After coming back down to earth with a bump from their 10-1 away win over Rayners Lane on 28th March with a 2-3 home defeat by Barton Rovers on Good Friday, Aylesbury United bounced back in style with a great and well deserved 2-0 away win over near neighbours Thame United in their Pitching In Southern League Division 1 Central local derby clash at the ASM Stadium on Easter Monday.

That defeat by Barton plus results elsewhere had left The Ducks In 18th place out of 22 in the table, a point behind 17th placed London Lions (albeit with Lions having 2 games in hand) but crucially 8 points ahead of 19th placed relegation rivals Enfield with both Aylesbury and Enfield having 3 games left after Easter Monday.

Meanwhile, Thame went into the game on the back of a 3-0 away win over already-relegated Northwood on Good Friday, which had taken their unbeaten run to 8 games since a 0-4 home defeat by Enfield on 28th February.

That win over Northwood plus results elsewhere had left Thame in 5th place, level on points with 4th placed Biggleswade FC (but narrowly behind on goal difference), with 6th placed Hertford Town 6 points behind.

The first chance came The Ducks' way in the 7th minute when Liam Batchelor-Morgan's low through ball from the halfway line to the right of the centre circle found Jake Bewley. He beautifully turned both Jack Tutton and former Duck Mark Riddick in one sweet movement and ran forward on the right of middle before having his right foot shot from 25 yards tipped over the bar to his right by Thame (and former Ducks) keeper Archie Davis for a corner.

Then at the other end in the 23rd minute, Tutton's low through ball from 30 yards out on the left found former Duck Brayden Daniel, who ran to the byeline before his low first time pull-back found Harry Alexander, who fired his first time left foot shot from 15 yards past Ducks keeper Jack Hopwood's left hand post.

Another opening came the hosts' way in the 26th minute when Curtis Brown picked up a loose ball on the halfway line and ran forward for 10 yards before being challenged by George Cleveland, with the ball going high over the bar.

The next opportunity came Aylesbury's way in the 28th minute when Batchelor-Morgan collected the ball 35 yards out and made a diagonal run from right to left before passing infield to his left to Cleveland, who fired his right foot shot from 30 yards over the bar.

Then at the same end just into the 35th minute, Cleveland ran down the left from just inside the Thame half before eventually feeding Finlay Reeves, whose cross towards the far post was claimed by Davis just in front of Tamplin.

What proved to be the last chance of the first half came The Ducks' way in the 39th minute when Frankie Bircham's pass from just inside the centre circle in his own half found Cleveland wide on the left and he took a touch to control 40 yards out and ran forward before sending his weak low right foot shot from 40 yards wide of Davis' right hand post without troubling the keeper.

HALF TIME - Thame United 0-0 Aylesbury United.

Thame made their first change in the 48th minute when Greg Hackett came on to replace Ethan Lack.

The first chance of the second half came Thame's way in the 50th minute when Daniel collected a ball in midfield in the centre circle and made a surging run forward through the middle before firing his left foot shot from 25 yards over the bar.

The hosts went close in the 53rd minute when Alexander's low ball infield from the right touchline found Tamplin on the edge of the D in the middle and he took a touch to control before having his right foot shot from 20 yards beaten out by Davis before the ball was cleared by a defender.

Aylesbury went close again right at the end of the 54th minute when a loose pass across the middle by Tutton was picked up by Cleveland 35 yards out and he ran forward before having his left foot shot from 25 yards saved with his feet by the off-his-line Davis.

Another chance came the visitors' way deep into the 59th minute when Cleveland picked up a loose ball in the centre circle in the Thame half and ran forward before playing a one-two with James Bone before having his right foot shot from 15 yards parried by Davis. The rebound fell to Reeves, whose left foot shot from 12 yards was saved by the now-recovered Davis.

A chance came Thame's way deep into the 66th minute when Tutton's right foot free kick from 40 yards out on the left towards the middle was headed on by Riddick with the ball falling to Daniel in the 6 yard box, whose left foot shot was saved by Hopwood.

Then in the 67th minute, Aylesbury took the lead when Tamplin's forward ball from the halfway line on the left found Reeves, Davis came out to block Reeves' left foot shot from 25 yards and the ball fell to Thame defender Brown, who tried to flick it clear over Cleveland. The ball hit Cleveland who regained control before seeing his right foot lob from 30 yards over Davis bounce once before it ended in Davis' top left hand corner. 1-0 Aylesbury

The Ducks made their first change in the 69th minute when Ex Buamba came on to replace Bone.

Thame went close with exactly 29 completed minutes played in the half when Callum Hall's long forward ball over the top from the left back position found Hackett, who took a touch to control and ran to his left before crossing to Alexander, whose right foot shot from 10 yards was saved with his leg by Hopwood.

The Ducks made their second change right at the start of the 73rd minute when Lee Stobbs came on to replace Reeves.

Thame made their second change right at the end of the 75th minute when Charlie Stow came on to replace Brown.

Then just into the 78th minute, Buamba won a challenge with Luke Tingey level with the 18 yard line and drifted across before finding Stobbs to his right. He slipped a forward ball into space in the box to find Tamplin, who ran onto it and as Davis came out, Tamplin got a touch to the ball first before being brought down by Davis. Referee Rob Alderton said penalty and after the fuss had died down, Cleveland stepped up to fire the resulting spot kick into Davis' top left hand corner in the 79th minute for his second goal of the afternoon. 2-0 Aylesbury

Then in the 83rd minute, Thame made a double change with Lance Williams coming on to replace Louis Walsh and Finlay Murray coming on to replace Alexander.

Sandwiched in between that was Aylesbury's third change (also in the 83rd minute) with Abdullah Jellal coming on to replace Tamplin.

What proved to be the final chance of the afternoon came Thame's way deep into the 89th minute when Tingey's long throw-in from near the left corner flag found Murray at the near post, who sent his header from 6 yards over the bar.

Aylesbury made their fourth change with 45 seconds of normal time left when Hayden Beadle came on to replace Cleveland.

Then with the 4th Official having indicated a minimum of 5 minutes of added time to played at the end, the final blast of referee Alderton's whistle after an eventual total of exactly 6 completed minutes of added time brought the game to an end and confirmed Aylesbury's win.

It had been a fine performance by The Ducks and with news coming through that relegation rivals Enfield and London Lions had drawn with each other, this win by Paul Batchelor's side has ensured they will remain in Step 4 football next season.

The celebrations between players and supporters alike began in earnest and told their own story.

It was The Ducks' first win over Thame in 10 attempts in all competitions since a 3-1 away win in the league on 30th August 2021.

Furthermore, it was Aylesbury's first away win on an Easter Monday in 23 years since a 3-1 win over Chesham United in the Ryman League Premier Division on 21st April 2003.

The Ducks are next in action this coming Saturday (11th April) when they are at home to Stotfold at The Meadow, Chesham with a 3.00pm kick off.