Due to issues with their floodlights Didcot switched the venue of tonight’s match to The ASM Stadium at Thame. Against a team sitting 3rd in the league, and on a good run of form after 4 wins from their last 5 matches, the Ducks faced a tough challenge on a bitterly cold evening. Jack Wells freshened up the starting line up, with Tyriq Hunte, Mark Riddick and David Lynn coming in, with Ezra Anthonio-Forde, Sonny French and Jordan Jenkins taking a seat on the subs bench.

The Ducks started well, forcing a corner inside the first minute; Jake Bewley’s deep delivery was headed back across goal by Jack Wood where Ethan Holt was well positioned, but his header was directed straight at Leigh Bedwell in the home goal.

In the 12th minute a good flick from James Glover set Cameron McNeill free down the left. He crossed to Seth Humphries on the edge of the penalty area, swivelled and shot, only to see his shot fly high above the goal.

The Ducks took the lead in the 18th minute; Ben Seaton did well to rob the ball from McNeill deep in his own half and played it infield to Jack Moriarty, who spotted the run of Hunte and played a well weighted ball into his path. The striker did well to hold off the challenge of Taylor Bedwell before placing a shot beyond his brother Leigh in the home goal. 1-0 Aylesbury

Sadly for the Ducks, the lead was to last only 5 minutes, as the hosts won and converted a penalty. A ball forward by Giles found Connor Barrett breaking in from the right, as he moved into the penalty area Jack Hopwood fouled him, leaving referee Dan Smith no option but to award the spot kick. Hopwood received a yellow card for the foul and Barrett stepped up to power the ball into the net - with his boot also flying in the same direction! 1-1

Four minutes later Bewley found David Pitt with a thrown in from the left. He cut in towards goal and fired a shot over the bar from 25 yards. On the half hour Pitt played a cross field pass to Hunte who advanced and hit a shot from 25 yards which was well held by Bedwell.

Five minutes before the break Humphries played a deep onto the head of his skipper Adam Learoyd, but his effort from 6 yards was cleared off the line by Seaton.

Half-time: Didcot 1-1 Aylesbury

The second half saw an early substitution for the Ducks, with Pitt forced off with what looked like a muscle injury, to be replaced by Anthonio-Forde.

Just before the hour mark, another Humphries corner was fumbled by Hopwood, but cleared as far as Jenson Wright outside the penalty area; he took a touch and shot towards goal, but a grateful Hopwood was well placed to catch the ball.

Shortly afterwards substitute Sam Barder found space for a shot from the edge of the area, which was parried by Hopwood, with Bewley on hand to complete the clearance before James Glover could get to the rebound in the 6-yard box.

Straight up the other end and Harry Jones passed the ball to Lynn who found Anthonio-Forde wide on the right. He took the ball round Bedwell but as the angle narrowed, the shot became harder and his effort was cleared off the line by Learoyd to concede a corner.

As the game moved into the final quarter, Barder played the ball into Barrett on the edge of the penalty area, but again, his shot was well saved by the legs of Hopwood. With 3 minutes remaining good work saw Patrick Osborne well placed outside the penalty area, but his shot was clawed away by Hopwood.

In the last minute of normal time a corner was cleared as far as Sonny French who played the ball to Lynn; he crossed back into the penalty area where debutant Jaime Obama rose well, but could only direct his header onto the roof of the net.

The final chance fell to the Ducks after a free kick was awarded 25 yards out in a central position. Holt stepped up to take, but his effort was comfortably saved by Bedwell

Overall, a draw was probably the right result given the balance of play, a night where once again, the Ducks again showed good form and matched their high-flying opponents. The point lifts them above Hertford Town in the league table and on top of the mini league of 5 clubs at the bottom of the table all striving to escape from the relegation places. With no match this weekend, the next match is a trip to Kempston Rovers on Sat 18th March.