Danny Nicholls' side were able to forget their play-off quest for a week as they travelled to Conference side Forest Green Rovers in the FA Trophy 3rd Round. Rovers, struggling for form themselves, were still two leagues above the Ducks going into the game, yet it was the Southern League side who returned with the shock win.
Colin Baker was given a starting spot, as Aylesbury's team was further depleted with the cup-tied Drew Roberts absent, to add to the already six-strong injury list.
The game started, as expected, with the home side asserting pressure on their 'inferior' visitors. Former Hull City and Bristol Rovers winger Ryan Williams cut in from the right-flank, but placed his shot straight at Jack Rashid.
Aylesbury had a great opportunity to open the scoring early on, as Paul Edgeworth picked out the run of Baker, who shot over with a first-time effort just inside the area. Damon Searle then shot over for Rovers, before Edgeworth himself went close with a curling shot, having been played in by Baker, all before the first ten-minutes had passed.
Then followed a spell of conserted pressure by Forest Green. Charlie Griffin came agonisingly close with a header that hit the post and rolled along the goal-line, and then Rashid denied the same player when clean-through and running in from wide. Griffin's hat-trick of missed chances was completed when he saw a shot deflected wide.
Former Nottingham Forest full-back Des Lyttle hammered a shot over the bar, before Aylesbury began to keep the ball themselves, forcing their opponents back. Some neat interplay between Cracknell and Mead resulted in the latter crossing the ball in, but Gavin Jaggard couldn't adjust his body quickly enough, and his header went over the bar.
To the delight of the travelling fans, the Ducks took the lead on the half-hour mark. Mead broke forward down the left, before squaring the ball to Cracknell. As the defence failed to close the talented midfielder down, he superbly curled the ball around goalkeeper Kenny Schofield and into the back of the net. 1-0 Aylesbury
There were further chances before the interval, as Forest Green looked to make their status count and get back into the game immediately. A cross was headed narrowly over, and a left-footed shot went well over from Williams again, whilst Cracknell had another shot held by Schofield.
Half-time: Forest Green Rovers 0-1 Aylesbury United
The second half was just as action packed, and began with Aylesbury on top. Mead went on a mazy run, but his final shot lacked precision with his right-foot, and flew over the bar. An excellently worked free-kick routine five minutes in found its way to Cracknell, who fired narrowly wide of the near post.
A rare foray forward by Forest Green in the opening stages of the half saw Griffin have a shot deflected over, having had the ball played into his feet, before Aylesbury doubled their lead.
Debutant goalkeeper Kenny Schofield made one of many distribution errors, passing the ball straight to Leon Gutzmore. Although the danger appeared to have been cleared once the target-man had been dispossesed, the ball was worked out to Baker on the right-flank. He quickly fired in a pinpoint cross, which was duly headed back across goal and in by Gutzmore. 2-0 Aylesbury
The two-goal cushion lasted just 30 seconds, as Forest Green hauled themselves back into the game. Griffin ran in from the right, but saw his shot saved by Rashid, but the ball span across goal, rebounding off the unfortunate Dean Powles' back and into the net. 2-1 Aylesbury
At 2-1 it was suddenly game on, and the match became stretched as both sides looked for another goal. Jack Rashid had to be strong to deny a fierce shot on his near-post, getting two fists to the ball to clear the danger, and his opposite number then did well to deny Gutzmore having been played through by Edgeworth.
The game entered the closing stages with United being forced to soak up more and more pressure from their hosts, but at the same time they were able to make use of their efficiency on the break. The pace of Baker and Mead down the flanks was a constant threat to Forest Green, and it was Mead who went close with a fierce shot that went just over the bar.
At the other end Forest Green did threaten, and substitute Mark Beesley had a shot from outside the area easily held by Rashid.
With the fans counting down the minutes until the final whistle, Aylesbury came close to sealing the win with a third goal. The impressive Mead dribbled his way into the box, and with Schofield commited fired in a shot towards goal, which was somehow cleared off the line by a well-stationed defender.
The final action of the game saw Mead curl a free-kick over the wall, but after what seemed like an eternity of stoppage time, Mr Vaughan blew for full-time on a massive cup upset, and another giantkilling act for Aylesbury United. Every player in the team can be proud of their effort today, a truly fantastic display.
