So, the long summer break is over and once again, we started the season in the Ex-Prelim Round of the FA Cup, this time a tricky looking fixture at Hellenic League Ardley United. Compared to the team that finished the season, there were only 4 players in the starting XI that were involved in the last match of the season against Enfield back in April. There was the welcome sign of a return to action for skipper Jack Wood, after missing the last 10 games of the season with a knee injury.

As early as the 3rd minute of the match, referee David Evans made his mark and reminded all of the new Law regarding goalkeepers holding onto the ball for more than 8 seconds, by penalising Jack Hopwood, just as he was about the release the ball, awarding a corner to the home side. James Watts took a fast, inswinging corner, which Hopwood did well to get a touch on, deflecting the ball onto the crossbar and away for a second corner. Watts second effort was cleared comfortably by the defence.

On 10 minutes Watts stood over a free kick 35 yards from goal, and played in a dangerous ball which Wood did well to deflect away from danger.

The Ducks were slowly getting to grips with the fast pressing, physical game of their opponents, and had a good chance themselves in the 17th minute. Nasha Mukwada, returning for a second spell with the Ducks, did well to win the ball 25 yards out and played the ball inside to Remel Larwood, who drifted past his marker, but screwed his shot from a tight angle wide of the far post from 12 yards.

Two minutes later, another returnee, Hayden Beadle saw a free kick cleared, but he recycled the ball and crossed to Prince Madu who headed down to Wood, but the ball fell to his less favoured left foot, and presented an easy save for Craig Hill.

The hosts had a good chance three minutes later, when after a good run down the left, Conor Taylor squared the ball to Oli Orzechowski, who saw his side foot shot from 10 yards well saved by Hopwood.

Just past the half hour, a ball forward was chased by Orzechowski and Wood, with the striker getting the better of the Ducks skipper, before seeing his shot from 15 yards deflected to Watts, who saw his shot from 12 yards cleared off the line by Madu.

Two minutes later, a good passing move saw Wood find Larwood, who found Leandro Jardim, but his shot was blocked.

Shortly afterwards, Larwood was fouled by home skipper Elliott Barton, for which he received a yellow card. Larwood stepped up to take the free kick from 25 yards, but saw his effort clear the crossbar.

Half-time: Ardley 0-0 Aylesbury

Into the second half, a long throw from Harri Dawson caused problems for the Ducks defence, with Wood only able to head the ball as far as Luke Swann, who saw his shot from 15 yards deflected, allowing Hopwood to make a comfortable save.

In the 56th minute, a poor touch by Madu on the edge of his own penalty area saw the ball fall kindly for Orzechowski, but his snap shot from 20 yards was well saved by Hopwood at the expense of a corner. The ball was cleared from the corner as far as Beadle, who played a good cross field pass to Mukwada; he controlled the ball well and cut inside David Inyang, before shooting from 20 yards, but his effort was weak and straight at Hill.

Midway through the half, another dangerous long throw from Dawson was met by the head of Zarius Edwards-Giraud, but his effort flashed narrowly wide of the goal at the far post.

With 15 minutes remaining, a ball played down the left was collected by substitute Powfil Raposo, who pulled the back to fellow sub Kacper Kloc, but he snatched at his shot and saw his effort slice wide.

Two minutes later, a long ball forward glanced off the head of Jake Bewley, into the path of Declan Benjamin, but his shot from 15 yards was well saved by the feet of Hopwood. Benjamin had another opportunity to open the scoring with 8 minutes left on the clock, Beadle misplacing the ball into his path, but this time his shot was too high to trouble Hopwood.

As the game entered 'added on time', a long ball forward was won by Liam Batchelor-Morgan, but fell to John Dennis 15 yards from goal, but once again, Hopwood was equal to his effort, saving with his feet.

With 5 minutes added time played, Batchelor-Morgan was unable to prevent a corner as he cleared the ball. Wells took the corner kick and found the head of skipper Barton, unmarked 15 yards from goal, who found the far corner of Hopwood's goal to give his team the lead. 1-0 Ardley

It was a sickening blow so late in the game, but the Ducks tried their hardest to find an equaliser. Charley Tuttle, on as a very late substitute for Raposo, took two free kicks from 25 yards out, but both were cleared by the Ardley defence. The final chance, 13 minutes into added on time came from a Bewley free kick, with Ben Peters stretching for the ball, only to find it just out of his reach 8 yards out, the ball going dead for a goal kick. Soon afterwards the final whistle was blown, signalling a disappointing exit from the FA Cup at the first hurdle for the second season running.

Thoughts now turn to the start of the League season, with the visit of Leverstock Green next Saturday, ahead of a trip to close neighbours Marlow on the following Tuesday.