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Having gained four points from their last three games, Aylesbury had moved level with Barton Rovers in the league table and had the promised land of 21st place in their sights.

Sadly, that proved just out of reach as Romulus left Bell Close with all three points and completed the double over United.

Admittedly, the Ducks were poor, but they weren?t helped by a questionable display of officiating. Aylesbury?s angst centred on two key decisions - the awarding of a free-kick which lead to the opening goal, then the sending off of Robert Bartley in the very final minute.

Roms made the early chances for themselves as they found their hosts slow to get into the game. After five minutes the ball sat up nicely for Tom Franklin to have a go at goal from outside the box and the ball struck Sillitoe?s chest and span behind.

From the resulting corner Mykel Beckley tried to bend an effort in on goal but could only shoot well wide after the ball had dropped to him on the edge of the area.

Aylesbury?s first ?attempt? arrived in the seventh minute when Bartley tried an audacious 50-yard skimming free-kick which was never likely to cause much danger.

The opener came courtesy of a poor decision from referee Leaf to award a free-kick despite the Aylesbury perpetrator appearing to win the ball cleanly. That said, United should have done a better job of defending Nick Heath?s delivery which missed out the defence and with Sillitoe committed Franklin got to the ball first to head into the empty net. 1-0 Romulus

Unfortunately there were to be several more awards from the referee which had the crowd scratching their heads and both managers were more than once vocal in their displeasure.

As the scrappy affair went on, there seemed to be slim pickings on offer for the Ducks against a well organised and tough visiting outfit.

So Aylesbury were more than grateful when a goal out of nothing came their way a minute from the half hour mark. A long ball pumped forwards had the Romulus defence caught out for once, and Sargeant came racing out of his goal only to be challenged for the ball by Tyrone Taylor. It ricocheted back off Taylor and the keeper again to leave the Aylesbury man with an empty goal and he calmly passed it into the net. 1-1

Romulus had a great chance to immediately restore their advantage when Richard Brown delivered the ball into the box where Fagan beat Sillitoe to the ball but could only blaze over the bar.

Eight minutes later it was Fagan threatening again, Romulus? leading scorer heading Heath?s free-kick goalwards but seeing it plucked out of the air by Sillitoe this time.

The Ducks also had a good chance to add to the scoring but Taylor could only guide the ball wide of the target having got on the end of McBride?s accurate free-kick.

Half-time: Aylesbury 1-1 Romulus

Just like the previous Saturday, the game sunk to lower levels of scrappiness after the break with the ball spending most of the time up in the air as one team lumped it back to the other repeatedly.

It took until an hour played before the first shot came, and it went the way of Romulus whose Ryan Williams hit a free-kick straight into the wall from 10-yards outside the box after Bartley?s foul.

Aylesbury then had their ?one chance? for glory, and a great chance it was too. Nash?s ball in was headed on by Taylor to the usually reliable Pringle, but with the goal gaping he went for power and nearly broke the upright with most inside the ground anticipating the net bulging.

Romulus? responded and soon made the Ducks pay for that missed chance with a goal from another free-kick, this time the ball not cut out by the defence and coming all the way through to Franklin who made no mistake from 5-yards out. 2-1 Romulus

Ashley Harewood entered the fray for the first time since returning from injury, and was only denied scoring with his first touch by a fine tip over from Sargeant having worked space for a shot as the ball came to him just inside the box.

Five minutes later and United were denied again, this time via a superb saving challenge from Colm Tiernan who threw himself in the way after McBride and Pringle had shown good persistence to win the ball back and work a shooting chance.

As the minutes ticked by there were to be no further chances for United to get back into the game, with Romulus doing a good job of closing the game out, seemingly happy to run the clock down at every opportunity.

Danny Nicholls came on but didn?t have time to get involved, and as frustration began to creep into United?s play both Pringle and Silvestri found themselves into the referee?s notebook.

But the most contentious decision was saved for last, when in the final minute Bartley stupidly retaliated with a push to the midriff of a Romulus player. It was the softest of pushes but the linesman on that side deemed that the defender had struck out at his man and a red card was produced to most people?s disbelief.

With that red card Bartley will now miss three games through suspension, and just how costly that will be to his side?s ?great escape? bid only time will tell.