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Aylesbury's festive woes continued following the drab 0-0 draw with Leighton thanks to this disappointing defeat at the hands of Dunstable Town.

With Andy Shed unavailable and James Faulkner still recovering from his hamstring injury, Roni Joe was surprisingly drafted into the starting line-up as Nathan Graham's strike partner, and Jack Sillitoe replaced Tom Vincent in goal.

The Ducks started well enough and threatened inside the first minute when Graham's dangerous cross was met by Liburd's acrobatic effort but was comfortably held by Paul Taylor.

That proved to be something of a false dawn though as the home side soon took a stronghold on the game, and after Dan Picknell slashed a warning shot over the bar they took 17th minute lead. The lively Chris Marsh made himself first to a long-ball and cut back for the waiting Aaron Flood to drive home through a crowd of players. 1-0 Dunstable

It quickly got even worse for Aylesbury when Dunstable doubled their lead seven minutes later. A fine raking pass picked out Marsh who ran through and finished with aplomb. 2-0 Dunstable

Dunstable continued to control the game and Sillitoe had to be out smartly to smother a shot low down.

Towards the end of the half the Ducks finally managed to assert some pressure on their opponents and Ross Taylor headed a corner narrowly over the bar before seeing a fierce shot clung onto by Paul Taylor at the second attempt after good work by Joe.

A goal was just what Aylesbury needed to get back into the game and it arrived from the penalty spot shortly before the break. Amongst a melee of challenges the referee spotted Joe having his legs clipped and Graham stepped up to roll home the penalty. 2-1 Dunstable

Half-time: Dunstable Town 2-1 Aylesbury

The Ducks started the second half on storming fashion, and during what was a key phase of the game created a number of chances but just couldn't find the target.

Ben Gallant was the first to have a crack after a long punt from Sillitoe found Graham but he couldn't get a shot away. The ball popped out to Gallant who saw his effort well stopped at the near post by Paul Taylor.

Aylesbury found Dunstable's stopper in fine form and the home side owed a lot of the victory to him after he made a great save to deny a firmly struck drive from Graham five minutes later.

Dunstable were always a threat on the counter attack and on 55 minutes they should have had a third when Michael Moss missed an open goal after Sillitoe had come out and been beaten to the ball.

The best move of the game produced Aylesbury's best chance of levelling, but it wasn't to be. A speedy counter attack ended with Roni Joe crossing early for Ben Stevens whose flying header was somehow kept out by Taylor. Graham was first to the rebound but unbelievably smashed the ball wide from six-yards with the goal gaping.

Instead of levelling the match, Aylesbury's agony was compounded by Blues scoring a third. A quick breakaway was finished by Neil Perrin who turned the ball home after a player had rounded Sillitoe and squared. 3-1 Dunstable

Tony Thompson rang the changes with Castello, Faulkner and Henney all entering the fray, but despite just over an hour being played Dunstable's win never looked in doubt.

Instead it was the home side who had the best chance to score again when a quick free kick was played to left-back Leigh Harrington and his fierce ball in was glanced wide by Marsh.

Aylesbury did have one last effort when Taylor headed a long throw just past the post, but this was to be Dunstable's afternoon. Although it was a deserved three points for the Blues, the result could have been very different had the Ducks taken one of their chances straight after the interval.