A week after a thumping win at relegation threatened Kempston Rovers, the Ducks welcomed a bumper crowd to the Meadow for the annual Community Day match, coincidentally against the same opposition as last year, Ware FC.

The visitors were looking for points to cement a play off place, starting the day in second place in the table. The Ducks have their own need for points, still looking for points to secure mathematical safety from the drop to Step 5.

Only one change to the starting line up from last week, with Brayden Daniel unavailable having been on trial at Sheffield Wednesday all week, Tom Cove coming in on the left side of midfield.

The early tempo was set by the visitors, with Theo Ofori looking particularly threatening on the right flank, his pace and trickery causing Jake Bewley problems. Unfortunately for him and his team, his deliveries into the penalty area went unrewarded, as his striking partners failed to get a telling touch to trouble James Callan.

Having weathered an early storm, it was the Ducks who went closest to scoring in the 13th minute; Bewley collecting the ball on half way and forging into the penalty area, before shooting from 15 yards, forcing Fred Burbidge into a save. Ken Feyi had a great chance to open the scoring in the 25th minute, a fine ball through the defence by Dave Pearce saw the centre forward clear of the defence, as Burbidge came out, he sidestepped a challenge but his shot from the edge of the penalty area was wide of the far post.

The next attack saw Cove do well on the left beating Ofori and Stefanos Georgiou before pulling the ball back to Pearce who hit his left footed shot from the edge of the penalty area over the cross bar. Pearce returned the compliment 5 minutes later, turning provider to set up Cove, but the result was similar, another effort that failed to trouble Burbidge.

Five minutes from the break, Feyi had another great opportunity to open the scoring, after a throw in from Max Cavana found Pearce in space, who played the ball into the path of the striker. Visiting skipper Louis Rose attempted to intercept, but the ball fell invitingly for Feyi, but Burbidge was out smartly to deflect the shot wide for a corner.

As half time approached, the visitors worked a good opening, with Ofori and Jon Clements combining to set up Alex Warman for a shot, but his effort was deflected over the cross bar.

Half-time: Aylesbury 0-0 Ware

The first chance of the second period came as a result of a Pearce corner from the right; the ball bounced off Rose 4 yards from goal and fell to Feyi, but his effort was straight at Burbidge.

In the 52nd minute Joe Dearman played a pass to Clements in the left channel, as he advanced, Jack Wood recovered well to firce him wide, resulting in his shot from 15 yards hitting the side netting.

Three minutes later, Feyi did exceptionally well to control a high clearance in front of the dugouts, flicking the ball infield to Cove up in support; he made ground and collected a return pass and shot from just outside the 6-yard box, but again, Burbidge was there to save his side.

Just past the hour a good move down the right saw Cavana find Kwai Marsh-Brown, he in turned played the ball to Hayden Beadle on the edge of the penalty area, but his left foot shot was too high.

The final opportunity came with 5 minutes remaining. Clements found space in the penalty area, firing the ball into the 6-yard box where Cavana did extremely well to get in front of substitute Richard Ennin to clear from 2 yards out.

After 5 minutes of added time, the game came to an end, on the face of it a boring no score draw, but both sides had the opportunities to win the game.

The Ducks will be happier with the result, especially with Kempston and Thame both losing, meaning their grip on a Step 4 place for next season is strengthened. Ware though will need a response next week against AFC Dunstable as they strive for a 2nd/3rd place in the table and a home play off place.

Next up for the Ducks, at last, is a first meeting with Biggleswade FC in Wednesday, a match that was originally planned to be played in December, but has been postponed three times due to weather conditions. That is followed by a trip to Welwyn Garden City on Saturday, before the last home game, the return match against Biggleswade FC on the final Saturday of the season.