Another brace from Lea Coulter ensured Aylesbury got March off to a winning start and made it back to back successes again with a 2-0 home victory over St. Margaretsbury.

On paper, the meeting between the division’s 4th and 20th placed teams should have been a comfortable affair for the Ducks, particularly after their confidence boosting 6-1 demolition of Kentish Town, but in reality proved anything but easy as the visitors’ performance belied their league status.

In the first half the Reds had the better of the game, and although they had plenty of shots at goal they were all long range efforts and Jack Sillitoe was never called into serious action.

In the 10th minute came the first half chance when Joe Rudkin and Chris Bell combined down the right, but the latter couldn’t quite reach Rudkin’s low ball into the box.

Aylesbury had an early whiff of goal when Coulter had a shot blocked and Hateley Mercer’s dangerous cross had to be plucked out of the air by Matt Deamer.

The early stages of the game continued in this manner of each team having an effort with Rudkin drifting past Mulholland and shooting well over, before Craig Townsend lofted a wayward shot wide at the other end.

Ted Clark came closer with a volleyed effort which dropped over and Townsend himself had another shot which was also closer than his earlier.

A corner kick delivery caused brief problems in the Reds’ box when it was met by Acheampong before eventually being scrambled away.

The Ducks were struggling for attacking momentum and it continued to be St. Margaretsbury who were coming closer to scoring. An inswinging free-kick nearly resulted in an own goal when it was flicked across and just wide by Mark Toms, and from the resulting corner Paul Evitt wasn’t picked up and sent a header just over the bar at the near post.

Just like in their previous match, Aylesbury’s performance grew as the half wore on and with their first flowing move of the match Garcia broke into the box before linking up with Coulter, with his return ball being cleared behind at the last. Edgeworth then fired a volley all the way across goal.

United then struck the woodwork when Coulter got to the byeline before cutting back and going for goal, unluckily hitting the post in the process.

A minute later the same man went close again when, having been played in by Baines clever pass, he miss-hit his shot which nearly wrong-footed Deaner but the visiting stopper did just enough to keep the ball out.

Rudkin blazed a good chance over the bar as the ball was laid back to him and another long shot – from Ricky Light this time – flew wide as the minutes ticked down on a first half which ended with a resurgent Aylesbury missing the target again through Jack Wood when he curled a shot wide of the goal.

Half-time: Aylesbury 0-0 St. Margaretsbury

After the break the Greens picked up where they’d left off in the first half and Edgeworth’s superb pass released Coulter after three minutes, although for once he couldn’t get away from the defence and could only shoot wide under pressure.

He ran through again three minutes later onto Baines’ flick but this time saw his shot saved by the legs of Deaner.

Coulter did eventually find the net to open the scoring for the now dominant Ducks just prior to the hour mark. Edgeworth sent the ball forward, and from a suspiciously offside looking position he took the ball around the keeper outside the box before calmly rolling it into the empty net. 1-0 Aylesbury

A minute later he nearly had another having gone on a slalom run past several defenders only to see his shot blocked at the last, as was his second attempt from the rebound.

There then followed a couple of defence shouts for a penalty which were turned down by Mr Lawson, on both occasions handball being the offence, in between which Coulter was thwarted by Deaner again after Edgeworth had headed the ball on for him.

Although there was never any danger of St. Margaretsbury making a comeback, the game needed a second goal just to make safe United’s victory.

It eventually arrived through the in-form Coulter eight minutes from time. Jones, Garcia and Mercer were all involved down the left, before the young left-back delivered a driven cross-shot which nearly ricocheted in for an own goal. Deaner did well to keep the ball out but was left helpless as the ball fell to Coulter who powered it home. 2-0 Aylesbury

Garcia had a good chance late on but it hit Coulter in the box after another good cross from Mercer was headed on, and in the final seconds Baines crashed a shot well over the bar as time was called on a good, if unspectacular win for Aylesbury.