Following a disappointing performance and no points at lowly Stotfold on Saturday, the next challenge was a visit to the surprise League leaders, Hadley, who came into the game on the back of an impressive 4 - 1 win against title favourites Berkhamsted.

Two enforced changes for the Ducks, with Kamil Zielinski unavailable and Jake Bewley taking time off after the birth of his son at the weekend, replaced by Kwai Marsh-Brown and the return of Charley Tuttle, after completing his suspension. In midfield Haziz Kone was rested to the bench, with Ben Peters replacing him.

Hadley started well, as early as the 5th minute Jack Hopwood was called into action to parry a fierce shot from 30 yards, with Jack Wood on hand to mop up the rebound and clear the danger. Shortly afterwards, another warning for the Ducks as Toby Gould collected the ball on the left before feeding his skipper Luke Alfano, whose shot from 35 yards, just cleared the crossbar.

In the 16th minute a ball forward by Tuttle to Luqman Kassim on the edge of the area saw the striker hold off Caoilan McGettigan before laying the ball off the Marsh-Brown 20 yards out. He appeared to misshit his shot, but watched gleefully as it bobbled past Charlie Taylor and nestled in the corner of the net. However, his delight was short-lived, as Taylor complained that his view of the shot had been blocked by an offside looking Kassim, and after consulting with his assistant, referee Richard Wharton concurred and disallowed the goal, much to the disgust of the Ducks players and especially the fans behind the goal who felt it was a harsh decision.

Just before the half hour, Marsh-Brown held the ball up well, before passing to Morrison Hashii, who cut in from the left and fired a shot from 25 yards just wide of the near post.

Four minutes later, Peters conceded a free kick 25 yards out, up stepped Billy Hayes to take the kick, but his effort rebounded off the defensive wall, falling to Gould whose shot from 30 yards was wide of target. Six minutes from the break, a Ben Stallard corner from the right was met by a leaping Kian Henry, but his header was slightly miss-timed and was cleared off the line. The ball was cleared downfield to Isaac Stones who did well to beat Tuttle and cross to Gould in the penalty area, but his shot from 8 yards was well saved with his legs by Hopwood.

Half-time: Hadley 0-0 Aylesbury

Into the second half and the first chance fell to the Bricks. A corner from Gould was met in the air by Hedley Ogbebor at the far post, but with the goal at his mercy, he could only direct his header wide.

On the hour mark, 2 Callum Ismail did well on the right and crossed towards the penalty spot; Henry headed clear, but only as far as Hayes; he chipped the ball forward to Alfano, but header was wide.

The home side took the lead in the 63rd minute, a free kick from Gould was headed down and bounced around the 6-yard box before it reached Hermes Gbio at the near post, who bundled the ball over the line. 1-0 Hadley

In the 68th minute a cross from Brandon Green reached Marsh-Brown who laid it off to Kassim, but Gbio did well to block his shot at the expense of a corner. Five minutes later, a Tuttle pass down the line found Hashii, who spotted Stallard up in support, with the midfielder's goalbound shot from 20 yards blocked.

The next attack saw Liam Batchelor-Morgan combine with Marsh-Brown, who turned and shot from 15 yards, but his shot lacked power to bother Taylor, the keeper claiming comfortably.

The last real chance fell to the hosts, as a ball was played into Stones on the edge of the penalty area; he turned and made a yard of space before shooting from 15 yards, but Hopwood made another good save.

So, a second narrow defeat on the road, but two very different performances; where the Stotfold game was lacking in energy and invention, tonight's match was very different. The players can walk away with their heads held high, no lack of effort seen tonight, against a very good team. On another night, and with perhaps a different referee, the disallowed goal would have stood, offering a different challenge to the high-flying hosts; it is fair to say a draw would have been a deserved outcome. Up next is the visit of Ware on Sunday 6th October, we hope to see many of you at the Meadow to get behind the team.