After a disappointing exit from the FA Cup at neighbours Thame last weekend, the Ducks travelled to face Biggleswade FC in the first match of the new league season; the game was played at Barton Rovers due to a delay in the pitch at Bedford Town being re-laid. So, after waiting until 10 days before the end of last season to play the Waders, this was the third meeting between the sides in 4 league encounters.

A couple of changes to last week’s line up saw Kian Henry and Luqman Kassim make their first starts for the Ducks in place of the unavailable Jake Bewley, and Brandon Green, who is nursing an injury.

The hosts, kicking up the slope, started well; a ball out of defence found Dan Bond, who cut inside Jack Wood and tried to chip Jack Hopwood, but it was a comfortable save for the Ducks custodian. In the 12th minute the Waders came even closer, good work on the right by Adam Hunt saw him cross low to the far post, where Lee Northfield met the ball, but hit the base of the post from 12 yards, with Hopwood grateful to collect the rebound.

A free kick 40 yards from goal, taken by Ethan Kessel was met by Lawrie Marsh, but his header from 12 yards was well saved by Hopwood at the expense of a corner. Charlie Hayford took the corner, which was met by a powerful header from Adam Tilson, but again Hopwood got up well to touch the ball over the crossbar.

The first real chance for the Ducks came just before the half hour, a Ben Stallard free kick rebounded off the wall to Will St Clair-Burton, his shot was weak and deflected to Kwai Marsh-Brown, who turned and hit a left foot shot over the bar.

In the 41st minute, a fine flowing move down the right involving Morrison Hashimi and Marsh-Brown saw a cross cleared, but only as far as Kassim, but his shot was wide of the far post.

The Ducks were having their best spell of the match, and came close just before half time; good work by Kassim on the left found Marsh-Brown 15 yards out, but he appeared to slip as he shot, with his effort deflected wide for a corner. A short corner routine saw Hashii and Marsh-Brown combine, before a cross came into the near post, where Kamil Zielinski power a header from 6 yards that Dan Green did well to save at point blank range.

Half-time: Biggleswade FC 0-0 Aylesbury

Five minutes after the break the hosts had a great opportunity to open the scoring, when a deep cross to the far post by Kessell found left back Adam Wedd up in support; he hit a firm shot towards goal, but found team mate George Bailey in the wrong place at the wrong time, only managing to block his effort.

On the hour Marsh-Brown found Liam Batchelor-Morgan in space on the right; he found St Clair-Burton in space on the edge of the penalty area, but his shot was too high to trouble Green.

A long ball forward in the 71st minute saw Hashii challenge for the ball with Wedd; the defender passed back to Green, who played a ball to substitute defender Luke Oswick on the edge of his penalty area, unaware that Hashii was still alive to the action and intercepted the ball, before rounding Green and firing home from just inside the penalty area. 1-0 Aylesbury

Seven minutes later, the Waders had a great opportunity to equalise, when Marsh made good ground towards the Ducks penalty area before passing to substitute Peter Murphy, who mishit his shot just wide of the target.

The lead was doubled in the 83rd minute, when a free kick from Biggleswade was charged down, before being played forward to Zielinski; he spotted the run of Hashii to his right, bending a cross behind the defender perfectly in to the path of his strike partner, who finished with aplomb from the edge of the penalty area. 2-0 Aylesbury

Great work on the right involving Batchelor-Morgan and substitute Haziz Kone saw the latter get to the bye line and lay the ball on a plate for Hashii 8 yards out. A hat trick seemed a formality, but his shot was too high to trouble Green.

The hat trick did come deep into added on time, when Marsh-Brown did well on the left, cutting inside Hunt who lunged in and upended the Ducks player. Hashii stepped up and hit a powerful penalty past Green, although the ex-Ducks keeper will feel aggrieved not to have kept the ball out, after getting a firm hand to the ball before diverting it into the side netting. 3-0 Aylesbury

So, after the disappointment of last week, the mood and emotions of the players, management and fans were turned right around, seeing the biggest opening win of the league season since a similar result in 1990 against Leyton Wingate. Add to that a hat trick by a striker on his league debut and there was plenty to send everyone home happy.

It could have been a different story if the hosts had been more clinical with some of their chances especially in the first half, but a combination of good goalkeeping and poor finishing saw them play the ultimate penalty in the second half as Hashii showed what a talent he is and the impact he can play for the Ducks this season. Onwards now to the next game, a home match against promoted Leverstock Green on Tuesday evening.