With all the excitement generated by United?s first back to back wins of the season, there was always a danger of Aylesbury?s supporters getting carried away and so it proved as they were brought crashing back down to earth with a heavy defeat at Marlow.
The pre match optimism had lead to another good sized away following, and with ?new? signing Kevin Mealor restored straight to the starting lineup, there was lots of optimism that the Ducks could claim more points against their Buckinghamshire rivals.
That never looked likely once the game started though, as Marlow took full advantage of an awful start by United who looked to be suffering some kind of hangover from Saturday?s win at Sutton. Before they?d even got out of the starting blocks Aylesbury found themselves two goals behind inside 20 minutes.
A couple of telling crosses inside the first five minutes first led to Bartley heading the ball behind under pressure, then Marcus Mealing headed wide at the near post a minute later.
It didn?t take long for the opener to arrive, coming after eight minutes. Yashwa Romeo collected the ball 30-yards from goal and was allowed too much time to turn and bring the ball in a little before striking an effort which took a heavy deflection and looped up leaving Sillitoe no chance. 1-0 Marlow
United had a couple of half chances of their own as McBride?s vicious inswinger had to be punched from under his own crossbar by Watkins before Tyrone Taylor placed a shot well over after turning on a pass into his feet.
But it was the home side who continued to look most likely to score and had it not been for a miraculous double save by Sillitoe on 14 minutes would have done so. Leigh Mason clipped a free-kick over the wall to Mealing whose header from 3-yards out was met with a superb reflex save, with the rebound effort having the same result.
Six minutes later and the Blues weren?t to be denied again. Another free-kick was this time played in to Willment who headed across goal where the arrival of Romeo had gone unnoticed and he had the simple task of firing into the net from close range. 2-0 Marlow
The Ducks attempted to hit back, but nearly got caught on the counter as the pacey Jermaine Roche broke but saw his final effort deflected wide for a corner kick.
Aylesbury chances were sporadic, but they went close just before the half hour mark when Mealor struck a right-footed effort which went all the way across the goal and wide.
For the Blues another dangerous cross in from the right was headed wide at the far post, then Mealing was presented a free shot inside the area but could only fire straight at Sillitoe.
The last fifteen minutes of the half saw the Ducks have their best spell as they at least carried some threat to the Marlow goal, although Watkins was never seriously tested.
He should have been when McBride?s near post corner was met by Bartley on the volley with his effort skimming towards the far post, only needing a touch from the apparently perfectly positioned Nash but he couldn?t make contact and the ball went wide.
Montgomery was then also similarly positioned to pull a goal back for United but could only produce an air kick when coming on to a flicked on Taylor throw-in.
The same player did better with a 25-yard effort moments later which looked comfortable for Watkins but he felt the need to acrobatically turn the ball wide of the target, and from the resulting corner the ball sat up nicely for Bartley but his overhead kick flew over the bar.
In stoppage time Marlow had another great chance as Elsegood found himself with a free header but the ball struck Ashleigh James sparking a big handball appeal, but referee Mr Kendall blew instead for half-time.
Half-time: Marlow 2-0 Aylesbury
The second period started with Mealor hitting a free-kick over the bar, before at the other end Roche was unable to squeeze the ball home after a corner was flicked across goal causing mayhem in the area.
If Aylesbury had been plotting an unlikely comeback, then any hopes went right out the window when they conceded a third on 56 minutes. Roche received the ball after a throw and dribbled into the area before going down over a lunge from Bartley, for which a penalty was awarded to the fury of both the big number 5 and his captain Silvestri, who was booked for his vociferous protests. Leigh Mason stepped up and sent Sillitoe the wrong way. 3-0 Marlow
Tony Joyce responded by making all three substitutions in quick succession, with Ayodele, Wood and Nicholls all entering the fray for Nash, Silvestri and Pringle.
The changes didn?t immediately inspire United, in fact it was the home side who had the ball in the net again when Romeo produced a crisp finish into the far corner, but he was denied his hat-trick by the linesman?s offside flag.
The game was already over as a contest, but Aylesbury had a number of chances to at least pull a goal back as the minutes ticked by.
McBride released Taylor with a wonderful pass, but the big forward?s lofted effort was gathered in by the keeper, lacking the power or direction to find the net.
United followed that up with their best move of the game when some neat build up involving Taylor, McBride and Montgomery ended with a driven shot from Taylor which missed the target.
Even at this stage Marlow were still matching Aylesbury?s shot count with efforts of their own, and yet another free header at a set piece saw Willment?s attempt well saved by Sillitoe.
The Blues crowned their win with a goal two minutes from time, predictably coming from a set piece. Sillitoe did well to deny Romeo?s initial header at point blank range, but was powerless to prevent Willment tapping into the gaping net. 4-0 Marlow
And so a disappointing evening for Aylesbury was brought to an end. With Barton also losing there is no change at the bottom of the table, but United will be looking for a massive improvement going into the Easter period starting with the visit of old foes Chesham.
