After defeat at Biggleswade FC on Wednesday evening, the Ducks travelled to Welwyn Garden City, a team who had faltered in their play-off chase, after a run of 8 games in 20 days, during which they had picked up a number of key injuries.

By way of contrast, the Ducks have been able to field a fairly settled squad since the turn of the month, which just two changes to the starting line up, Ken Feyi returning after missing the midweek match at the expense of Tom Cove, but Hayden Beadle dropping out after picking up an ankle injury in the last match, replaced by Ben Peters.

The Citizens had the first opportunity of the game in the 10th minute; a ball forward to Lynton Goss saw the striker turn well on the edge of the penalty area and fire in a shot, which was straight at James Callan, who made a comfortable save.

Soon after, the Ducks took the lead, a goal gifted to them by the home keeper Charlie Crowley. He received a back pass in his 6-yard box from Ryan Kirwan, but as he attempted to pass it back to him, the ball bobbled on the uneven pitch, allowing Brayden Daniel to steal the ball and tap the ball into the net. 1-0 Aylesbury

In the 14th minute, a corner by Cyrus Babaie-Gumbs was half cleared by Ken Feyi, the ball falling to Goss who shot just wide of the goal from 20 yards.

A Jake Bewley free kick was touched to David Lynn who found Daniel with a good pass, who chested the ball inside to Dave Pearce, whose shot from 25 yards was deflected wide of goal. Kwai Marsh-Brown did well on the left to beat Harvey Steel, before passing to Ken Feyi on the edge of the penalty area; eschewing the opportunity to shoot first time, he took a touch, but saw his shot hit the side netting.

As the clock ticked into added on time at the end of the first half, a superb ball over the defence from Daniel found Feyi, who was forced wide by Crowley’s presence; he retained his composure, looked up and picked out Pearce on the edge of the 6-yard box who swept the ball home to double the lead for the Ducks. 2-0 Aylesbury

Half-time: Welwyn Garden City 0-2 Aylesbury

Two minutes after the restart the Citizens were awarded a free kick on the half way line; the kick was taken quickly, but rebounded off a home player to fall at the feet of David Lynn, who spotted Crowley off his line and tried a speculative shot from 50 yards, but his effort was too high.

Three minutes later, a long throw to the home side was headed out to Steel, but his snapshot from 20 yards was screwed so far wide it actually went out for a throw in.

Fortunes changed for the home side two minutes later; Lynn appeared to be fouled by Goss in midfield, but while the defence stopped waiting for the whistle to blow, the ball was played forward to Brad Wadkins, who scored with ease past Callan from 15 yards. 1-2

If ever a goal changed the momentum in a game, it was this one. The Citizens were buoyed by the goal and had a new urgency in their play. Despite this, the Ducks had a great opportunity to extend the lead in the 57th minute, Feyi getting to the byline and crossing deep to the far post, where Daniel rose well to head goalwards, but Crowley was well positioned to initially claw the ball away, before completing the save at the second attempt.

From the next attack, the hosts saw another long throw headed clear, but only as far as Goss who tried a spectacular overhead attempt was deflected wide by one of his own players.

The scores were level with 15 minutes remaining. A deep corner from Dernell Wynter saw Wadkins rise above the defence to head back across goal, his effort nestling into the far corner of Callan’s goal. 2-2

Two minutes later, Wynter collected the ball 25 yards out and fired in a shot, which Callan was able to tip over the crossbar for a corner. Soon after, a ball forward to Wadkins found him in space on the right of the penalty area; his cross bounced off Derek Feyi, amid claims for a penalty, which the referee awarded. Up stepped Wynter to send Callan the wrong way and give his side the lead. 3-2 Welwyn

Going behind was a blow, and the Ducks took some time to get back into the game; to help, manager Dave Tuttle made a couple of substitutions, with Charlie Tuttle and Tom Cove replacing Ben Peters and Jake Bewley. It was Cove who made the difference two minutes into added on time. A good move down the left saw Marsh-Brown and Lynn combine to set Cove free; he nutmegged Steel and made to break in the penalty area, where he was fouled by Yasin Boodhoo, with the referee awarding a second penalty of the afternoon. Up stepped Pearce to score his 6th penalty of the season and his 14th goal, to salvage what looked like an unlikely draw, given the way that the second half had panned out. 3-3

So, a point gained or two dropped\' After the first half display, probably the latter, but at this stage of the season, every point counts, so I think its fair to say the Ducks were grateful to leave with another point in the bag, courtesy of a late equaliser.

While the common understanding is that only the bottom side is automatically relegated this season, nothing is confirmed yet, so the Ducks go into the final game of the season next Saturday, at home to last Wednesday's opposition Biggleswade FC, looking for at least a point to remain above near neighbours Thame United, who themselves have a tricky assignment at Waltham Abbey.