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After a good 2-1 victory away at Slough six days earlier, United's defensive faults quickly returned for this Friday night encounter (to avoid clashing with Scotland v England) and the visitors could easily have won by a greater margin.

Player/Manager Gary Phillips retained the same starting line-up as for Slough but his side were unable to produce the goods two games in a row. A 25-yard Allan Pluckrose free kick which curled just over after 27 minutes was all that United had to show for a lacklustre opening half.

Purfleet had already gone close twice, then on 30 minutes George Georgiou headed past Phillips from close range to break the deadlock. Just before the interval Phillips pulled off a superb point blank save from another Georgiou header and United were rather fortunate to be only one goal down at the break.

Aylesbury did improve in the second half and, on 47 minutes, Steve Heard made a good run but his angled drive went just wide. On 55 minutes Neil Selby twisted and turned past two defenders, only to see his shot deflect for a corner. United kept up the pressure and on 66 minutes Phil Mason curled in a cross from the left, Selby 'ducked' out of the way and Howard did well to clear off the goal-line.

Mason was again in the action on 74 minutes with a 20-yard volley which dipped just over the bar, but two minutes later on the counter attack, Georgiou raced through unchallenged and slotted past Phillips to put the visitors 2-0 ahead. United were unable to respond and never troubled keeper Mead.

Infact Mead didn't have one save to make all evening. Three minutes from time Georgiou beat United's offside trap and advanced alone before burying the ball past Phillips to complete his hat-trick.

After this game, their sixteenth in the league, United had already surpassed their goals conceded record of 38 goals from 42 league matches the previous season.