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Going into this game Aylesbury lay in a challenging third position in the table, while their newly promoted visitors were still coming to terms with life at the higher level and sat just above the relegation places.

This was the Surrey sides first ever visit to Buckingham Road, and they must have wondered if they were visiting a football stadium or swimming baths, as the pitch was near flooded following persistant rain.

Bob Dowie's men quickly imposed themselves on the game with a nervy Corey Browne missing a number of reasonable chances. His strike partner by contrast, Gary Crawshaw, had not played for almost three weeks due to a niggling injury, but looked dominating every time his team went forwards.

It took the Ducks until half time to come to terms with the conditions, abandoning their usual slick passing game for a more direct arial approach. Three minutes after the interval the Green and Whites at last took the lead. The lively Jason Soloman lofted a ball into the area where Corey Browne headed on to Gary Crawshaw who volleyed under the diving keeper.

Although Hampton never really threatened there was always a nagging doubt that they could snatch an equaliser, so it was deep sighs of relief all round when the home side put the result beyond doubt with two goals in the last ten minutes.

Jermaine Darlington set up Crawshaw for the second, a deft flick over Mark Russell in the Beevors goal, before the diminutive goal grabber bagged his hat-trick with a header after further good work from wing back Darlington.

The victory took United to the top of the table for the first time since April 1991, a position they would occupy for the next five months, but sadly could not retain until May. The return match, a turgid 0-0 draw, was Dowie's last at the helm.