Aiming to build on a morale boosting win last time out at high flying Barton Rovers, the Ducks made just two changes for the visit to lowly Kidlington. Charley Tuttle was restored to the starting line up in place of Jake Bewley after recovering from his recent injury with Kacper Kloc making his first start, in place of the unavailable Haziz Kone.

The Ducks made a great start, a long ball was collected by Sonny French just inside the opposition half; he turned and sprayed a fine diagonal pass over the head of Aydin Ulas into the path of Luqman Kassim. He broke into the penalty area and despatched a shot past goalkeeper Charlie Barnett into the far corner of the net. 1-0 Aylesbury

After 11 minutes, the unfortunate Kloc was forced from the pitch after turning his ankle on the soft pitch, to be replaced by Gianni Massi. In the 14th minute, Nathaniel Opoku did well on the left, before exchanging passes with Michael Hopkins and shooting towards goal, but the power was taken out of his shot by a deflection, allowing Jack Hopwood to make a comfortable save. The Ducks extended their lead in the 22nd minute, Kassim going past Ulas again, before pulling the ball back to Will St Clair-Burton, who sidefooted home from 12 yards. 2-0 Aylesbury

Despite the scoreline, the home side were playing well, passing the ball effectively on a difficult heavy pitch, albeit lacking a final end product. Just past the half-hour, a long throw from Tuttle was headed on by Massi to French who hit a volley over the crossbar. Two minutes later, Opoku did well on the left again, this time finding Fraser Allen with a low cross, who steered his shot past Hopwood to halve the lead. 1-2

Half-time: Kidlington 1-2 Aylesbury

The start of the second half saw Ben Peters, who had collected a yellow card just before half time, replaced by Harry Stratton in the heart of the midfield.

Encouraged by their end to the first half, the hosts were on the front foot, pushing the Ducks back as the second half progressed. Opoku again impressed on the left flank, before passing the ball inside to Powfil Raposo, whose shot from 20 yards clipped the top of the crossbar.

On the hour mark, Kassim had a great opportunity to restore the two-goal advantage, as he collected a fine pass from Stratton on the left, before cutting inside, but his shot from 12 yards, albeit from a difficult angle, was well wide of the target.

Four minutes later and the scores were level; a corner from the left was half cleared back to Hopkins, who floated a looping cross to the far post where Matt Gunn was well placed to head back across goal and into the net. 2-2

In the 69th minute Kassim passed infield to French who dummied and allowed the ball to run to Stratton, who hit a good shot which was cleared off the line by a defender. Three minutes later, a deep cross by Hopkins was headed clear by Jack Wood, but the ball fell kindly for Allen, who shot over the bar.

Back down the other end and Kassim was again the most likely to score, this time his effort from wide on the left beat Barnett, but cannoned off the far post and away to safety.

The Ducks were defending well against everything the hosts could throw at them, and reaped the rewards for this as the clock ticked into added on time. Tuttle took a throw and received the ball back from Kajetan Halatyn, before crossing into the penalty area; Wood challenged Gunn with the ball falling to French just outside the penalty area, who hit a first time shot into the corner of the net to score the decisive winning goal. 3-2 Aylesbury

In the aftermath of the goal, Peters earned himself a second yellow card and was sent off for sprinting on to the pitch to join in the celebrations.

The last action of the match saw substitute Daniel Lodovica collect the ball from a throw in and cut inside onto his left foot, before crashing a shot off the crossbar from 25 yards.

Shortly afterwards the referee brought the game to a close, one which the Ducks could perhaps count themselves a little bit lucky to leave with all 3 points, given the balance of play, but on another day, it could have been us on the end of a disappointing defeat. Onwards to another testing away fixture, at Kings Langley on Saturday, before returning to the Meadow for two home matches, first against Northwood on Wednesday 19th Feb, then Leighton Town on Sat 22nd Feb.