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Evesham's late winner against Leighton Town meant that despite this 1-0 success over Champions Brackley Town, Aylesbury's fifth win in a row, they just missed out on playoff qualification.

It was cruel luck on the Ducks, who had given everything on the pitch, and their fans who were in impressive voice throughout the game, enjoying The Meadow sunshine.

As a spectacle the game failed to live up to expectations, not helped by the heated conditions, a fussy referee, or the sheer importance of the result for the home side.

Due to injury Brackley travelled without a recognised goalkeeper, but stand-in Elliot Sandy (normally a midfielder) had little to do in a first half of limited chances.

A half chance came Aylesbury's way when Daniel Mead curled in a free kick which nobody managed to connect with, then at the other end Craig Farley drove an effort over after four minutes.

Leigh Mason struck a low shot for the Saints five minutes later which took a slight deflection off Nick Leach which took it wide.

Mead went looking for his third free kick goal in three games, but his effort midway through the half looped up having struck the wall. Richard Pringle stole in to head the ball against the bar, but he had been ruled offside.

Two minutes later Brackley were let off the hook after Sandy was uncertain in dealing with a corner kick, spilling the ball. Despite appearing to have crossed the line, the ball was scrambled away to safety as Aylesbury appealed in vain for an opening goal.

In the last ten minutes of the first half, Pringle went close again by heading Mead's corner kick just over. Leon Gutzmore then made himself first to a ball in over the top, showed great strength in holding off two men before sliding in Liam Smyth, but the midfielder's shot lacked power and trickled wide.

As the Ducks appeared to have the edge going into the break another Pringle header from a corner was cleared off the line, but Brackley struck back and Phil Murphy struck a dipping long-range effort which dropped just over the bar.

Half-time: Aylesbury 0-0 Brackley

The second half was even less eventful in terms of chances to for either side, but Tom Vincent had to be alert to keep Brackley at bay on 50 minutes. A shot from a corner kick flicked up and had to be tipped over by Vincent with the ball heading for the top corner.

Aylesbury made a change, bringing Andy Shed into midfielder for Kevin Mealor, who had struggled to get into the game.

Brackley had another chance from another corner - corners looking increasingly like the best way of breaking the deadlock for either side. Vincent came out to claim but missed the ball, and was fortunate to watch the resulting header sail over.

At the other end Matt Butler hit a sweetly struck volley which he did well to keep down, after a throw in was cleared to him, but his shot was deflected out for yet another corner.

From the set play he'd won himself, Butler opened the scoring for the Ducks with his very first goal of the season. The corner delivery found Pringle at the far post who headed for goal, and as Sandy made a hash of claiming the ball it ran loose for the grateful Butler to smash home. 1-0 Aylesbury

There were still 25 minutes of the game to go, and the Champions certainly weren't going to lie down and make United's task easy.

A number of mad goalmouth scrambles and penalty area melees were to follow, but each one was dealt successfully with Aylesbury's impressive defence, which in this excellent end of season run now hasn't been breached in 285 minutes.

The closest Brackley came to equalising was when Vincent came charging out of his goal only to miss the ball, and with the goal gaping the attacking Brackley player saw his effort come back of the post.

Three visiting players were booked in three minutes towards the end of the game, as the visitors threatened to let frustration mar their afternoon. In the final minutes the Saints forced a number of corners, the last of which Sandy made his way into the area, but once more Aylesbury cleared the ball comfortably and the full time whistle was blown.

The majority of the home crowd waited long after the whistle to hear the scores from the key other games, but when the news came it wasn't what they wanted to hear. Evesham had overcome an early deficit to win 2-1 with a goal in the last five minutes to keep Aylesbury out of the playoffs.

Disappointment in the end for Jon Franklin and his team, but they should be justifiably proud of their efforts over the course of the season, and particularly with this almost unthinkable end to the season. If the nucleus of this team can be carried forward into next season then the future should be very bright indeed.