With the disappointment of losing in the FA Trophy still fresh in their minds, the Ducks returned to League action, determined to retain their place on top of the Division. The day was designated 'Champions Day', and a chance to celebrate the achievements of all clubs playing under the club's banner last season, with a number of teams celebrating by parading their trophies and medals during the afternoon.

A couple of changes saw Morrison Hashii return after being unavailable for the trip to Wroxham and Ben Peters restored to the starting line up; Luqman Kassim and Kajetan Halatyn dropping to the bench this time.

Looking for a fast start to put the visitors under pressure, a good run from Kwai Marsh-Brown was stopped at the expense of a foul 25 yards out; Ben Stallard took the free kick, but it was just wide of returning ex-Duck James Callan's left-hand post. In the 9th minute, Peters played the ball wide to Hashii, who rounded full back Morgan Mahoney and saw his shot well saved by Callan; the rebound fell to Haziz Kone, who was well tackled, the ball running free to Peters whose shot from 12 yards was deflected narrowly wide.

Kamil Zielinski was next to go close, another mazy run from Marsh-Brown saw him pass to Kone, who in turn found the centre forward, but again his shot was deflected wide.

The Ducks had a great chance to open the scoring in the 17th minute, when Zielinski found strike partner Hashii on the left; he shot from just outside the penalty area only to see Ben Herd stretch out an arm to stop the ball; referee Harry Price pointed straight to the spot and showed a yellow card to Herd, when many were calling for it to be red for the denial of a goal scoring opportunity. Up stepped Zielinski, but his shot, while placed in the corner, was not powerful enough to beat the dive of Callan, who made a good save low to his right.

The first chance for the visitors came in the 20th minute when a driving run by Kade Bagge took him towards the penalty area, before laying the ball back to Billy Mardell-Smith, whose first time shot from 20 yards was high over Hopwood's crossbar.

Two minutes later skipper Joe Bennett found George Devine outside the penalty area; he played the ball wide to Bagge, who fired in a shot from 15 yards that Hopwood saved well at his near post.

Just before the half hour a Ducks corner from the left was met by the unmarked Jack Wood in the 6-yard box, but the ball was just too high for the skipper to keep his header down, the ball soaring above the bar.

Two minutes later Jack Dickerson took a quick free kick to Mardell-Smith, who exchanged passes with Bagge, before working an angle to get a shot away from 20 yards which was too high to trouble Hopwood.

Shortly afterwards Stallard found Hashii wide on the left, who exchanged passes with Zielinski, before shooting from 15 yards, which forced Callan into another good save.

Six minutes before the break, substitute Kenny Mupomba, just on as a substitute for Cruz Mbangha, collected the ball in space 40 yards out before advancing and playing the ball to Bagge; he took a touch and shot from 25 yards, but like so many efforts previously, his effort sailed high over the crossbar.

The breakthrough came on the stroke of half time; A long diagonal from Hashii found Zielinski on the right. He made his way into the penalty area and was tackled by Dickerson, adjudged by the Asst Referee on that side of the pitch to be a foul, resulting in another penalty. This time Hashii stepped up and sent his spot kick towards the opposite corner of the goal, but again Callan was equal to it, but could only push the ball into the path of Peters following up ahead of Dickerson, who looped a header over the keeper and into the net. 1-0 Aylesbury

Half-time: Aylesbury 1-0 Hertford

From the start of the second half, Hashii won the ball 35 yards from goal, before spotting the run of Jake Bewley overlapping on the left; he crossed to the penalty area where Peters met the ball with a header from 8 yards, but couldn't get his effort on target.

Ten minutes into the half a ball square across the Duck’s defence found Mardell-Smith 25 yards from goal, who crashed a shot off the near post and away to safety.

On the hour, Kassim, on as a substitute for Peters, played the ball to Zielinski who outpaced Herd, but saw Callan quickly off his line to make a fine one handed save at the expense of a corner. Stallard tool the corner kick from the right and saw his effort sail over Callan's head and into the far corner to double the lead. 2-0 Aylesbury

In the 78th minute a ball played through the centre of the park was intercepted by Will St Clair-Burton, but his clearance fell to Archie O'Brien 25 yards from goal, but his snatched attempt flew across goal and out for a goal kick.

More pressure from the visitors saw Herd pick put Bagge with a good diagonal pass, who cut inside Bewley and fired an audacious effort with the outside of his right foot just over the bar. This was followed by Dickerson making a good run down the left, before passing to Mupomba who shot from just inside the penalty area, but too high to trouble the goal.

In the 90th minute Hashii did exceptionally well to wriggle away from 3 Hertford defenders in the penalty area and shot from 1`2 yards, but his effort was just wide of the far post.

The last chance fell to Kassim after a pass from Hashii; he outpaced Herd through the centre but saw his shot from 18 yards smothered buy Callan, who it has to be said is a very astute signing by the club and certainly did his part to keep the score respectable on the day.

A blank weekend ahead due to the FA Trophy exit, but the Ducks will look to continue their fine form when they visit Stotfold on Sat 28th Sep. All support for the team in what is shaping to be an exciting season is welcomed.