Once again, Aylesbury's inability to put away chances cost them dearly, as two lapses of concentration, including another own goal, allowed Grays with ten men to literally steal the points at the Recreation Ground.

The setting may have been a far cry from Anfield or Old Trafford, but the goal scored by the Ducks was fit to grace any ground in the world. After fourteen minutes of play a string of passes involving five players ended with Francis Cassidy down the right wing sending in an outswinging cross. Cliff Hercules, some sixteen yards out and with his back to goal, launched himself in mid-air and with a scissor-kick volleyed the ball over his head and into the corner of the net.

Aylesbury had certainly deserved the lead by that stage. David Sansom had relegated Darren Collins and Phil Heath to the subs bench, partnered himself with Hercules up front and played five across the defence. Nick Ashby reverted to his familiar left back role and his overlapping runs and links with Sansom caused problems for the Grays defence.

Sansom it was who set up Hercules to try his luck early on, but he hooked wide from twelve yards. Shortly after the goal, Tim Garner made an excellent save to parry a stinging shot from Whittingham. This was the only real chance Grays created in the half.

The turning point came after 56 minutes. The home side forced three near post corners in succession, and from the latter Kevin Day inexplicably diverted the ball past Garner.

Two minutes later Day ventured upfield, and although he failed to make contact with the ball when a cross came in, Grays defender Jim Sheringham had no trouble in making contact with Day's jaw after the ball had gone out of play. The deliberate headbutt gave the referee no option but to send the player off. As so often happens this spurred on the home side who began to get their act together, helped by United who seemed to sit back rather than make things happen.

Sansom replaced himself with Collins and on 75 minutes the substitute had a chance to restore the lead. Hercules passed to Cassidy who headed onto Collins six yards out and with the goal at his mercy he contrived to fire wide when it looked easier to score.

Slack marking at another corner six minutes from time cost United the points. Ian Durant, with his only contribution to the game, was given time and space to head past a helpless Garner and their ten men held on for an unlikely victory.