Aylesbury travelled to Braintree Town for the second time in a month for this FA Cup 2nd Qualifying Round tie, hoping to make amends for the dreadful 0-2 defeat the suffered last time. Chris Boothe once more made changes, with Dean Powles back in the team, at right-back, and Adam Campion restored to the starting line-up. There was also space for Warren Williams to make his first start of the season, up front with Leon Gordon.

The Ducks were slow to get going and Braintree took the game to their visitors in the early stages. Powles made a good block on the edge of the are from Mark Jones' effort.

Sadly it wasn't long before Braintree took the lead. A suspiciously looking offside Victor Asambong collected the ball and dribbled on, before cutting inside and placing a good shot past Danny Lampton in the Aylesbury goal. 1-0 Braintree

Braintree had another weak effort, before Danny Gordon picked up a silly booking for petulance, something which was to prove costly later on.

Aylesbury managed to get their act together, and started stringing some passes together, before finally having a shot at goal. Leon Gordon was played through, but his effort was easily gathered in by Paul Rutherford.

Warren Williams was proving to be a thorn in Braintree's side, as he made a number of useful runs forwards. One such run yielded a penalty, as the pacey forward cut in from the wing, and went over the keeper in the penalty area. The referee had no hesitation in awarding the penalty. Adam Campion stepped up and confidently despatched the kick into the top corner. 1-1

Aylesbury ended the half well on top of the game, and had chances to increase their score. A Chris Boothe volley went wide, before Campion volleyed wide a good Rory Hunter cross.

Half-time: Braintree 1-1 Aylesbury

The second half started disasterously for the Ducks. Danny Gordon was given his marching orders with a second booking for a poor tackle on Dean Parratt, after just two minutes. The young defender could not disguise his anguish at what he realised was yet another silly Aylesbury dismissal.

Braintree survived a penalty appeal, as Greg Williams was seemingly shoved off the ball in the area, before the midfielder gave the Ducks a deserved lead. Greg picked up the ball from a Braintree defender, took it on his chest and crashed home a sensational 25-yard dipping half-volley. 2-1 Aylesbury

Dean Powles nearly added a third four minutes later, as the defender scaled unknown territory as he burst forward, played a 1-2 with Campion, and hit a left-footed shot that went agonisingly close to creeping in at the far post.

Whilst the Ducks were playing well, it was clear to see that Braintree were still capable of scoring against the frail defence of Aylesbury. A man free somehow managed to place a header wide, before Bradley Quinton headed over at the near post, from a free-kick.

At the other end Warren Williams turned his marker well, but his casual shot lacked power, and was easily held by Rutherford. Danny Lampton then made a good save for Aylesbury.

With five minutes remaining it seemed that Aylesbury's luck, and defence, would hold, and images of a decent cup run started filling the minds of the fans.

Sadly, it wasn't to be that way. Our luck ran out, and our defence ran away, as a free-kick routine was well worked out to the right-flank, before being played into the middle for Ben Cranfield to easily put away. Once more though, the Ducks seemed to have a valid case for an offside appeal, but it fell on deaf ears. 2-2

So a 2-2 draw...That's not too bad, we can get Braintree back to Buckingham Road for a replay, we'll have Bangura back, and all will be rosy. Or not. With three minutes remaining the refereee caved in and gave a penalty to a protesting Braintree player. Dean Powles the unlucky defender to be penalised, despite playing the ball, for an alleged push, just inside the area. Up stepped Cranfield for his second and the winner for Braintree. 3-2 Braintree

Aylesbury had crumbled, and despite their being a further 6 minutes including injury time to play, and the injection of Lewis Pritchard into the attack, there was no way back. It was the home side who came closest to scoring in the final stages, as Asambong shot wide when well placed, and Cranfield missed his hat-trick with a volley over the bar.

In the end, Aylesbury have every right to fell hard done by. All three of Braintree's goals were controversial. Yet there is no excusing that the performance of the Ducks was just not good enough on the day.