It was a great win on the road for the Ducks on Saturday as they defeated Hadley FC 3-1 after two goals from Bakary Daffeh, with George Cleveland also converting from the bench to secure 3 crucial points for the away side at Brickfield Lane. The Ducks rode their luck at times but were clinical when needed to end a poor run of form. Jack Wood was unavailable, so Kian Henry entered the side, as did Lee Stobbs, who earned a start after impressing off the bench.

Aylesbury put the pressure on the hosts early as Ike Ogwusogu and Finlay Reeves linked up down the right-hand side to work the ball into the danger area. The stature of the Hadley defence proved too much early on for the Aylesbury attack as Louis Udeh and Hermes Gbio won the ball off the Ducks and the ball met the hands of keeper Omer Taha Ozer.

Hadley responded instantly to the quick start by the Ducks, with a corner which was curled into the box but cleared over the bar by Finlay. Frustration began to show early in the midfield as Kian Henry was booked in the 7th minute after a crunching tackle on the Hadley attacker, stopping a quick break for the hosts. Louis Udeh continued his great defensive start by using his height to clear a long throw by Finlay in the 9th minute, it looked as though this defensive battle was going to be a peach from the off early in the game.

Ike wasn’t going to let that faze him as the forward had a great run down the right once more, battling with Udeh to win a corner for the Ducks that was cleared away by the Hadley first man. The home side had a great opportunity in the 14th minute after they ran down their right flank; the ball was put in over the top, which met the head of Hadley No 14 Jordan Edwards; his effort brushed just over the bar.

The hosts grew into the game very well, earning three great chances in quick succession. Bobby Bircham found the ball in the danger area after the ball was played into him, forcing a great save from Jack Hopwood. Shortly after, the ball hit the crossbar again as Jordan Edwards’ ball met the head of Lenny Asamoah on 22 minutes.

The home side’s attacking pressure was finally rewarded with a penalty after a disputed foul in the box; Hopwood stood confidently, but luckily the attempt was put wide by Asamoah. Regardless of the wide attempt, a full-stretched Jack Hopwood went the right way. Ike was able to respond soon after, when another Hadley headed chance went over the bar, the Ducks’ striker making another darting run, which resulted in a throw-in - this throw found the feet of Reeves once more, but it was a familiar challenge from Udeh to win the ball back for the home team.

The Ducks took the lead in the 44th minute through a great finish by Daffeh! The young attacker collected a ball lifted over the defence by Lee Stobbs, controlled it well and beat his man, before calmly slotting the ball past the keeper into the far corner, 1-0 Ducks! Aylesbury took a lead going into the break; it was a great first half, but luckily Hadley were not clinical enough to convert their chances.

The Ducks started the second half perfectly as Daffeh earned himself another goal to put Aylesbury United two goals to the good! Finlay made a great run in the 50th minute, beating two Hadley midfielders in the process and expertly threaded a ball through to the feet of Daffeh, who was under pressure from the home defence but shot first time, beating the keeper at his near post to bolster the Ducks’ lead.

Hopwood continued his great game after making two great saves, tipping the ball over the bar after two more headed shots from Hadley after well-worked crosses. United made their first change of the afternoon as the double-scorer Daffeh made way for Rocko Tamplin. Shortly after Ike looked to finish the game with a chance from distance, the ball was worked through the midfield, and Okwusogu had a rocket of a shot goalwards from just outside the box, but it flew just above the bar. Another substitution was then made as the exciting George Cleveland came on for Reeves.

The Aylesbury United faithful had a heart in mouth moment as Hermes Gbio let a Steven Gerrard-esque volley fly goalwards from 35 yards; Hopwood was ready to tip it over the bar, but it was too high over the bar anyway. James Bone then came on to join the game in place of Lee Stobbs.

The ball was stuck in the midfield for a while as Aylesbury were trying to control possession to see this game out before another Ducks substitution was made, Sonny French replaced by Adam Martin. It was set to be a nervy finish as Hadley managed to get one back with 5 minutes remaining. The ball was whipped into the box and fell into the danger area where substitute Finlay Aldridge smashed home to halve the deficit, 2-1.

Aylesbury did well to keep possession and earned a corner just before the end of normal time; James Bone whipped it past the home backline, but it found no one, allowing a dangerous break for Hadley, which was effectively defended by the Ducks’ backline. It was the Ducks who had the final say, putting the game to bed in the 92nd minute; substitute George Cleveland was put through on goal by Tamplin, before slotting his shot calmly past the keeper into the far corner, securing all three points for the team.

Hadley did have a great chance in the 93rd minute, hitting the bar for the 3rd time in the game, before the visitors made their final substitution, with Ike coming off for Pooya Karimi to make his Ducks’ debut; however, he had little time to get involved, as the final whistle blew shortly after. A great team performance by the Ducks despite many opportunities from Hadley; they simply could not convert their chances from set pieces, as many of them went over the bar or were tipped over by our man between the sticks, Jack Hopwood; the visitors were simply more clinical in the final third, which was the difference in this contest.