Liam Smyth was Aylesbury's hero as they grabbed an impressive win over 2nd placed Bromsgrove Rovers at The Meadow. The midfielder set-up both his side's goals, then played the last twenty minutes in goal after an injury to Tom Vincent.

United could have opened the scoring after just five minutes, Wayne Dyer dispossessed in midfield before the ball was squeezed forward to Richard Pringle who poked the ball just wide having beaten goalkeeper Danny Crane off his line.

Aylesbury made their aerial advantage pay from set pieces throughout the game, and it was from a free kick that they opened the scoring. Smyth's ball from the right flank picked out Richard Pringle who easily headed home. 1-0 Aylesbury

Two minutes later Ben Stevens swept the ball goalwards, his effort parried away by Crane, then Smyth tried a long-range effort which dipped just over the bar.

Bromsgrove had shown little intent in the first fifteen minutes, but with their first attack they brought themselves level. Jermain Clarke was played through but his poor first touch took him wider than he would have liked. His low effort across goal seemed to be going wide, but the unfortunate Carl Kavanagh arrived at just the wrong moment to divert the ball into his own net. 1-1

The Ducks had to sustain some heavy Rovers pressure following their goal, wing-back Chris Cotterill having an effort well blocked in the area. Then five minutes before the break Kevin Banner fired in a low shot across the goal, but the visitors couldn't really make their possession pay.

Half-time: Aylesbury 1-1 Bromsgrove

Rovers suffered a blow at half-time when key defender Rapinder Gill had to be withdrawn with an injury and was replaced by James Smith.

Smyth nearly scored on 50 minutes when a Ben Stevens long-throw caused havoc in the area, the youngster's low shot bringing a superb save out of Danny Crane. Andy Shed's shot on the turn went straight at Crane, as United began to regain momentum.

The second goal came ten minutes into the second period. Another excellent Smyth delivery caused Bromsgrove problems at a corner kick, Andy Shed having the final touch to take the ball in. 2-1 Aylesbury

Aylesbury were in the ascendancy at this point, and Shed went close again when he flicked Julian Old's cross wide of the target two minutes later.

Pringle used his strength to get away from two defenders before passing to Mealor who couldn't generate any power in his shot which was easily held.

United's number 9 repeated the trick when he bulldozed his way through from the touchline before going for goal with a fierce drive that had to be beaten away by Crane.

On 72 minutes Tom Vincent was forced out of the game with an apparent back injury sustained in the first half, Liam Smyth donning the keeper's gloves and Leon Gutzmore coming on for a very impressive twenty-minute cameo. His fresh legs stretched the Bromsgrove backline in the closing stages and his physical approach unsettled his opponent's, which was just what Aylesbury needed.

Even so, it was a nervy end to the match for the home side without a recognised goalkeeper. Seconds after the chance substitute Adam Hooper tried his luck against Smyth from distance, but his shot floated harmlessly wide.

Aylesbury had a penalty appeal turned down after Gutzmore went down under heavy challenge in the area.

Then at the other end Bromsgrove's Nathan Lamey wasted a fantastic chance to level the game. Having been played through he found himself with only Smyth to beat, and as the youngster did his best to narrow the angle Lamey passed the ball right across goal and wide of the post.

Lamey had another good chance in the final five minutes, but this time scuffed his effort badly wide and then to round off a poor afternoon for the Rovers' man he managed to touch a header wide from Banner's free kick when unmarked.

With the very last kick of the game Chris McHale touched the ball over with a deft dipping effort, but Aylesbury escaped unscathed to collect the 3 points, and put themselves within touching distance of the playoffs and set up an exciting end to the season.