The trip to high flying Ware FC was perhaps as hard a test as could be expected for the new era for the Ducks, seeing Jack Wells’ first match in the manager’s seat. In the short time available to him since taking over, Jack has brought in 3 new players; Luis Fernandes back for a second spell, starting at left back with Junayd Shawwal, also returning and Reece Bayliss, who both started on the subs bench.

As has been the case too often this season, injury and unavailability forced changes to the starting line up, with Dave O’Connor replaced by Jordan Jenkins, Tom McElroy by the fit again David Aluko-Olukun and Lee Stobbs by Fernandes, seeing Alfie Anderson take a more advanced role on the left side.

As might have been expected, the hosts started well, dominating play and testing the Ducks defence; however they were forced into an early change with prolific striker Rene Howe forced off with a hamstring injury after chasing a long ball in the fourth minute.

In the 7th minute, Liam Dulson passed the ball to Josh Williams on the right, but Jack Hopwood was quickly off his line to close down the angle and blocked his shot.

Despite playing on the defensive in the opening exchanges, the Ducks came so close to taking the lead on 20 minutes. A swift passing move saw Sonny French and Aluko-Olukun combine to play Anderson into space on the right side of the penalty area, but his shot from a narrow angle cannoned off the far post and away to safety. Four minutes later Aluko-Olukon has a chance himself, as a cross from the right by Jack Moriarty found him in space 12 yards out, but his header was wide of the near post.

Half-time: Ware 1-0 Aylesbury

Ware took the lead 7 minutes into the second half. On a gloomy day the floodlights sprang into action just as a cross came in from the right side, which was headed clear, but only as far as Sam Chaney 25 yards out. He took a touch and smashed a shot into the top corner, past a helpless Hopwood. 1-0 Ware

5 minutes later, Chaney passed to Williams on the right, who cut inside Fernandes and fired in a shot from 18 yards, but his effort flew wide of the far post. Williams had another chance two minutes later, this time forcing Hopwood into a fine save, tipping his shot over the bar.

Just past the hour mark, a mistake by Harry Jones saw the ball passed forward to Dulson, but fortunately for Jones, the striker’s shot was wide of the far post.

As if the task wasn’t hard enough for the Ducks, it was to get harder still in the 65th minute. A tackle by Jenkins on Chaney was deemed as serious foul play and a red card was quickly brandished, when perhaps a yellow may have been more appropriate in the eyes of many watching. Forced into a reshuffle, Jones joined skipper Jack Wood in the centre of defence, with George Joyce replacing Anderson and playing at right back.

The pressure was mounting on the ten men, with a cross by Williams being met by Dulson, but Hopwood was equal to his header, flying through the air to make a good save.

Seven minutes from time, any hopes of a comeback were extinguished. A deep cross from the right was played back in by Joel Jacobs to Jack Vasey whose powerful shot could only be helped into the roof of the net by Wood. 2-0 Ware

In the 90th minute, a fine team move resulted in a third goal. Started in his own half by Jacobs, the ball was moved on to Dulson, who in turn found substitute Rechan Esprit. He slipped the ball to Vasey who squared from the touchline to find the incoming Freddy Moncur, who was unchallenged and able to tap in to the net to complete the scoring. 3-0 Ware

So, perhaps a predictable result, given the respective positions in the league table at the start of the day, but again, no lack of effort from the Ducks. The new management team will have plenty to ponder over the coming days, with two more tough challenges ahead in the next 7 days, first Chesham United at home on Tuesday evening in the Berks & Bucks Senior Cup, before a trip to Cirencester Town, for the first time since 2006, after their transfer from the Southern Division. It is hoped there may be some reinforcements drafted in before then.