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This was Aylesbury's first ever season in the Isthmian League and hopes were high around the town for an immediate return to the Conference. Things had started promisingly with five wins and three draws in their first eight matches, but a shock 2-1 home defeat to Leyton-Wingate had knocked the Ducks' confidence.

Stortford were midtable but had lost their previous games 4-0 at home to Barking and 6-0 at Kingstonian. Indeed, their programme editorial described this period as 'the lowest point that this club has had in its 115 year history'.

United started brightly but had to wait until ten minutes before the break to take the lead. Allan Pluckrose found stand-in striker Steve Cox and the burly left back made no mistake from twelve yards out.

This should have calmed Buckinghamshire nerves, but it was the home side who came closest to scoring before the break when Simon Mason cleared a Tommy English effort off the line.

Three minutes after the interval a melee in the goal mouth saw the ball bounce off Graham Reed's head and drop over the line for United's second. And that two goal cushion at last allowed the visitors to settle.

Nine minutes from time Allan Pluckrose headed United's third before a Rob Smith effort late on was ruled out for handball. The win consolidated the Ducks second position in the table, but Trevor Gould's men had work to do.