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Aylesbury progressed to the Preliminary Round of the FA Cup at ease by dispensing of Bracknell Town 4-0 at Bell Close, with skipper John Mulholland the unlikely hat-trick hero for the Ducks.

Mulholland was as imperious in defence as he was a threat at set pieces, a threat that Bracknell, who will be woefully disappointed with their own performance, never truely got to grips with.

Buoyed by a raucous Bell Close crowd who sung for the whole 90, it took just five minutes for the Ducks to open the scoring. Ben Baines met Jones’ pinpoint free-kick delivery and headed in despite Chris Adams’ best efforts to keep the ball out. 1-0 Aylesbury

It was a great start from Aylesbury and one they were able to build on with Silvestri heading wide, and the visitors then escaping a strong handball appeal against Harry Clowes.

On 15 minutes the Ducks struck again. The Robins’ marking was inept, particularly Frankie Simon who was clearly instructed from the dugout to ‘get the big one’. He didn’t , and the ‘big one’ Mulholland was afforded a free-header into the net to send United into dreamland. 2-0 Aylesbury

It continued to be one-way traffic with Field curling over a shot after a great passing move, and Townsend fizzing in a cross which Field just couldn’t quite reach, as Aylesbury found their rhythm and some great passing moves.

Bracknell forced their first corner of the match midway through the half, essentially the first time they’d made it into the final third, but their set piece came to nothing rather like most of their attacking play.

Mulholland continued to win everything in the air offensively as he headed over the bar, and into the side-netting in the minutes that followed. On another day he could have doubled his personal tally.

Garcia also chipped in with a couple of efforts – one which zipped just wide of the upright with the keeper motionless, and another a free-kick which flew over the bar although Adams would claim he had it covered.

Adams was called into real action by Townsend on 33 minutes, who – as with his fellow midfielders for most of the first half – was given far too much freedom to operate – and put in a curling effort which had to be tipped over.

In the last five minutes of the opening period Field headed Garcia’s cross wide, before the referee called time on a first half of complete domination for the Ducks.

Half-time: Aylesbury 2-0 Bracknell

Silvestri began the second half by somehow failing to head yet another Jones corner into the net from less than six-yards out.

The Robins then showed some signs of a revival when they had two shots in quick succession, though both were well over the target as first Nugent and then substitute Dennison fired over.

Aylesbury meanwhile continued to stick to their passing game, without showing any signs of complacency as they kept the heat up on their opponents and another move involving several players ended with King hitting a rising drive over the bar.

It was to be King’s last action as he was forced off with an injury and replaced by Justin Gordon, with Jack Wood switching to right-back.

The defensive rejig could have upset United at the back, but they remained solid in the face of the little the visitors threw their way. Quite why they showed so little ambition – operating with just the one out and out striker – was unclear but there never looked like a genuine belief that Bracknell could stage any kind of comeback.

Instead it fell to Aylesbury to build on their lead, an invitation which they weren’t to turn down and on 64 minutes Mulholland scored his second – an absolute carbon copy of his first as Town failed to learn from their earlier mistakes. 3-0 Aylesbury

It was now a procession of chances for United and it looked for a while like they might emulate the cricket score of the neighbouring match at Leighton Town. Silvestri’s bullet header at a corner flew over, Field’s shot into the net having run through was ruled out for offside, Garcia was denied by a good save from Adams, and Barnett’s shot had such power it nearly broke Kennedy in half as he got in the way.

A rare Bracknell progression into the final third eventually saw them have their first decent effort at goal – in the 73rd minute although Barratt’s shot was blocked at close quarters by a defender. They followed that up with an audacious overhead kick which Dennison couldn’t keep down.

It proved to be the visitors’ last effort, as the Ducks instead added a fourth themselves. Baines got the better of Simon before being hauled back on the very edge of the area. The referee ruled the offence inside the box and pointed to the spot, perhaps somewhat harshly. No matter, that man Mulholland (who else\'!) stepped up and blasted home the kick to complete his hat-trick. 4-0 Aylesbury

Late on, Silvestri headed over from Jones’ corner – again – before a Barnett screamer just missed the target, and United left the pitch to a standing ovation from their delirious fans.

Their reward for the win is a Preliminary Round encounter with Southern League Oxfordshire outfit North Leigh.

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