Form books went out the window as the two Aylesbury sides met in competitive action for the first time, with Aylesbury FC – without a point from their opening three games – beating Aylesbury United – newly promoted and on a two-game winning run – 3-1 at Bell Close.

The hosts made some good early running in the opening moments, but it was FC who had their spirits raised by an eighth minute goal, in rather fortuitous circumstances. A United defensive clearance looped back off Gareth Price and over the despairing Sillitoe into the net. 1-0 Aylesbury FC

Davis Haule volleyed wide a minute later before Price robbed Baines in midfield but could only shoot wide from range as United continued to struggle.

Predictably, the game was a spicy affair at times, punctuated by free-kicks and rarely a free flowing contest as quality was lacking from both sides.

In the 30th minute the referee had a big decision to make when Jack Wood was rightly yellow carded for jumping into goalkeeper Rhys Marshall as he collected a high ball, but for his apparent retaliation of thrusting a fist into his midriff, Marshall received the same punishment.

Zack Reynolds blazed a 25-yard free-kick well over the bar in what was United’s best chance to that point, whilst former United man Ben Stevens became the next player in the book after catching Jason Blackett with a stray arm to the face.

As the half drew to a close, Aylesbury finally came to life as an attacking force, with Reynolds usually involved. His pass inside from the right picked out Paul Edgeworth, whose low shot was matched by Marshall getting down low to tip wide.

Blackett heading the resulting corner over the bar, but the Ducks forced another seconds later when Petrucci cut in from the left and had a shot deflected behind. This time the ball came all the way across to Steve Hatch who spun and shot but a defender was there to block and the ball ran through easily for Marshall to field.

The best chance of the half was again created by Reynolds, whose surge to the byeline and cross was met by the flying Blackett but when it looked easier to score he diverted the ball wide from inside the six-yard box.

At the other end the ball played into Brian Haule resulted in a smart shot and turn just wide of the post, before the half was ended by Ben Baines heading a Keith Williams free-kick wide.

Half-time: Aylesbury United 0-1 Aylesbury FC

United’s last two matches have seen them perform stronger after the interval, so Ducks supporters were far from despondent come the half time whistle.

Keith Williams went close with a free-kick on 50 minutes when he found a gap past the wall, but his low shot crept just wide.

FC’s Matt Hall was then booked having returned to the pitch before being invited by the referee, having been forced off to remove his incorrectly coloured undergarments, just before the Ducks introduced a double substitution with Joey Acheampong and Greg Williams coming on.

Within a minute Greg Williams was involved as he played Baines in with a through ball, only for Stevens to get across with a fine tackle to concede a corner; easily caught by Marshall – which was to be the story of second half flag kicks.

At that point, the visitors had created little, and probably couldn’t believe their luck when, in the 60th minute, they were given a penalty kick chance of taking full control of the match. Keith Williams brought down star man Price, and Brian Haule fired home the kick. 2-0 Aylesbury FC

United faltered and FC should have had an immediate third when the ball was cut back for Brian Haule but he fired straight at Sillitoe.

The Ducks went for broke by swapping defender Keith Williams for an extra attacker in Dean Allen, and although he had the ball in the net inside a minute having been put through by Acheampong, play had already been halted for offside.

For the first time of the half, Allen and co were finally looking a goal threat and he had a shot superbly cleared off the line after Reynolds had beaten Stevens and Marshall to the ball to set him up.

Nine minutes from time and United had reward for their sudden upturn. Allen rampaged his way through the defence before showing his natural goalscoring ability with a fine finish bent into the top corner. 1-2

Aylesbury looked to intensify the pressure, and Jack Wood hooked an effort over after a free-kick dropped to him.

Almost inevitably, the Ducks were caught short at the other end as they pushed forwards, and were made to pay on the break. The excellent Price was given all kinds of space when picked out with a crossfield ball, and he lashed home beyond Sillitoe. 3-1 Aylesbury FC

With just six minutes remaining Greg Williams headed a Blackett cross over, and a long shot from Reynolds flew over, and it was clear that the match was now out of United’s reach.

A disappointing afternoon for Aylesbury United, but they need to regroup quickly with an arguably more important match on the horizon as the FA Cup kicks off at Cinderford Town.