• Matches
• Table

loading...

loading...

United were looking to bounce back from their disappointing defeat at Dunstable, but things didn't go to plan as Lady Luck was again not on Aylesbury's side.

Danny Gray returned to the starting line-up, as did Matt Hayward who returned from his suspension to replace Dean Powles. United certainly began the game confidently enough, with Daniel French and Gavin Jaggard firing wide and Colin Baker hitting the woodwork before Gray opened the scoring with just 12 minutes played.

With the first half coming to an end and the Ducks seeming comfortable, a hammer blow to their hopes of three points came on 41 minutes when goalkeeper Jack Rashid was penalised for catching an oncoming forward in his area. Team Bath's Garry Haylock converted the penalty to equalise at a crucial time.

Aylesbury threw everything including the kitchen sink at the Team Bath goal during the second period, beginning with a great chance spurned by Jaggard as he headed wide from Danny Mead's cross. Mead on the left and Colin Baker on the right were causing the Students all sorts of problems and the latter was the next to see his shot from a narrow angle saved following good work from Jaggard and Gray.

However, it was the visitors who were to take the lead with little over 20 minutes left to play. Luke Prince was played in behind the Ducks backline and squared the ball to give Haylock an easy tap in for his second of the night.

United's best chances of getting back on level terms in the closing stages came from French's set pieces, with substitute Dean Powles the first to almost benefit as his header came down off the underside of the bar to drop agonisingly close to the line.

Central defender Andy Hodges shot wide from distance before coming the closest yet to his first United goal as he headed French's corner against the crossbar - the third time that Aylesbury had been denied by the woodwork.

Team Bath hearts must have been in mouths as Baker and Jaggard both failed to connect with French's cross from the right, while both French and Hodges took unsuccessful swipes at a corner with the visitors' defence again at sixes and sevens.

Matt Hayward headed Danny Mead's free kick from the left wide of the target, and Mead himself shot wide as time ran out. Clearly it was not Aylesbury's night in front of goal, but the disappointment of a second three points dropped in four days against opposition from the bottom six was clear to see.

Leon O'Sullivan