Aylesbury's season took a worrying turn for the worst as the Ducks crashed to a 2-0 defeat by near neighbours Hemel Hempstead at Buckingham Road. Without the injured Matt Hayward and Danny Gray, Paul Curtis was forced to bring Dean Powles into the side.

After a slow opening to the game, it was Hemel who had the upper hand in the early exchanges. Ex-Duck Bobby Highton shot wide, before United had a rare foray which resulted in Cracknell shooting wide having been released by Paul Edgeworth.

After just eighteen minutes of the match, the Tudors took the lead. Some slack Aylesbury defending allowed Dean Harding to play a low ball across the box, and George Fowler was on hand to fire into the net. 1-0 Hemel

Unfortunately there was little in reply from Aylesbury, who appeared sluggish at best. Indeed it was another ten minutes before a effort came their way, Leon Gutzmore trying a chip from range which dipped just over the bar. Another four minutes later Greg Williams had the home sides' first effort on target, which came from the familiar sight of him cutting infield and firing at the keeper on his left-foot.

It was Hemel who had the true desire to score another goal, with their front partnership of Fowler and Hammatt causing the Ducks backline problems throughout. Fowler ran through the defence in one instance, before seeing his shot superbly tipped onto the bar by Jack Rashid.

Just before half-time the Aylesbury stopper was cruelly reduced from hero to zero, as he gifted Hemel their second. Having been inspirational for the club so far this season, Rashid sliced an attempted punch, and the ball fell kindly for Hammatt to nod into the net. 2-0 Hemel

Half-time: Aylesbury 0-2 Hemel Hempstead

It was plain to see that at 2-0 the game was all but over as a contest, and Hemel were once again the better side in the second half. Ten minutes in and Rashid made another excellent tip over, this time from Nick Jackson's fierce drive.

As Hemel continued to dominate proceedings, it was something of a surprise when Paul Edgeworth flicked a header narrowly wide of the goal after sixty-eight minutes.

The visitors nearly added a third from a good move, with Jackson running at the heart of the defence, before releasing Fowler, whose shot was held despite appeals for a penalty after the striker went down in the box. Minutes later former Maidenhead midfielder Andy Cook headed a corner over the bar.

The game slowly continued in the same vein, with Hemel controlling the match. Aylesbury's fate had been sealed in the first half and there was little they could do to change things. Our rivals had another chance through Hammatt, who fired a volley over the bar.

There was further drama six minutes before the end, as Jack Rashid erroreously picked up a backpass. The Ducks' frustrations showed as a scuffle followed, during which a Hemel player was shown a card. The resulting indirect free-kick was blocked, as such set-pieces so often are.

Before the final whistle was blown there was time for Aylesbury's best chance of the game. Paul Lamb nodded down a free-kick, which Colin Baker fired straight at Lovell. Summed up the match perfectly.

Thirty seconds later Mr Toyer called time on an awful ninety minutes for the home side, and a well deserved 2-0 victory for Hemel Hempstead Town - a win which moves them out of the bottom four.