Aylesbury lost out 4-2 an entertaining game with title-contenders Leamington which now must bring an end to any title aspirations the Ducks may have harboured.
The home side featured a number of changes, captain Nick Leach returning from injury to take up an unfamiliar right-back position and James Faulkner was back in a starting line-up which included new signings Danny Nicholls (nephew of former manager by the same name) and Mike Feely.
The first couple of chances went Aylesbury's way. A throw was flicked on to Shed whose shot on the turn was straight at Richard Morris, before five minutes later Faulkner fancied his chances but his effort was also held.
The Brakes capitalised on sloppy defending from Aylesbury to take a 17th minute lead. A free-kick played in seemed easy enough, but the defence failed to clear the ball and Vincent appeared to dive over it, allowing Keith Rostill to scramble home. 1-0 Leamington
United's defending wasn't great throughout the game, and five minutes later Jamie Towers got on the end of a cross, and should have hit the target when unattended.
Ben Mackey then found himself with a good chance running onto a through ball, but he could only place his shot over Vincent's bar.
Another chance came Aylesbury's way when a cross from the right found its way to Faulkner, but he could only head straight at Morris.
Leamington's second came on 37 minutes and from Aylesbury's point of view was even worse than the opener, Guy Sanders' low free-kick going straight through the defensive wall and into the net. 2-0 Leamington
This time the Ducks picked themselves up and hit back with a vital goal before half time. Faulkner wriggled his way through the box and tucked home a neat left-foot finish. 2-1 Leamington
The remaining minutes of the half belonged to Aylesbury, but they couldn't find an equaliser against the strong visiting defence.
Faulkner lashed a volley just over the bar, and some good play on the edge of the box ended in another shot from the former Wycombe striker, but Morris made a comfortable catch.
Half-time: Aylesbury 1-2 Leamington
The second half began as the first had ended, with only one team creating the chances. Faulkner tried an effort from range which went wide.
The visitors then scrambled two efforts off the line, the first from Faulkner who made room for himself to shoot, Morris saving the effort before it was cleared away when heading in, then the following corner kick was also hoofed clear.
Mike Feely headed a corner just wide of the post, but Aylesbury's defensive horror show continued when Leamington scored their third with their only attempt of the half so far. One through ball cut the Ducks apart and released Rostill who easily beat Vincent in the one-on-one. 3-1 Leamington
Momentum in the game had now swung, as maybe United's heads had dropped for the first time of the afternoon. Vincent could only parry a low shot from Mackey after the ball had ricocheted to him, and then James Husband blasted the ball over, although a corner kick was bizarrely awarded.
As the pressure continued Stuart Cattell nearly put through his own net when he headed a dangerous Robbie Beard cross just past the post.
With twenty minutes remaining the Ducks kept plugging away, and Shed hit the bar with a great piece of skill when he executed an overhead kick and was desperately unlucky not to score.
Aylesbury were handed a lifeline in the game from the penalty spot when a foul was awarded against Martin Hier for a rash challenge in the box, Faulkner stepped up to score his second of the game. 3-2 Leamington
But yet again the Ducks went on to shoot themselves in the foot when five minutes later Leach clipped a forward in the area and Mackey scored the penalty to re-establish his side's two goal cushion. 4-2 Leamington
United had one last chance to pull a goal back when Morris' poor clearance fell to Nathan Graham, but his early shot was well saved by the keeper who had just about managed to get back in his goal.
On reflection, apart from the defending, this wasn't a terrible performance by Aylesbury against one of the outstanding sides in the division and they deserved something out of the game.
