Having lost at Daventry Town in midweek, Aylesbury took on their second title-challenging side in four days but were unable to arrest their poor form which was extended to a seventh winless match by a 3-0 defeat at Dunstable Town.

The Ducks are traditionally well supported at Creasey Park, and the travelling numbers boosted Dunstable’s gate to its highest of 2014 to date, but the visitors were left disappointed by a largely poor performance as a quality team exposed United’s weaknesses ruthlessly and clinically.

Up front, Joey Acheampong started his first game of the year and, with Steve Hatch fit again, Tony Joyce chose to shuffle his defence – Hatch reclaiming his right back spot and Shane Wood moving to centre half, brother Jack shifting into midfield.

Sadly the move backfired, and defensive uncertainty reigned supreme as the Ducks quickly found themselves two goals behind.

With just four on the clock the ball was crossed in from the right where Tony Burnett, completely unmarked, hooked it home to open the scoring. 1-0 Dunstable

Three minutes later and a Keith Williams free kick was headed on by Richard Armstrong, then over the bar by Bill Morgan in what turned out to be a rare Aylesbury attack, and indeed their closest effort of the first half.

The Blues doubled their advantage after twelve minutes when Leon Cashman turned home a low cross from the right amongst some more poor defending. 2-0 Dunstable

From that point the match degenerated as a spectacle, the hosts doing a comfortable job of keeping their visitors at arm’s length as United struggled to make any headway.

Midway through the first period a shot from former Luton Town man Adam Watkins swerved viciously onto the crossbar, having initially seemed to be heading well wide, and from the rebound Jack Sillitoe did well to save from Cashman at close range.

Stacey Field blazed over a rushed attempt just before the half hour mark as the ball broke to him, but it was Town who were to cement their winning position ten minutes from the break.

Hatch was penalised for obstructing Chris Marsh on the wing, the former Aylesbury man took the free kick himself and produced a pinpoint delivery which Cashman had the simple task of heading into the net. 3-0 Dunstable

Already the game looked out of reach for United, and they suffered a further blow when Liam Smyth had to leave the field injured with Jason Blackett his replacement.

Half-time: Dunstable 3-0 Aylesbury

Another change at the break saw Greg Williams replace Shane Wood, skipper Jack reclaiming his favoured defensive spot. The team’s performance was improved enough to deny Town adding to their lead although goalkeeper Jamie Head remained without serious test.

It was Dunstable who had first efforts after the restart as Luton loanee Jerome Jibodu cut inside from right back and hit the side netting with a low shot, before Watkins shot wide from long range.

Hatch headed a half chance over the bar from a deep ball into the box, whilst at the other end Watkins might have done better when a square pass found him in acres of space but he placed his effort wide.

Chances remained few and far between as the match continued to be a largely scrappy affair, with the only notable goalmouth action in some twenty minutes seeing Marsh go on a typical mazy run before firing into the side netting at the near post.

Aylesbury threw on final substitute Paul Edgeworth in place of Joey Acheampong, and he was quickly involved in crossing for Blackett to head over, and then seeing a shot easily held by Head after a passing move of the kind United had lacked all afternoon.

He also got the better of Joe Bruce late on as the two tussled for a long ball, but once again his hooked effort was easily dealt with by Head.

Aside from a few wasted set pieces, Dunstable too had little further to offer in front of goal and the second half finished as it had started.

A quickly forgettable afternoon for the Ducks who will now be looking for an improvement as they go into a run of four home games, starting with Buckinghamshire neighbours Chalfont St. Peter on Tuesday night.