on Monday lunchtime, with the next round being played on Sat 1st Nov. Before that though, a match at Biggleswade next Saturday, before entertaining big spending Bedford Town on Wed 28th Oct.