Aylesbury beat Holmer Green seeing their impressive form continuing as the Ducks notched up win number four, their third straight 2-0 victory, and their seventh win in eight, to move up to fourth in the table – for 24-hours at least before Royston play again.
Once again ‘patience’ had to be United’s watchword, with both goals finally coming in the last fifteen minutes after a largely frustrating evening.
Holmer Green may be Aylesbury’s county neighbours, County, but they were oblivious to the fact that the Ducks have played in green for 114 years, turning up in their own green kit and subsequently forced to wear Leighton's blue change strip.
The match started slowly with only half chances in the opening fifteen minutes. Coulter caused problems for visiting keeper Dan Little when he stole in unchallenged on a long cross but Little just about managed to juggle the ball away from him, then in the sixth minute Elliot Derby saw a shot blocked having turned outside the area.
A free-kick from Lee Putnam was deflected through to Sillitoe, before another shot from outside the box by Dean Allen this time was easily held by the Ducks’ stopper.
Jack Dixon might have done better when bursting through with the ball, but could only produce a powderpuff shot in what was fast turning into a game of low quality.
Aylesbury’s first meaningful attempt on goal finally arrived midway through the half when Coulter raced onto a ball forward and rifled a shot in on goal which was deflected wide by combination of defender and goalkeeper.
It spurred the Ducks on to a brief spell of pressure but they were struggling to make an impact against a stifling Holmer Green who had set their stall out strongly.
Garcia followed up Jones’ corner with a low drive which was easily claimed by Little, before the same player volleyed wide of goal as another set piece delivery dropped to him six minutes later.
The half came to an end with Baines shooting well wide, and Mulholland seeing a header cleared off the line although he was subsequently harshly penalised for climbing, as the Ducks left the field to reflect on a disappointing first 45 minutes.
Half-time: Aylesbury 0-0 Holmer Green
Aylesbury lost the services of Craig Townsend to injury at half-time, but the introduction of an additional attacker in Joey Acheampong worked in their favour and they had their opponents on the back foot early in the half.
Baines hooked an effort just over the bar having been teed up by Acheampong, before a moment of danger from the visitors saw Putnam screw a shot well wide.
A dangerous cross shot from Coulter flashed across goal and amounted to nothing after he had broken down the right, before Baines followed suit and picked out Coulter in the box but his shot was blocked, as was the rebound effort from Jones.
The Ducks continued to be frustrated in their efforts to break through, and they nearly fell behind when a free-kick dropped kindly for Jack Dixon in the box but he couldn’t guide the ball past the alert Sillitoe.
Another couple of tempting balls into the box weren’t converted as first Coulter and then Jones whipped in low crosses in quick succession with nobody able to make a telling touch on both occasions.
The visitors then threatened again twice when first former United man Andy Shed set Danny Boateng away with his head on, but having broken free he could only shoot wide on his left foot.
Boateng turned provider 90 seconds later when he sprayed the ball forward for Shed to run on but he dragged his shot well wide across goal.
Aylesbury had what appeared to be a good chance of their own in the 68th minute when Coulter lofted the ball in from the right flank for the unmarked Baines, but he couldn’t pull the ball down and shoot quickly enough before being dispossessed.
The game had steadily become more open and it was Holmer’s turn to cause problems again when a spell of penalty area pinball resulted in Shed not managing to turn the ball home, before Dixon shot wide as United were unable to clear their lines.
The Ducks eventually broke their visitors’ resistance in the 74th minute. Jones’ corner kick wasn’t the best, but floated to Mulholland beyond the far post and his hooked shot across goal was headed in from 2-yards out by Baines. 1-0 Aylesbury
Holmer were visibly deflated by the goal and Aylesbury set about looking for number two. Acheampong and Garcia linked up well down the right before playing in Edgeworth whose pile driver flew over the bar.
The lead was doubled with a well made goal which saw Baines set away over the top, getting to the byeline before squaring for Coulter to tap into the net from close range. 2-0 Aylesbury
Various substitutions followed for both sides in the closing stages but the final few minutes ticked by without event and Aylesbury could be pleased with grinding out another three points against opposition who took plenty of work to break down.
