Aylesbury were eliminated from the FA Cup by step 4 opponents for the second successive year, but, unlike North Leigh the season before, Northwood clinically dismissed the Ducks without the need for a replay.

Woods were 5-0 up after 70 minutes but two late goals from United at least added the credibility that their hard work and refusal to roll over deserved.

The pre-match preparations were saddened by news of the passing of long-standing stalwart of Aylesbury support Tom Birch the day before, and he was honoured

The visiting team arrived at Bell Close bottom of the Evo-Stik Southern League Division One Central table having lost their first two games, but after finishing just outside the playoffs had strong credentials.

A defence which had shipped eight-goals from those two league games looked nervy in the early stages though, and Garcia played the ball out wide for Acheampong who crashed a shot wide when a cross might have been the better option.

Ian Cooper then should have worked the keeper when excellent work by Acheampong saw him get to the byeline and drive in a cross which came back off a defender to Cooper just inside the box but he fired over with the goal gaping.

Northwood had shown early promise of their own, notably when they forced John Mulholland to make a superb defensive header after a dangerous cross in by Jack Hutchinson.

The scoring was opened after 13 minutes, with United guilty, not for the first time at this early stage of the season, of going to sleep at the crucial moment. After Lee Bircham conceded a free-kick, the ball was rolled quickly to Hutchinson who, under no pressure which should have been applied by Aylesbury, let fly with a 25-yard shot which bounced once on its way past Jack Sillitoe and into the bottom corner. 1-0 Northwood

Aylesbury again made their visitors look defensively vulnerable as Stacey Field managed to hook goalwards having got the better of the defence, but the ball dropped onto the roof of the net.

The closing stages of the first half were hard going for United as Woods pressed on for a second. A header from Oliver Hawkins was somehow clawed away by Sillitoe, before former Oxhey Jets hitman Spencer Bellotti saw a shot blocked in the area.

Ben Baines hit a rare effort for Aylesbury which narrowly deflected past the upright, but two minutes later Northwood had their second. Romaine Walker was afforded far too much space, and cut in from the left before arrowing a low shot across goal and into the far side of the net. 2-0 Northwood

Before half-time Hutchinson was allowed to run unchallenged through the middle of the pitch before shooting wide as United’s goal was nearly breached again.

Half-time: Aylesbury 0-2 Northwood

Coming back from two-goals looked like a tall order for the Ducks, but they made a bright start to the second period as Cooper made a similar run and shot to Walker’s earlier goal – just without the same result as the ball flashed wide.

More decent play by Aylesbury followed but twice Cooper was unable to get shots away having been twice played in by Field.

But for all their good work, United came unstuck when a swift counter-attack lead to Northwood’s third goal. Breaking down the right, Hutchinson’s curling ball into the area crept into the net with Sillitoe no doubt put off by the arriving Walker – who just failed to get a touch. 3-0 Northwood

Suddenly the match was all Woods, with a Hutchinson cross turned behind by Reynolds, from which the short corner was crossed to John Christian who volleyed wide as it appeared all too easy for the visitors.

The problems mounted for United as they lost John Mulholland, who twisted awkwardly when stretching for the ball, replaced by Townsend, and Ian Cooper with a hamstring problem, replaced by Marcus Sawyer, after Greg Williams had already entered the fray for Lee Bircham.

The substitutions failed to stem the tide of Northwood pressure though, and only a truly unbelievable save by Sillitoe denied a powerhouse shot from Bellotti at close range after substitute Ricky Rogers fired the ball across goal.

Two goals in two minutes put Northwood 5-0 ahead, firstly as Walker again cut in from the left and confidently slotted home for 4-0 and then amongst some shocking Aylesbury defending as a quick free-kick was played across to Yorke who slammed into the net. 5-0 Northwood

On balance of chances to that point, Northwood were worthy of their lead, but 5-0 was a bitter pill to swallow for the Ducks who had battled away with little to show for their efforts.

That changed with 15 minutes to go when Marcus Sawyer curled a well placed effort into the net for a United consolation strike, against his former club. 1-5

Another should quickly have followed when Baines helped the ball for Acheampong who had a clear sight on goal but could only fire over the bar.

At the other end Northwood nearly had a sixth –which really would have been harsh on Aylesbury – when Christian hit the post.

Two minutes before the end it was Aylesbury who instead added to the scoring when, after a corner kick, Garcia prodded the ball goalwards and it took a deflection to beat James Reading. 2-5

Full time soon followed and Aylesbury could have no complaints having been beaten by a better team who made their high stature show in the end. The Ducks will need to pick themselves up quickly with a tough match against Dunstable Town quickly up next.