Danny Nicholls kept up his 100% record since his permanent managerial appointment, Aylesbury recorded their fourth back to back win, as well as their best League win of the season, and completed the treble over Solihull Borough on a day of landmarks for the Ducks.
New signing Drew Roberts was thrust into the thick of the action, playing a good 79 minutes and showing signs that he'll become a very shrewd signing indeed. Dean Powles also took up his place in the line-up, replacing the ill Jay Gould.
Aylesbury made an early chance for themselves, in a rather tame first period. The ball was neatly played across the park, before Dean Cracknell passed for Paul Edgeworth, whose left-footed effort trickled just wide of Mark Gayle's goal.
Solihull's first effort was a free-kick which was blazed well over the bar by Jamie Petty, after a foul by Leon Barnett.
The Ducks were making the better of the play in the opening quarter of the game, and Powles hit a well struck volley, which Gayle held, and a Daniel Mead speculative right-footed effort looped high and was easily gathered by the Solihull stopper.
Leon Gutzmore was then inches away from giving the away side the lead. Cracknell curled in a free-kick from the left-flank, and Gutzmore connected with his head, but saw his effort rebound off the crossbar.
The second quarter of the game belonged to Solihull though, as they looked to turn up the heat on their opponents. Keeping the ball well they frustrated Aylesbury, and fashioned a couple of decent openings. A fierce-effort from Petty was well claimed by Rashid, and a shot was well charged down, but the ball fell to Mark Faulds who shot wide.
Right on the stroke of half-time, Edgeworth went agonisingly close to scoring for United. A corner was cleared only as far as Roberts, who lashed the ball back into the danger area, and Edgeworth poked the ball just wide of the post.
Half-time: Solihull 0-0 Aylesbury
For the umpteenth time in recent weeks, Aylesbury left the changing rooms a different side, and duly found themselves in the lead with two second-half minutes on the clock. Poor defending from Solihull allowed Leon Gutzmore to latch onto a high-ball, and coolly slot the ball past the helpless Gayle. 1-0 Aylesbury
After a spate of substitutions, including Cracknell being replaced by Colin Baker, Aylesbury were awarded a free-kick on the edge of the area. Mead's deflected effort fell to Liam Folds, who tried an acrobatic effort which was well palmed away by Gayle.
United's inability to finish Solihull off always meant that nervy times were to be had when the home side came forward, with most of their attacking play featuring tricky winger Marcus Jackson. It was he who fired an effort well wide, and then did the same again after one of many good runs into the area.
Gutzmore missed a great chance to increase the advantage after 64 minutes. Roberts chased onto a loose ball, putting Gayle under pressure, and as the goalkeeper fumbled the ball Gutzmore placed his shot wide, with the goal empty. Jackson then wriggled into the area again for Solihull, but again could only shoot off-target.
Chances continued to come for both sides. Substitute Mark Shephard had two of the best for Solihull - heading a cross over, and shooting wide after running at United's defence. Edgeworth then headed a free-kick over the bar having been unmarked at the far-post.
The curse of the missed opportunities seemed to be coming back to haunt Aylesbury, as with ten-minutes to go Boro were awarded a penalty for a foul by Barnett. To the relief of all concerned with the Ducks though, Paul Danks stepped up and smacked his spot-kick against the crossbar, before the ball was joyously scrambled clear.
There was further nailbiting action to endure though in the closing stages, as Solihull saw a headed goal chalked off for offside.
Then, with four minutes remaining, any thoughts of Solihull equalising were put to rest, as Aylesbury opened up a two-goal advantage. Yet another foul conceded by Solihull on the edge of the area resulted in a training ground free-kick routine being worked to perfection. The ball was rolled to Edgeworth, who crashed his shot into the top corner with venom. 2-0 Aylesbury
There was more to come though, as United put any dwindling thoughts of the lucky escape they'd had behind them, and increased the scoring. Edgeworth collected the ball just inside the Solihull half, and ran and ran, dinked the ball past the last defender, before firing low across Gayle's goal and into the far corner. A superb goal. 3-0 Aylesbury
The referee blew full-time almost straight from the kick-off, and in a game which United didn't play to their best at any point, they still managed to win 3-0. A mark of a good side indeed, as the great form continues. The team can certainly go to Merthyr Tydfil next week full of confidence.
