Aylesbury missed out on a share of the spoils with league leaders Burnham in the cruellest of fashions after a tragic own goal three minutes from time handed victory to their Buckinghamshire neighbours.
United had put in a fantastic performance and fully merited a point from a match which saw Jon Montgomery score against his former side midway through the second half to bring the Ducks level.
For the first time this season, Aylesbury named the same starting line-up for successive matches, but Tyrone Taylor dropped back to form a five-man midfield in an effort to contain the visitors.
Containment was to be exactly what was needed for periods of the first half, but it was United who threatened first as McBride set up Pringle for a long shot which went well over the bar.
Robert Bartley had to be alert to clear off the line in only the tenth minute after a free-kick had dropped to an attacker in the area, but the low shot was swept away under the crossbar.
Eight minutes later and a throw-in was flicked on by Ryan Bird to the prolific Dennis Fenemore but he could only help the ball wide on the turn, then from a scramble at a corner kick soon afterwards the ball was again turned behind as it was heading goalwards.
Burnham were getting closer and they hit the woodwork when Bird found space at the near post to meet Coyne?s corner kick but his header thumped against the post.
As the visitors attempted to turn the screw, the Ducks were still proving a threat on the counter-attack ? particularly through the tricky running of McBride, but their next chance was a result of his free-kick delivery which was headed over the bar by Bartley.
Aylesbury continued to live dangerously with some shaky defending but the Blues? finishing was letting them down as Fenemore crashed a shot over, then former United striker Ross Lafayette took a left-wing cross down before firing on the turn but Sillitoe was able to make a good save.
A minute later Bird should have done better when another cross came in from the left and he was afforded a free-header but could only place the ball wide of the target.
Just when it looked like Aylesbury were going to keep Burnham out until half-time, they scored a soft goal when Swift struck a free-kick straight past Sillitoe from the edge of the box with the defensive wall organisation looking suspect. 1-0 Burnham
There were still plenty of chances to come before the interval, as McBride fired over before United had a gilt-edged chance to equalise. A free-kick played was headed goalwards by Bartley before being smothered clear only as far as Nash who could only hit the post from a prostrate position.
Blues could well have doubled their lead had it not been Bartley?s heroic goal-line clearance to deny Trevor Charlery who had beaten Sillitoe with a fine lob but not the Aylesbury centre-back.
Half-time: Aylesbury 0-1 Burnham
The second period started with Aylesbury quick out of the blocks and an early ambitious long range effort from Montgomery which sailed well wide.
Whether the visitors were tired, complacent, or just surprised by United?s second half performance, the match was a different affair after the break. Aylesbury hassled and harried for every ball and never let their opponents get into any sort of rhythm.
A long-throw from Tyrone Taylor nearly brought about an inadvertent equaliser as Dave Tilbury was caught unawares and the ball flicked off his head goalwards, luckily for him it was straight into the grateful arms of keeper Paul McCarthy.
Tony Joyce introduced Kevin Ayodele for Paul Nash on the hour mark and his pace down the flank asked new questions of Burnham.
Three minutes later and United thought they?d equalised. A ball in from the left was headed into the net by Richard Pringle, only for Mr Field to adjudge that Pringle had pushed his marker and the goal was disallowed.
Eight minutes later and the Ducks had the goal they deserved. Montgomery sprung the offside trap to race into a one-on-one with McCarthy and with the defence nowhere to be seen he delightfully lobbed the stranded custodian for his third goal in four games. 1-1
Burnham looked to get themselves back into the game, and it took another superb goal-line clearance ? this time from James ? to deny them after Sillitoe had lost the ball and Fenemore headed goalwards.
A couple more chances followed for Burnham, from another scramble then a free-kick which Ben Hudell sent flying well over the target, but it was looking like United had done enough to claim a precious point.
But it wasn?t to be and three minutes from time a tragic own goal from Ashleigh James gifted the three points to Burnham. A cross in from the right flank saw James attempt to cushion the ball back to Sillitoe with his head, but he got too much on it and, despite Sillitoe?s despairing fingertip save, the ball squeezed into the net. 1-2
It was cruel, cruel justice on the Ducks who deserved a point against an uninspiring looking Burnham outfit, but the season has shown many times that you don?t always get what you deserve.
