After the disappointment of the early FA Cup exit last week at the hands of Ardley United, the Ducks opened their League campaign at home to close neighbours, Leverstock Green. Dave Tuttle chose to make a couple of changes to the starting line up, with Prince Madu replaced by the fit again Charley Tuttle, and Nasha Mukwada replaced by London Brookshaw, who made his full Ducks debut. There was the welcome sight of a return to the bench of Sonny French, who missed last week's match.

The visitors had also exited the FA Cup at the first hurdle, and both sides would have approached today's match looking to make a good start to their League season. The most significant incident of the early stages was a foul on Leandro Jardim by Matt Forkin, which earned the visiting player a yellow card. However, the effects of the tackle saw Jardim forced to leave the pitch, with what looked like a nasty knee injury, to be replaced by Pow Raposo.

In truth, the first period was a dour affair, with neither keeper troubled until the 35th minute, when a good ball forward by Rio Beach was collected by Jeffrey Sekyere just outside the penalty area, but Jack Hopwood was out quickly to close the striker down, before Tuttle got across to help smuggle the ball clear.

Half-time: Aylesbury 0-0 Leverstock Green

If the first half was a quiet affair, the second started in a much brighter fashion for the Ducks, with a golden chance from the kick off; when the ball was played forward, Forkin mis-controlled the ball, allowing Jed Layman to steal it for the Ducks, before finding Brookshaw in space. The debutant took a touch and hit a firm strike from 25 yards, but his shot was wide of the keeper's right-hand post.

Seven minutes into the half, a cross from Juan Pablo Velasco was punched clear by Hopwood, but only as far as Nat Connolly, whose shot from 20 yards was wide of the goal. The introduction of Mukwada and French in the 53rd minute gave the Ducks some renewed momentum, with Mukadas's pace down the right causing problems for Beach and French soon starting to pull the strings in midfield, getting on the ball and using it intelligently.

In the 55th minute Mukwada did well on half way, before spotting the infield run of Layman, who broke into the penalty area and fired a low ball across the 6-yard box, agonisingly out of reach of the incoming Raposo. Ten minutes later, Tuttle found Hayden Beadle in space 25 yards out, he turned and curled a shot towards the right-hand post, but it drifted just wide.

Both sides were much more on the front foot, compared to the first half, but the defences were holding firm and rarely looked in danger of being breached. The last real chance fell to the visitors, a long ball forward saw Sekyere get the better of Jake Bewley, before laying the ball into the path of Velasco, but his shot from 20 yards was straight at Hopwood.

So, the League season starts with a clean sheet and a point; for sure there will be tougher challenges ahead for both teams; next up on Tuesday evening is a trip to Buckinghamshire rivals Marlow.