The playoff chasing hosts were clearly in no mood for messing around, and took control of the game with two goals in the first four minutes to leave the bewildered Ducks a mountain to climb.

Bill Morgan and Steve Hatch returned, but United were once again short on numbers with Liam Smyth and Paul Edgeworth unavailable after the midweek win over AFC Hayes that Aylesbury had looked to be building on.

As it was they never got chance and the signs were ominous when Barton went ahead after just 90 seconds. Rhys Hoeness used his pace to break free down the right before squaring for Jermaine Hall, who found the net despite Jack Wood’s attempted intervention on the line. 1-0 Barton

The score was quickly doubled. Lively winger Keshi Anderson’s header was well saved by Sillitoe, but the ball was played back to him which he unerringly buried into the goal. 2-0 Barton

It already looked a long way back for the visitors, but the response of a quick goal could have ignited a comeback, but Jason Blackett’s header was cleared off the line after Daniel Jones’s corner had come all the way across to him.

Barton’s fast and direct style has had its detractors this season, but it can be devastatingly effective, and had Aylesbury cut apart again on fifteen minutes when Anderson got past Hatch on the left before feeding new signing BJ Christie – scorer of two goals on his debut in midweek - who couldn’t get enough on his shot to beat Sillitoe.

Rovers were continuing to find space, and, after Ricky Case had bent an effort well wide, it came as little surprise when they extended their lead on the midpoint of the half.

A move down the left saw Kyle Lincoln attack and cross low where the ball bobbled over the unfortunate Jack Wood’s attempted clearance to Hall who gratefully accepted the present. 3-0 Barton

Two minutes later there should have been a fourth when Hoeness was put in behind the defence and cut the ball across goal, but just behind his two well placed colleagues and the danger was gone.

Case had a shot blocked, before it was Barton’s turn to have an effort cleared off the line when a great pass by Anderson gave Hall a chance for his hat-trick but Daniel Jones was in the right place to prevent the ball going in.

The last fifteen minutes of the half saw Aylesbury see more possession, without creating clear openings. Their best chance came from the trusty left foot of Keith Williams who delivered a fantastic free kick from deep which was headed over by Blackett.

Half-time: Barton 3-0 Aylesbury

United started the second half well, and in the first three minutes Stacey Field elected to go for goal when well placed but only produced a weak shot when passing to his strike partner might have been the better option.

After a couple of corner kicks had come to nothing, a free kick from Jones on 54 minutes was headed back across goal by Blackett where Bill Morgan somehow spooned the ball up onto the bar from 2-yards and Barton’s clean sheet remained intact.

That was to be the closest Aylesbury were to come, and action was soon back at the other end as a long ball released Hall for another chance at his treble, but Sillitoe stood big and tall to block his effort.

A minute later and Rovers weren’t to be denied their fourth. The ball was chipped over a statuesque Ducks defence to Case, who cut in from the byeline and curled an exquisite effort from a tight angle into the far corner of the net. 4-0 Barton

Hall’s wastefulness in front of goal continued as he fired over from Anderson’s square ball. Another chance came the way of substitute Hastings late on whose attempt hit his own man who was laying prostate in front of goal, whilst Sillitoe made a save to deny a McDevitt header at a corner kick.

The best Aylesbury could muster were a handful of wayward hopeful shots in the closing seconds, as Greg Williams, Joey Acheampong and youngster Liam Murphy all failed to hit the target with wild efforts.

Another afternoon to put behind them for Tony Joyce’s inconsistent men, and with the Aylesbury derby looming next the manager will have his work cut out inspiring a team seemingly low on confidence and low on spirit if they are to go to Haywood Way and get a result.