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Aylesbury made safe progress in the FA Trophy with a comfortable 2-0 win over South & West Division side Bridgwater Town.

The Ducks could have been a few goals ahead as they piled the pressure onto their visitors in the opening stages, Liam Smyth having a curling effort held by Tom Manley after four minutes, and Mark Jones shooting wide a minute later after one of many telling crosses by Danny Mead.

Glen Hawkins headed wide on 10 minutes after Jones' delivery, then the target man held up the ball before releasing Craig Henney who broke free before seeing his shot turned over the bar.

Five minutes later Jones tiptoed into the area before spraying a fine cross which was met on the volley by Mead at the far post. His effort went all the way across goal before being returned by Henney, bouncing up and then being headed over by Hawkins from point blank range.

The assault on Bridgwater's goal continued throughout the first twenty minutes, without yielding a goal, Mead having another great chance after Henney fed Smyth, whose delicate cross was over the head of Hawkins, but dropped invitingly for the wing-back who smashed his effort over.

The visitors then finally came to life with two chances from Nat Pepperell, who headed a good opportunity wide from a deep cross, then struck a free-kick miles off target, high and wide of the goal.

Another chance fell United's way on 26 minutes after a defensive mix-up allowed Henney to nick the ball on the edge of the area as Manley rushed out, Hawkins eventually shooting for an empty goal but finding his effort blocked. Henney then badly sliced an effort wide after a good ball in from Mead.

The Robins had a sustained spell of pressure of their own, but they too demonstrated sub-standard finishing and couldn't punish Aylesbury. Firstly Pete Monks had a free-kick easily held by Jack Sillitoe, then came their best chance when Chris Young was played in, but could only shoot the wrong side of the post from a difficult angle.

Pepperell had another wayward effort, Brett Trowbridge was allowed to bring the ball forward a long way before firing a timid effort which trickled wide, then Pepperell sliced badly off target once again.

Hawkins had the final effort of the first half on the end of another fine passing move from United, Henney was released by Smyth before hanging up the ball to the back post where Hawkins should have tested Manley, but could only head wide.

Half-time: Aylesbury 0-0 Bridgwater

On the evidence of the first half, this could have gone down as ?one of those days' for Aylesbury and quite easily have resulted in a scoreless draw. But they quickly got back into their attacking stride and put the visitors under further pressure from the restart.

Sam Swonnell had an early shot go across the face of goal, Mark Jones then also trying his luck from distance, but cracked his effort over the bar.

Henney also had another ambitious effort easily held by Manley, before the pacey striker was put clean through but had his low effort saved well, before being scrambled behind by the keeper.

Aylesbury's persistence finally paid off as the resulting corner kick was met with a bullet header to mark Glen Hawkins' fifth goal of the season. 1-0 Aylesbury

There was some hope around the ground that a goal would see the Robins capitulate, but that wasn't the way of things as they continued their dogged resistance to United's pressure.

Nick Leach had a header go wide from another corner, before some sublime one-touch football ended with Hawkins playing a through-ball to Henney whose shot was just wide of the post.

At the other end a frustrated looking Chris Young fired a long-range effort which curled away from goal, a rare attempt from his side.

The chances continued to come thick and fast, Henney shooting wide after being played in by Hawkins again. The roles were reversed minutes later when Henney crossed to the near-post for Hawkins, whose snapshot on the turn was well tipped wide by Manley. The corner was met by Kavanagh but he could only guide the ball over the bar.

Henney deserved a goal simply for his willingness to keep trying, and he was rewarded in the 71st minute when he was put in down the left of the area, before shooting a low effort which went in off the far post. 2-0 Aylesbury

Bridgwater attempted to hit back, and they had a fantastic chance on 75 minutes when a player found himself with a shooting chance from five-yards, Sillitoe making a blinding point blank save to keep the ball out.

There were chances for both sides in the closing stages, man of the match Jones chipped onto the roof of the net, and substitute Aaron Flood cut in from the left but only weakly shot wide. Then at the other end Graham Mercieca fired a rising drive over the bar.

Oxford City now await the Ducks in the 1st Qualifying Round, but prior to that have a date with Bath City in the FA Cup. On the back of seven wins, and some impressive performances, they can go to Twerton Park full of confidence.