Depleted Aylesbury United, without four members of the team that convincingly beat Spalding United the previous Saturday, were unlucky to lose 2-0 at Stourport Swifts.
The visitors had most of the play in the first half, and certainly created the better opportunities, but found Swifts' goalkeeper Paul Evans in good form as the stopper made a number of important saves to keep Aylesbury at bay.
It was the home side who threatened first though, Craig Webb volleying wide after Tom Vincent's punch fell to him on the edge of the box. A neat move by Stourport then saw the ball played in to Mitch Butler, but his effort was fired straight at Vincent.
It took Aylesbury eleven minutes to get into their stride, and it was Liam Smyth who had the first effort, seeing his left-footed effort deflected wide after Silvestri fed the ball to him.
Five minutes later Justin Gordon exchanged passes with Daniel Mead, before the latter's cross was flicked into the path of Smyth, but his effort was heroically blocked. The resulting corner fell to Matt Butler just outside the area, but he volleyed off target.
Mitch Butler was looking dangerous for Swifts, working well with the experienced Chris Brindley up front, and he forced Vincent into a decent sprawling save having wriggled into the area and shot across the goal.
Evans' first save of the game came after 24 minutes. Luke Melisi was played in on the left, his low cut back found Matt Butler inside the area and his rising shot was excellently tipped over.
Matt Butler, like his namesake for Stourport, had a fine game for the Ducks, and he was at the heart of Aylesbury's next move - winning the ball back before squeezing it forward to Leon Gutzmore who cut back for Melisi, but his shot was deflected wide for a corner.
Melisi came close again when he drilled a low shot goalwards, following some skillful play by Gutzmore who beat his man in the area before teeing up his strike partner, Evans equal to the effort and tipping wide.
As the old adage goes, Aylesbury were made to pay for their missed chances when Stourport took the lead after 37 minutes. Evans' long punt downfield was headed on into the path of Mitch Butler, who finished well past Vincent. 1-0 Stourport
United continued to press though, Nathan Liburd playing a neat one-two with Silvestri in the area before shooting, Evans again saving his side.
A minute later Melisi found himself clean though after a defensive clearance caused a mix-up in Stourport's backline, but in truth he took his shot too early and Evans was left with a comfortable save.
The last five minutes of the first half saw Swifts attempt to build on their lead. Firstly Paul Edwards' free-kick was hit straight at Vincent. Then Craig Webb called the Aylesbury stopper into an excellent save, having cut in from the flank he smashed a shot goalwards, Vincent tipping over the bar.
Half-time: Stourport 1-0 Aylesbury
Aylesbury found the second half harder going, but too often they were guilty of trying to walk the ball into the net - playing passes inside the area instead of simply going for goal.
Smyth volleyed wide after a long-ball was flicked on by Gutzmore on 51 minutes, before Mitch Butler went close again, Vincent getting the slightest of touches to touch the ball wide. The resulting corner kick was headed over by the unmarked Brindley.
The Ducks were awarded an indirect free-kick inside the area after Evans picked up what was adjudged to have been a backpass. Silvestri touched the ball to Melisi, but his shot was charged down, as is usually the case from such situations.
Stourport launched a Swift(!) counter-attack ten minutes into the second half which resulted in Richard Colwell finding himself free, but Vincent got down to make a good save.
The home side effectively ended any hopes of a comeback by the visitors by scoring a rather bizarre second goal on the hour mark. A flighted cross from the left seemed to leave Vincent exposed, and as he floundered Paul Edwards arrived to turn the ball home. 2-0 Stourport
Jon Franklin responsed by making two substitutions - Ben Stevens making his comeback from injury replacing Kyle Kilmartin, and youth team product Daniel Jones replacing Justin Gordon in midfield.
The game somewhat petered out as a contest, action in front of goal limited in the final twenty or so minutes. Edwards went close to scoring his second of the afternoon, slotting a shot across the face of goal.
Leon Gutzmore and Adam Robinson provided the biggest incident of the game's remainder. After Robinson had fouled the striker when clean through, handbags ensued in which Gutzmore pushed the defender to the ground. Referee Mr Smith showed leniance, offering only a warning, with the Aylesbury man having already been booked, whilst Robinson received a caution.
After order had been restored, Daniel Mead curled the free-kick narrowly over the bar.
All that remained was for another youngster to get a run out, Anthony Kew making his senior debut as a substitute for Nathan Liburd, with seven minutes remaining, but the game was long over.
