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The Ducks made the trip around the M25 in the middle of a miserable run, and with little sight of improvement or inspiration. Having lost three games in a row, the prospect of facing Thurrock, who had convicingly won at Buckingham Road earlier in the season, was not a nice one.

Aylesbury seemed doomed from the outset. With 30 seconds on the clock, Thurrock's first attack was flagged offside. Play carried on however, and Tresor Kandol collided with goalkeeper Kevin Davies. Davies, a hero for Aylesbury in recent times, was forced to leave the field of play with injury. Dean Powles took up his role between the sticks, and a substitute was ready. However, there was a further twist, as the substitute who waited was United's 40-year old manager, Paul Curtis.

Play eventually resumed, with Gareth Styles' earning his money trying to patch up Davies' injury so he could complete the 90 minutes. Powles found himself untested for five minutes, as Aylesbury did the attacking. Paul Edgeworth broke through a crowd of players to set up a good shooting opportunity, and might have done better as he shot wide of the post.

Thurrock took the lead in the tenth minute, with Powles well beaten after Tresor Kandol walked through the defence and slotted past the young defender in goal. 1-0 Thurrock

Unfortunately Matt Hayward suffered a recurance of his groin injury, and took over between the sticks for a couple of minutes after the goal. He was then substituted, to be replaced by Paul Curtis. Kevin Davies was deemed fit enough to continue, and returned to the field. Keeping up with this? Good, let us continue.

The home side were consistently asking questions of the Ducks' defence in the first period, and it was only a matter of time before they scored their second. It came from a free-kick, which was curled in excellently for Kandol to nod home. 2-0 Thurrock

Three minutes later, and Kandol had completed his hat-trick. Again, Aylesbury's defence capitulated, and Kandol had the easy task of taking the the ball past the crocked Davies and finishing into the empty net. 3-0 Thurrock

Aylesbury, now desperately seeking their first goal in three games, then carved out some chances of their own. First Ryan Wiffin headed weakly at the rather bored Thurrock keeper, Billy McMahon. Edgeworth went close again, but still couldn't hit the target, as he shot over when well placed.

At the other end Thurrock always looked dagnerous, and Kandol's partner up front, Cliff Akurang headed a cross wide. The latter had looked far more dangerous when he scored a hat-trick of his own at Buckingham Road in November.

Right before half-time the Ducks' makeshift centre-back Paul Curtis volleyed an effort well wide, from a half-cleared cross.

Half-time: Thurrock 3-0 Aylesbury

The second half was an all-round happier affair for Aylesbury as they created some openings for themselves, but just couldn't find the back of the net. Thurrock meanwhile were bizarrely missing plenty of chances, and could have scored far more.

Daniel Mead cracked an effort just wide within five minutes of the restart, a right-footed drive. Kandol missed a glorious opportunity to add another to his tally, as Terry Bowes weaved through the box, before squaring the ball. With the whole goal to aim at, Kandol placed his shot inexplicably wide.

Aylesbury fashioned an excellent opening for Alex Giscombe with their best move of the match. Mead played a lovely little ball in for substitute Alvin Bubb, who laid it off for Giscombe to shoot hard and low, and McMahon had to make a smart stop at his near post.

Alvin Bubb came the closest to scoring for the Ducks. The winger played a one-two with Edgeworth, on the left of the box, and his low effort required a good tip wide by McMahon.

Having had much of the game in the second half, heads of several of the Aylesbury players started to drop having not capitalised on their pressure. Thurrock increased their lead in the 75th minute as former Aylesbury target Simon Martin popped up to score. 4-0 Thurrock

Thurrock scored their fifth, and ultimately final goal with ten minutes remaining. A low Craig Davidson shot from outside the area bobbled past Davies, although a fit goalkeeper may well have dealt rather better with the shot. 5-0 Thurrock

With ten minutes to go, there was a danger of Aylesbury crumbling totally, but Thurrock couldn't add another and it finished 5-0. Unfortunately Aylesbury's next match is away at Bognor Regis Town, who put six goals past Thurrock themselves just a week ago...