Although the visitors arrived for the day in 17th place in the league table, they came into the game on the back of a 3-match unbeaten run and with a strong squad it always looked a tough task for the Ducks.

And so it proved as the Royals took full advantage of an awful second half showing by United to take control of the game and add three goals to the one they scored before the break.

The first period was a scrappy midfield battle, but had the Ducks taken one of their chances then matters could have been very different. The first came after just three minutes when Keith Newby, a new defensive midfield signing, crossed for Jordan Oxley who headed wide.

Sutton nearly opened the scoring themselves three minutes later but couldn't find a way past Sillitoe who bravely blocked twice on the goal line before the ball was eventually hacked away. It was the first time the visitors had got in behind the defence, but yet again it looked an easy task for the opposition to accomplish.

Shiblu Miah, once more preferred in attack to Daddy Moses, spurned a glorious opportunity to score in the ninth minute when he outpaced the defence onto Taylor's flick on, rounded keeper Breedon but took just too long getting his shot away and it was eventually cleared by the recovering defender on the line.

The away side forced a number of corners as they looked to assert some sustained pressure on the Ducks for the first time, Matt Jackson's deliveries were always a big threat but for the most part Aylesbury managed to keep their composure and get the ball to safety.

Taylor had another good chance for United when he headed a looping effort just over the beaten Breedon's bar after Miah's shot had been blocked, Oxley retrieving the ball and hanging it invitingly into Taylor's path.

It wasn't to be though and as each minute passed it became evident that Sutton were starting to take control of the game.

Richard Ball, once the bane of Aylesbury for his former club Evesham United, then had a couple of efforts, firstly dragging a poor effort well wide of the target having been picked out in space before he struck a 25-yard free-kick straight at Sillitoe.

Jackson hit a wayward effort, before he setup the opener for his side. Another telling corner kick delivery this time had Sillitoe rooted to the spot, allowing Barnfield to arrive at the far post for an easy goal. 1-0 Sutton Coldfield

The lead should have been doubled within 90 seconds when an unmarked Michael Batchelor met an inswinging free-kick but headed over the bar.

Aylesbury had one last chance of their own before the half-time whistle sounded, Miah wriggling his way into the area and eventually getting away a shot, but finding it blocked by one of Sutton's solid defensive line.

Half-time: Aylesbury 0-1 Sutton Coldfield

The second half began with a misplaced clearance by Breedon which fell straight to Miah, but he could only fire wide having brought the ball in closer to goal.

It was an even start to proceedings when Batchelor fired high over the bar, but Aylesbury shot themselves in the foot when Dan Hart all but gift wrapped a decisive second goal for Sutton when he misjudged a header back to Sillitoe and sold him well short. Jimmy Quiggin said ?thank you very much' as he nipped in the lob the stranded custodian. 2-0 Sutton Coldfield

The goal did serve as a brief catalyst to the Ducks who immediately got in behind Sutton when Ashleigh James broke into the box and, despite being pulled back, was waved on by the referee, but saw another Aylesbury shot blocked on the line.

The corner kick was flicked on by Taylor into Chris Reed's path, and his low half-volley to be turned wide by Breedon for another corner kick ? though United were struggling to compete against the height of Sutton and couldn't make any headway with their set pieces.

Sutton took full charge of the game by adding a third in the 67th minute. Sutton attacked down the right flank where Dean was beaten too easily, before the ball was crossed low for the waiting Ball to tap into the net ? his 7th career goal against the Ducks having been tormentor in chief for Evesham United a few seasons ago. 3-0 Sutton

That was well and truly that as the visitors had resoundingly romped away with the three points, and there was little more for United to get excited about.

Taylor did try his luck with a spectacular overhead kick which dropped just over the bar, but as both sides used all three allowed substitutes, the end of the game was a stop start affair not helped by a pernickety referee making some strange decisions on both sides.

In stoppage time The Royals crowned their win with a fourth courtesy of a thumping free-kick strike by Craig Owen, hit from the very edge of the area after a foul by Newby, Sillitoe given no chance at all. 4-0 Sutton

With that Sutton Coldfield claimed their third league win of the season, and once again Aylesbury were left wondering where to go from here. With some tough looking fixtures to come, it's hard to see just where the rot will stop.