The Ducks played their first home league match of the season, welcoming a new look Kidlington side to the Meadow. The visitors, with a new management team and a much-changed squad showed from the start that they are likely to be a much tougher proposition than the team that struggled in previous seasons. Early season injuries struck again, forcing a reshuffle which saw Jake Bewley replace Dave O’Connor at centre back, with Anthony Ball moving to left back and Pierce McNamara at right back. There was however the welcome sight of Mark Riddick joining the subs bench after his recent illness.

A quiet opening quarter hour saw the midfields battling for control, before the Ducks fashioned their first chance. A throw in from Ball found Ben Seaton on the left, who turned his defender and weaved infield, before unleashing a shot from 25 yards, but unfortunately straight at keeper Ben Mitchell. Kidlington’s first chance came from a cross from the left by skipper Tom Moore, who found striker Ryan Knight, who got in front of Bewley, but his first touch was heavy and the chance fizzled out. From the restart Ollie Hogg picked the ball up in the centre of the park and laid a ball inside the defenders for Tom McElroy to run onto; he showed composure to round Mitchell and slide the ball into the net to open his account for the Ducks. 1-0 Aylesbury

On the half hour the visitors had a good chance to draw level; a free kick was delivered by Lewis Baldwin onto the head of Matthew Cheetham, but the defender’s header from 12 yards was straight at Archie Davis, who save comfortably. Shortly afterwards McElroy picked up the ball on the left and embarked on a mazy run across the pitch, before finding Nasha Mukwada on the right flank; he spotted McNamara making a good run on the overlap, who outpaced Moore before driving into the penalty area and firing in a shot which Mitchell saved well at his near post. The final chance of the half was created after a deep cross by McNamara flicked off the head of Hogg at the far post. McElroy collected the ball and found Seaton, who in turn laid it into the path of Ball, whose powerful shot from 35 yards flew narrowly wide of the far post.

Half-time: Aylesbury 1-0 Kidlington

The second half got under way with light rain falling, which soon turned into a torrential downpour, making playing conditions extremely difficult and visibility at times restricted for supporters. In the 63rd minute, Bewley took a free kick on the right which was directed to the near post, where it was deflected towards goal, where a combination of keeper and post combined to keep the ball out. Ten minutes later, Evans Lamboh picked up the ball in the centre circle and found Ezra Anthonio-Forde in space in the right channel. He outpaced two defenders and cut inside but his shot was weak and easily saved. The visitors struck back on 77; a ball was played wide to substitute Piers Walton, who beat Ball down the flank and cut in towards goal, before seeing his sot at the near post beaten away by Davis. As the clock ticked towards full time the visitor had one last chance to draw level, a free kick met by the head of Oliver Goddard, but his effort was misdirected and over the bar. The game was put to bed in the 90th minute when a ball was played to Seaton on the right, his cross was overhit but substitute Jet Dyer chased it down and crossed into the penalty area on to the head of a diving Anthonio-Forde to double the lead. 2-0 Aylesbury

After the disappointment of conceding late on Saturday, there was to be no repeat performance. The Ducks gained a deserved 3 points and now look forward to a tasty FA Cup encounter with Spartan League side Ardley United, managed ironically by the visitor’s boss from last season, complete with some of his former players in his squad.