Stacey Field’s treble helped Aylesbury to a treble of league victories on the bounce, as they disposed of bottom-markers St. Margaretsbury 5-2.

The home side were actually better going forwards than the scoreline, or indeed their league position, suggested. It was their defence which struggled, looking devoid of all confidence and gifting the Ducks a two-goal lead in the first twelve minutes – two chances eagerly gobbled up by Field who is getting better with every game.

Early signs for the Reds were ominous as King and Hallford slammed efforts wide, whilst a header from Field struck the post with the St. Margaretsbury backline all at sea.

The theme continued and Field made no mistake on nine minutes when a defensive horror show between two defenders and goalkeeper allowed the United number 9 to slot home from three-yards out. 1-0 Aylesbury

Learn their lesson they did not, and three minutes later the lead was doubled. St. Margaretsbury failed to clear their lines, the ball dropping invitingly to Field who rifled home an excellent finish after Acheampong had helped it on. 2-0 Aylesbury

At this point it looked like Aylesbury could rack up a cricket score, the home side seemingly having no clue on how to contain the Ducks’ tricky attacking four of Field, Acheampong, Jones and Hallford.

The match settled down though, and St. Margaretsbury started to play their own game and put United under pressure for the first time as Hinds smashed a shot over after good link up play with Anstead, before only a fantastic piece of last ditch defending from Barnett kept Hinds at bay when it looked like he was in for a goal.

Normal service was soon resumed and after a couple of decent moves came to nothing, the Ducks added their third on 31 minutes. Jones’ pinpoint inswinging free-kick split defence and goalkeeper, and Wood arrived to head home a rare goal. 3-0 Aylesbury

With things having been so easy for the Ducks, their end of half complacency was understandable but frustrating nonetheless, as St. Margaretsbury ended the opening period on top but United defended well to keep them at bay.

Gillett cracked an excellent half volley just wide, Hateley Mercer got back well to deny Anstead a shot at goal after a lung bursting run, before a long bouncing ball allowed Hinds to run clear, but Sillitoe was out quickly and managed to make himself big enough to divert Hinds’ lob just wide, with the resulting corner kick flashing all the way across goal.

Half-time: St. Margaretsbury 0-3 Aylesbury

The home side continued to be a threat after the break, Anstead and Hinds both going close in the opening seconds, before United contrived to gift the home side a goal of their own when fit-again Mulholland got it all wrong. A long ball forward appeared to be a routine claim for Sillitoe, only for the Aylesbury defender to head the ball back and over his custodian into the unguarded net. 1-3

Aylesbury were struggling to find the same attacking rhythm they had enjoyed before the interval, and on the hour mark they elected to replace Hallford with Baines. Just two minutes later and their first chance arrived when Field’s excellent setup flick played in Jones but he skewed a difficult volley wide.

The Ducks continued to live dangerously, and Anstead ran clean through, managing to get to the ball ahead of Sillitoe but directing his finish wide of the empty goal to the relief of the United stopper. Two minutes later Frazer John cut inside and curled an effort back off the crossbar.

Any unlikely St. Margaretsbury hopes of a comeback were ended by the award of a contentious looking penalty, apparently given for a push in the box at a corner kick, on 74 minutes. Field stepped up and confidently dispatched the kick into the bottom left corner to complete his hat trick. 4-1 Aylesbury

With that, the Ducks’ tails were up again, and substitute Edgeworth should have added a further goal when Baines cut the ball back for him nine minutes from time, but he miskicked his effort.

Six minutes later and he did rather better when a slick passing Aylesbury move ended with Acheampong slipping the ball through for Edgeworth who rolled it home past Greenwood. 5-1 Aylesbury

Still the home side refused to roll over and they deserve credit for playing right up until the final whistle. They were rewarded with a late consolation for their endeavour when Anstead cracked home a fine finish to reduce the arrears. 2-5

It was a disappointing end from Aylesbury’s perspective, but another important three points for the Ducks ahead of a tough home match with Dunstable Town.