Aylesbury’s return to form continued with a big 4-0 win at Hatfield Town courtesy of a goal each from Townsend, Mulholland, Garcia and Coulter.

Despite the United bench’s depletion by unavailability, Tony Joyce was able to name what is probably his first choice eleven, and they performed their jobs well in a solid team performance which ended with a comfortable three points.

It was Hatfield who had first say though, and it was a surprise they didn’t open the scoring in the tenth minute when the ball was swung in from a free-kick and somehow not turned in at the near post with two players closing in.

Two minutes later their number 9 produced a poor finish having been played in, his shot dropping just past the near post when well placed.

That was about as much joy as the Blues got for while as Aylesbury slowly began to take control of the game. Baines was his typical industrious self and it was he who fashioned his side’s first real opening when, on 20 minutes, he took the ball to the byeline before dribbling all the way around his mark and cutting the ball back only to see it cleared.

Baines was the man in the thick of it again midway through the half as he headed Jones’ corner wide, before he went closer still when he diverted Townsend’s wayward effort towards goal only to see the ball canon back off the crossbar.

It was unlucky for the Ducks who were now growing in stature, but they weren’t to be denied for long and took the lead just two minutes later. In a near identical goal to that scored at Royston, Townsend shed his marker to get to Jones’ near-post corner kick and guided it beautifully into the net. 1-0 Aylesbury

Edgeworth and Coulter both had chances come to nothing, the latter’s being the better as he headed Jones’ brilliant whipped ball wide after an equally brilliant cross field pass from Edgeworth.

United defended what little Hatfield had to offer well throughout, and they had to be on guard ten minutes before the interval as 10 got the better of Mercer and delivered the ball where 7 tried to slide it into the net but the ball was scrambled away by a combination of Toms and Mulholland.

Seconds later Mulholland was heading his side into a two-goal lead when he met another pinpoint Jones delivery, from a free-kick this time, with a cushioned header that went across goal and nestled just inside the far post. 2-0 Aylesbury

It was very nearly three before half time as the keeper spilt a long range Baines effort straight to Coulter, but his fierce effort flew wide of the target to give Hatfield clinging on to some slim hope in the match.

Half-time: Hatfield 0-2 Aylesbury

The second period began just as the first had, with the home side having an effort as the tricky number 7 – who was later substituted despite appearing to carry his side’s biggest threat – flashed a shot across the face of goal.

After a Townsend shot bobbled straight through to the keeper at one end, Aylesbury were indebted to Jack Sillitoe at the other for keeping their two-goal cushion intact as he produced a wonderful save to tip the ball onto the crossbar after a dangerous cross had nicked up off a United defender.

9 had a curling effort go straight at Sillitoe, and the more Hatfield pressed for a way back into the game, the more the match opened up with Aylesbury finding more spaces to exploit.

Baines bulldozed his way down the left flank before teeing up Coulter who shot straight at the keeper, then Baines himself had a great chance when he found himself unmarked an onside having got in behind a static defence to Edgeworth’s lofted ball, but he too could only head into the arms of the home custodian.

The chances continued to go to waste – as Edgeworth’s controlled volley just went over the bar, before Town had their best spell of the match and a rare spell of pressure.

Firstly central defender 5 struck a long shot well wide, then, with the best pass of the match, 2 set number 9 free but he could only produce a weak finish which was easy for Sillitoe to field.

A corner kick a minute later had to be headed over their own bar by Aylesbury’s defence at close quarters, but close was all that Hatfield were to come.

Edgeworth continued to be frustrated in front of goal, as he saw another effort fly over, then a shot cleared off the line after the keeper had flapped at a cross.

Eventually though, the Ducks did find a third, Edgeworth ending up provider as he headed down to Garcia who fired in a sweet 25-yard half volley which found the bottom corner giving the keeper no chance. 3-0 Aylesbury

It was just reward for the hard working midfielder who had an excellent game, and Garcia nearly set up Coulter for a fourth United goal moments later but the Ducks’ top scorer fired wide having brought the ball across the box.

The latter stages saw Justin Gordon replace Hateley Mercer at left back, whilst birthday boy Mulholland received a card of the unwanted variety when he entered the referee’s notebook for an innocuous looking foul.

There was even time for a late cameo from the gaffer as Joyce entered the fray as replacement for Garcia, who left to a warm ovation, seconds after seeing a shot fly wide having been played in by Coulter.

It was Coulter who was to have last say, as he accepted the invitation to walk the ball into the net after the goalkeeper had gifted it back to Edgeworth who unselfishly rolled in his team-mate for number four. 4-0 Aylesbury

With barely time to restart the game, the Ducks set off on their trip home with a well deserved three points in the bag.