Aylesbury?s remarkable upturn in form continued as they won 2-0 at Sutton Coldfield Town to taste victory twice in a row for the first time of the season.
The playoff chasing Royals had gone into the proceedings on a nine-match unbeaten run, but the Ducks rode into town with a performance of defensive solidity, goalkeeping excellence, whilst also being able to take the chances that mattered to nab a fine win.
It was the second time in seven days that United had put a dent in a side?s top 5 aspirations having beaten Arlesey Town the previous week, and Tony Joyce kept faith with the lineup which had done so, with match winner that day Ben Clarke retaining his place.
He had an shot after a mazy dribble early with Lewis McBride also having a similar effort but neither threatened goalkeeper Steve Jackson, and there was further evidence of Aylesbury acquitting themselves quicker than their hosts when Pringle crashed a 25-yarder over the bar as the ball dropped to him.
Uncertainty in the home defence nearly cost Sutton on eight minutes when Pringle got the better of Male and Booth to a long ball but his early shot caused Jackson no problems.
Sutton then made announcement of their arrival into the game when hitman Richard Ball cut inside Ashleigh James and drove a low shot in at goal which Jack Sillitoe did well to tip wide of the post.
Aylesbury?s opening goal came after 14 minutes and was a result of more good work by Clarke who went past two challenges to get to the byline before crossing the ball where Pringle instinctively stuck out a leg and the ball flew off his knee into the net. 1-0 Aylesbury
Sutton upped the ante from that point on and just a minute later came close to levelling when their best player on the day, Matt Dodd, delivered a cross for Ball whose shot brought a blinding save out of Sillitoe who managed to turn it onto the bar (although this was missed by the officials who subsequently awarded a goal kick).
Ed Booth should have done better with a free header at the near post from Craig Owen?s free-kick, before Milligan?s shot hit James in the box nine minutes later as the one-way traffic continued.
Another chance for the home side came and went as Jimmy Quiggin?s deflected shot landed at the feet of Milligan who poked wide with the whole goal to aim at.
Pringle will feel he then should have doubled the Ducks? advantage after McBride?s cross-shot hit him five-yards out but he couldn?t get the ball out of his feet and once he eventually got a shot away a defender had recovered to get in a block.
Sillitoe was having a superb game in goal, and five minutes from half-time he made another top-notch save to keep Sutton at bay after a sweeping move up the pitch.
Still the pressure continued before the break, as Owen flicked a header over the bar from a corner and Ball turned and curled a shot wide having been rolled in quickly at a free-kick, but Aylesbury held firm and, crucially, got to half-time with their lead intact.
Half-time: Sutton 0-1 Aylesbury
First blood of the second period went to Sutton, whose Craig Milligan fired in a shot at goal which Sillitoe, on this kind of form, was able to ?easily? turn wide at the near post.
United were forced into an early change as Ben Clarke limped off to be replaced by Kevin Ayodele, although he looked a player not quite at full fitness yet himself after recent injury troubles.
In truth, the expected ?onslaught? from the Royals failed to materialise and after an even few minutes it was the Ducks who had the better of the game?s chances.
Robert Bartley, once again underlining what a loss he will be at both ends of the pitch when suspended, got on the end of a McBride corner kick but headed straight at Jackson.
Five minutes later Ayodele had a great chance after Taylor flicked the ball into his path, but he could only guide the ball tamely into Jackson?s grateful arms from inside the area.
The momentum seemed to be growing and with every set piece United looked a threat, this time it was McBride who was wasteful in front of goal, heading straight at Jackson after Pringle flicked on a throw.
On the hour mark Bartley hammered a free-kick goalwards from a full 45-yards which had to be tipped over by Jackson, then at the other end Sillitoe was called into action again although Quiggin?s shot was straight at him.
As had been evident in the first half, the Ducks desperately needed a second goal - to quell the tension amongst the travelling supporters if nothing else!
It duly arrived 22 minutes from time. Tyrone Taylor?s long throws are a constant menace and law of averages meant one had to pay off eventually, and this time it did as Bartley rose to head the ball cleanly into the net. 2-0 Aylesbury
Two minutes later and it could have been three when Pringle made like a battering ram into the area before getting away a shot which was well saved by Jackson.
Aylesbury had another glaring chance to extend their lead, with a normally resolute Sutton side now looking a spent force. Taylor met McBride?s corner but headed the ball down and it bounced up over the crossbar.
There was still time for another wonderful Sillitoe save, substitute Chris Milner turning sharply in the area but Sillitoe reacting to make the stop from point blank range.
Taylor had a deflected effort, then Pringle was put clean through again but the ball bobbled around on the dusty pitch and he couldn?t make clean contact with his shot.
Aylesbury came under more severe pressure in the closing stages, with Dodd beating Nash and fizzing a shot across the goal which Sillitoe got down to turn wide of his post.
The resulting corner was headed wide of the target by Adam Wood. After a brief scramble in the box moments later, Jamille Matt became the latest Sutton player to be denied by Sillitoe who turned his overhead kick over the bar to complete a fine display.
Danny Nicholls came on for the final few minutes, but by then the game was well beyond Sutton?s reach, and at full time the sizable travelling contingent celebrated euphorically with their team.
To keep a clean sheet against the league?s second highest scorers on their own patch whilst taking all three points is some achievement, and all credit to the team for their display.
