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Aylesbury were sent on their long journey home from Chasetown with nothing to show for their efforts after a hard fought encounter.

The team battled well throughout and forced their hosts to come from behind, yet for the second time in three days Aylesbury will look at refereeing decisions going against them.

United threatened in the first minute when Ross Lafayette fired over on the turn after his strike partner for the afternoon, Chris Marsh, headed on to him.

The Ducks looked rather different from their midweek fixture, lining up in a 3-5-2 system which saw a recall for Ross Taylor and a full debut for Neil Roberts in midfield.

Unfortunately, that plan went out the window when James Saulsbury was forced off injured after ten minutes with Kevin Mealor taking his place and the Ducks reverting to their normal formation.

The Ducks were gifted the lead on 20 minutes. Mark Boyce's ball in was dangerous, but having cleared everyone in the centre it was handled at the far post by Phil Harris, Daniel Mead stepping up to roll home the resulting penalty. 0-1

The fierce wind within Church Street was making conditions difficult, but it was Aylesbury who made the better of what little was on offer. Lafayette blazed a shot over the bar as home defenders stood off around him.

On the half hour mark the score was nearly doubled when Mead's whipped delivery was dropped by Ryan Price, but the Chasetown custodian made amends by blocking Neil Roberts shot from point blank range. The ball ran loose creating a brief scramble before it was eventually reclaimed by Price as the Scholars survived.

The home side began to grow into the game as the half wore on, and their first and only genuine chance came from a right wing delivery which Luke Reynolds headed well over.

Half-time: Chasetown 0-1 Aylesbury

Never short of a word or ten, Charlie Blakemore's half-time spiel certainly had the desired effect as Chasetown came out quickly and soon had United on the back foot.

Danny Smith had a fierce drive blocked in the area and Craig Holland's shot had to be tipped over by Tom Vincent after a throw-in was flicked into his path.

The Scholars equalised with a soft looking penalty award going against the Ducks for a challenge by Carl Kavanagh. It wasn't the first (or last) contentious decision from Mr Williams, who too often allowed himself to be intimidated by the vociferous home bench. Danny Smith powered home the penalty. 1-1

Vincent had to be alert again a minute later when a long ball into the box was caught by the wind, and had to be tipped over the bar. The subsequent corner kick again caused problems, and Vincent again had to turn it over.

The pressure continued as Aylesbury struggled to live with their opponents, or the referee's whistle happy ways. A foul awarded against Neil Roberts on the edge of the box resulted in a free-kick which was well directed by Michael Branch but had no power was easily caught.

Another debatable free-kick award brought about the second goal. The free-kick delivery from the right was perfectly placed for Richard Teesdale to head goalwards, with Reynolds claiming the final touch. 2-1

The decision could easily have gone the other way seconds earlier, when Chris Marsh was injured in a separate incident, and he became the second United player forced from the game, replaced by Nathan Graham.

Aylesbury tried to steady themselves, and soon had their best chance of the second half. A harsh handball decision went against Smith and Carl Kavanagh got on the end of the free-kick only to head over the bar from close range.

Moments later the Chasetown defence stood firm once more to a free-kick, this time Matt Butler heading the ball down before it was scrambled away.

At the other end the home side had a couple of half chances. Reynolds got the better of Boyce and had a shot blocked wide, then Phil Harris got in a well executed volley, but his accuracy was well off and the ball flew wide.

Aylesbury went for broke for the closing stages by bringing on Glen Hawkins for Boyce and throwing three men up front, and he made an instant impact by touching a cross on for Lafayette, whose shot from the edge of the area was blocked.

The Ducks were putting their hosts under plenty of pressure with a number of crosses and balls coming into the box, but the Chasetown defence were imperious and generally refused to be ruffled.

Instead, United had to play the last five minutes with ten men as their third player of the afternoon had to leave the field injured ? Kevin Mealor the unlucky man this time after he was caught by a ball-winning sliding challenge on him meant he had to be carried off.

The only remaining action came at on Aylesbury's goal, with the Ducks visibly tiring towards the end ? an indication of the strength of Chasetown's squad. The hosts had been able to rotate their team in light of playing three games already during the week, a luxury Aylesbury just don't have.

In the end the Scholars were quite happy to play keep ball and run down the clock in the corners, but they could have added to their lead as Reynolds slotted the ball wide after it had broken kindly for him, and Smith weakly fired wide after Ross Taylor's clearance presented him with the opportunity.

It's still too early to say whether this latest defeat will be a fatal blow for Aylesbury's playoff aspirations, but what is clear is that the Ducks are now rank outsiders and need to return to winning ways quickly if they are to stay in the race.