After the late drama of Jack Wood’s record-breaking appearance on Wednesday evening, there were just the one change to the starting line up, with Fin Reeves rewarded for his late equaliser against Welwyn Garden City, in place of Remel Larwood, who took a seat on the subs bench.

The Green made a fast start, playing down the slope; a break down the left by Chesham loanee Lewis Rolfe saw the full back cross to the far post, where Radu Stefanoaica arrived to meet the ball, but fortunately for the Ducks Jake Bewley was on hand to put in a challenge which saw the attempt go wide of the near post.

Disaster struck in the 5th minute a free kick from the left was punched out by Jack Hopwood, where Stefanoaica got a touch on the ball before Sonny French, who fouled his opponent, with the referee awarding a penalty. Jeffrey Sekyere stepped up to place the ball in Hopwood’s right-hand corner, despite the Ducks keeper guessing right. 1-0 Leverstock

The Ducks were level in the 15th minute; a throw in level with the penalty area on the right was taken by Lee Stobbs, who found French 18 yards out, who shrugged off the challenge of Marcus Warren and placed a delicious left foot volley over the head of home keeper Harry Way, into the far corner of his net. 1-1

Ten minutes later, a ball played into the corner was chased by Sekyere, who turned and crossed to the far post, where Callum Neal rose above Bewley, but could only direct his header wide.

A minute later and the Ducks were ahead; Rocko Tamplin picked the ball up on the half way line on the left side, before picking out Ayo Akinbobola on the left side of the penalty area. He held the ball up and played in into the path of Reeves, who bettered his goal from Wednesday evening, by curling it around Tommy Boxer from 25 yards and into the far corner of Way’s goal. 2-1 Aylesbury

In the 33rd minute, home skipper Dan Pett won the ball in the centre circle, before releasing Stefanoaica on the right, but the winger saw his shot fly over the cross bar. A minute later and the Ducks were lucky to escape an equaliser; poor defending saw the ball lost and sent back into the penalty area, where Iker Leon was lurking to send in a shot, which Hopwood saved well.

Half-time: Leverstock Green 2-1 Aylesbury

Into the second half, and the Ducks extended their lead in the 51st minute. Stobbs delivered an inswinging corner from the left side, onto the head of Luke Martin, who headed firmly down and into the net from 6 yards. 3-1 Aylesbury

They say a team is often most vulnerable having just scored, and this proved to be the case today for the Ducks. Just two minutes after scoring, the Green got one back; a pass through the middle found the forward run of Pett into the penalty area, the skipper shooting on the turn past the onrushing Hopwood and into the far corner of the net. 2-3

Buoyed by the goal, the hosts applied the pressure on the Ducks defence; just three minutes later, a ball played into Sekyere in the left channel, who pulled the ball back to Leon, who saw a shot from 15 yards deflected wide.

On 58 minutes, a controversial moment, as Reeves broke into the penalty area and shaped to shoot, but went to ground, an act adjudged to be simulation by referee Derrick Laing, showing the youngster a yellow card. That was to come back and haunt him shortly afterwards, as he was shown a second yellow in the 65th minute, for delaying the restart after being caught offside, dribbling away with the ball, instead of leaving or giving the ball back to the opposition. Maybe a harsh decision, but one which he will undoubtedly learn from.

The pressure being applied by the Green paid off with 10 minutes to go. Tamplin lost the ball 35 yards from goal, the ball was passed forward and fell to young Watford academy debutant loanee Jael Norville on the left side of the penalty area, who clipped the ball past Hopwood as he came off his line to calmly draw the scores level. 3-3

Three minutes later, Tamplin had a good opportunity, after exchanging passes with substitute Abdullah Jellal, but couldn’t keep his shot down, seeing it clear the bar.

Five minutes left on the clock and Stefanoaica cut into the penalty area on the right but saw his shot from 15 yards saved by Hopwood at his near post, conceding a corner. Leon took the corner kick, inswinging under the cross bar, forcing Hopwood to punch clear under pressure, the ball falling to Tom Georgiou, who sent his effort over the bar.

Hopwood was the hero in the dying minutes, getting in the way of a number of efforts, but refusing to be beaten. First Leon chipped the ball down the left to Sekyere at the far post, who saw his effort well saved by the keeper. Then, as the game ticked into added on time, Rolfe made ground down the left and found Norville, who outpaced Stobbs on the outside and saw his shot well saved by Hopwood at the near post.

Shortly afterwards the final whistle was blown, on a day of mixed emotions for the Ducks. A similar result to Wednesday evening, when a draw flet almost like a win, reversed today, when the draw was a disappointing return after being 3 - 1 up early in the second half, but finishing the game with 10 men after the dismissal of Reeves. Lessons to be learned for sure, but again, another game where the potential of the team was seen. Consistency of performance needs to be the watchword, as the Ducks face two tough assignments in a week, firstly Hadley on Wednesday evening, then Hitchin Town next Saturday, both at The Meadow.