Aylesbury suffered their worst home defeat of the season and a double of league losses against St Ives Town after a goalkeeping horror show at Bell Close that also saw United reduced to ten men.

Bermudan Tahj Bell, on loan from Hitchin Town, had taken the headlines for the right reasons for his display in a 2-1 win at Egham Town a week earlier, but he was culpable for all three goals as the Ducks surrendered cheaply against their in-form opponents who were able to celebrate an eighth game unbeaten as a result.

With Shane Wood working the other side of the Atlantic, Lee Grace replaced him at right back for his first start since October after injury problems, whilst Tony Joyce opted for Paul Edgeworth on the wing instead of Joey Acheampong.

Aylesbury made a promising start to proceedings with Jordan Frederick lashing wide a long shot, and then seeing another turned over by Adam Lawrence a minute later after good work by Lewis Putman had twice set him up.

Putman then went close himself when some good football down the left let in Edgeworth whose low cross hit the striker and flew past the upright without control.

Thus it was somewhat against the run of play when the Saints took a 16th minute lead.

Ben Seymour-Shove sized up a free-kick on the left touchline, some 45 yards from goal, and as he delivered a definite cross Bell misjudged the flight of the ball, came off his line and was left red faced as the ball sailed over him into the net, with Seymour-Shove left almost apologetic as his teammates celebrated. 1-0 St Ives

They nearly had a second when Bill Morgan’s ineffective defensive header from Luke Knight’s ball in went straight to Jack Higgs whose shot was deflected behind for a corner.

Putman then had chance to equalise when Jake Bewley’s ball into the box fell to him, but he scuffed the chance on his weaker foot and Lawrence was able to dive on the ball.

The game should have been put to bed, but two spectacular misses kept Aylesbury in the match as firstly a ball from the left wasn’t cut out by three defenders, falling to James Hall who somehow screwed it wide two yards out.

Worse (or better, depending on your bias) was to come seconds later when a swift break from the visitors saw Seymour-Shove escape down the left and cross low and hard to the unmarked Banister, who became the second player to miss the open goal.

A half volley from Bewley was just over the bar for Aylesbury, but St Ives remained the bigger threat with James Hall’s driven cross-shot just missing the target, and a powder-puff shot from Higgs easily fielded by Bell.

Just as it looked like the Ducks might reach the interval with minimal damage, they shot themselves in the foot with another soft goal conceded. A quick passing move down the right tempted Bell a long way from his line, allowing the ball to be cut back to Luke Knight who arched a clever shot into the empty net. 2-0 St Ives

Half-time: Aylesbury 0-2 St Ives

Again, Aylesbury started the half brightly with Putman’s low shot on target but lacking the power to beat Lawrence, Frederick pulling a shot just wide of the goal having been played in by Putman, before Bewley saw a volleyed effort blocked in the box amongst some muted handball appeals.

Putman then drew Lawrence into his best save of the game, turning a free-kick wide at full stretch after the league’s leading goalscorer had been tugged back by Jordan Lambert who was cautioned for the foul.

Jack Wood saw a close range shot following a corner kick blocked, Williams acrobatically fired a bouncing long throw from Lea Coulter wide and Frederick slotted another shot wide as momentum stayed with United.

Just as it was looking like there might be a way back into the game for Aylesbury, they once again self-destructed. Substitute Jason Blackett – thrown on for some extra presence in attack – was on the pitch just two minute before he saw red after the linesman adjudged him to have thrown an elbow.

Things then went from bad to worse for the Ducks when a routine backpass was miscued by Bell – presumably bobbling on the pitch – and rolled agonisingly over the line for a terrible own goal to compound an awful afternoon for the stopper. 3-0 St Ives

Stacey Field was then booked for a late challenge on the keeper which he may consider himself fortunate to have only received a yellow card for, and he was soon substituted for Joey Acheampong.

From that point on the game was something of a non-event, St Ives comfortable in their lead whilst a string of substitutions disrupted any flow there might have been.

Jack Wood came the closest to an Aylesbury ‘consolation’ when he powered a header wide from Putman’s delivery, whilst Edgeworth hit the side netting in stoppage time having stolen in behind the defence.

Lawrence’s clean sheet wasn’t to be troubled though, meaning a second successive Bell Close blank, throwing Joyce questions to be answered at both ends of the pitch. Aylesbury next travel to Bedford Town, looking to end their hoodoo of five defeats in five visits to the Eyrie.