After the encouraging performance in defeat against in-form Leighton Town, Dave Tuttle made only one enforced change to the starting line up, with the unavailable Ash Rai replaced by Liam Batchelor-Morgan at right back.

Unusually of late, the Ducks started well, putting pressure on the home defence; as early as the 3rd minute, Haziz Kone got the ball wide to Luqman Kassim who cut inside Zuriel Otseh-Taiwo before shooting from the corner of the penalty area, forcing a decent save from Donnabhan Green with his feet.

Thirteen minutes had passed before the home chance had an opportunity to test Jack Hopwood; home skipper Layne Eadie found space on the left before passing the ball inside to Matt Crichelow, who in turn moved the ball across field to Otseh-Taiwo 25 yards from goal, who hit a powerful shot which Hopwood patted down before claiming the ball.

Despite starting well, on a difficult dry bobbly pitch, the Ducks recent shortcomings came back to hurt them, as the hosts took the lead in the 24th minute. The ball was passed wide to Eadie, in acres of space on the left, who made his way unchallenged into the penalty area before shooting across a wrong-footed Hopwood into the far corner. 1-0 Welwyn

The Ducks were dealt a further blow on the half hour, Kian Henry forced off with a recurrence of his recent knee injury to be replaced by Tom Cove, with the reshuffle seeing Will St Clair-Burton move into the heart of the defence.

Two minutes after the change the hosts had a good opportunity to extend their lead, when Otseh-Taiwo found central defender Carlos Velasco up in support, before laying the ball on a plate for him to shoot from 15 yards, which Hopwood did well to save with his feet.

Eight minutes before the break the lead was doubled, again, a goal the Ducks defence won't look back on with any fondness. Otseh-Taiwo did well on the right before lifting the ball into the penalty area to Lewis Taaffe, who initially slipped and fell to the floor, but had time to get back to his feet and pick a pass to an unmarked Lewis Jones 15 yards from goal, who fired into the top of the net. 2-0 Welwyn

Three minutes later Velasco collected the ball in midfield and got away from Kone, before shooting from 20 yards, but his effort was comfortably saved by Hopwood. As half time approached, Ben Peters lost the ball on the left to Jones, who passed inside to Otseh-Taiwo who got a shot away from the edge of the penalty area, but his effort sailed over the crossbar.

Half-time: Welwyn 2-0 Aylesbury

The start of the second half saw two more substitutions for the Ducks, Sonny French and Harry Stratton thrown into the fray to replace Batchelor-Morgan and Kone, which also necessitated a change of shape to 3-5-2. French was quickly into the action, 3 minutes into the half, hooking the ball forward towards Pow Raposo; as the ball bobbled on the difficult surface it fell to strike partner Benji Kakembo, but it was never under control and keeper Green was quickly off his line to snuff out the danger.

A moment of mild controversy occurred in the 51st minute, as a ball into the penalty area was claimed by Hopwood, but Taaffe appeared to kick it out of his hands; referee Neil Fyfield waved play on, with Hopwood ultimately relieved to see the ball cleared for a corner.

In the 75th minute, a ball over the top of the defence saw Coree Wilson race through, one on one against Hopwood, but the Ducks keeper stood up tall and was able to deflect the shot over the bar. Two minutes later Wilson was through the defence again, but this time a great recovery tackle from St Clair-Burton cleared the danger.

With 5 minutes remaining the defence failed to deal with a loose ball on the edge of the penalty area, which allowed Wilson to find Jones 15 yards out, but his shot was wide of the target. With the game deep into added on time, Stratton got the ball forward to Cove on the right, who crossed to French whose attempted volley skewed wide of goal.

So, another defeat, the 8th in successive games, and the challenges don’t get any easier, as champions elect Real Bedford are the next to visit the Meadow next Saturday.