A devastating 6-2 defeat probably wasn’t how new Aylesbury United manager imagined his first game since being given the reins on a permanent basis, but after the Ducks crashed to this heavy loss they find themselves rock bottom and propping up the Division One Central league table.

With two player departures, Jordon Frederick unavailable and Lee Grace and Stacey Field both injured, Creaser was struggling for numbers in the build up to the game and his lineup contained five changes. ‘New’ faces in Lea Coulter – back for a third spell at the club – and Paul Lyon were on the bench.

League newcomers Petersfield Town – Wessex League Champions last season to clinch successive promotions – arrived at The ASM Stadium yet to win away from home in the league, and it was they who attacked first forcing an early corner that was easily caught by Dan Green.

Just a minute later and it was the Rams who edged in front, United conceding yet another simple early goal. Another corner kick swung in from the right was headed cleanly into the top corner by Ryan Woodford. 1-0 Petersfield

Looking not to let the goal get to them, Aylesbury were soon on the attack themselves and after some nice passing moves beforehand, their first moment of genuine threat came in the 14th minute when Lewis Osborne played a slick one-two to get into the area but saw his shot saved.

Town should have doubled their advantage soon afterwards when a ball in from the right was met by Alex Przespolewski who had acres of space to bring the ball down and shoot but it was ultimately a tame effort which Green easily fielded.

They were nearly made to pay for the miss straight away as Jake Bewley popped up in the box at the other end before offloading to French whose shot was deflected wide, and it was a similar story when a tenacious Osborne won back the ball but saw his effort take a nick off a defender and spin behind.

Despite their marked improvement, the Ducks were then undone again by one defensive mishap. Petersfield broke with pace down the right, the ball played into the box where the run of Przespolewski had gone unnoticed and he had no trouble sweeping home his fifth goal of the season. 2-0 Petersfield

Not yet content with their scoring exploits, the Rams raided again down the right flank and a chipped cross into the box this time was met by a deft header from Howard Neighbour that Green was able to save.

With half time approaching, Aylesbury nearly reduced the deficit in somewhat fortuitous circumstances. A long ball into the box was punched by former Aylesbury FC goalkeeper Anthony Ender onto the back of Jack Wood’s head where it rebounded goalwards but dropped onto the roof of the net.

Ender was much more controlled in his work two minutes from the break when he denied the Ducks with a fine save, getting down to tip Taylor Collins’ free-kick around the post and maintain his side’s two-goal cushion.

Half-time: Aylesbury 0-2 Petersfield

The second half started just as the first had ended, this time Billy Adcock stepping up to strike a long range free kick with power and accuracy, Ender making an even better save to tip the ball over the bar. Adcock nodded the resulting corner kick wide at the near post with what was a fine chance.

United’s beleaguered fans finally had something to celebrate in the 53rd minute when Osborne made good ground into the box before being tripped as he tried to go past his man. Bewley stepped up and, despite Ender getting glove to the ball, found the bottom corner. 1-2

Despite the sudden renewed sense of optimism around the ground, an Adcock shot which was just wide was all the Ducks could muster, whilst Neighbour got the better of Greg Williams who was relieved to see defensive colleague Jack Wood making a good block from his shop.

Even so, it seemed that United were back in the game with the deficit back down to one, only for a pivotal moment in the game leading to their downfall. With the referee looking the opposite direction, an attempted clearance hit him and fell kindly for Petersfield to have a cross-shot which Green tipped over for a corner kick. The unfortunate Green then proceeded to punch the ball into one of his own players and Alex Lowley couldn’t believe his luck as the ball fell to him in front of an empty net two yards out. 3-1 Petersfield

With the stuffing knocked out of them again, Aylesbury nearly conceded another when Lowley was released on the left but his low ball into the box was slid wide by Neighbour.

Green’s poor afternoon then took another downward turn in the 69th minute when Briggs – a player who United had failed to get a hold on all game, and who had just seen his dangerous low cross punched away – hit a long shot that seemed to catch the Aylesbury custodian cold as he made no attempt to make a save. 4-1 Petersfield

Aylesbury’s defence, now totally devoid of confidence, continued to look susceptible at corners and a deep delivery found substitute Joe Richardson whose hooked volley was turned wide by Green. The second flag kick was then headed over by Woodford who might have done better when virtually unmarked.

Instead, it was the hosts who troubled the scoresheet next with a well made counterattacking move that ended with the ball being spread into the path of Sonny French who unleashed a thumping shot to net his first goal for the club. 2-4

Any faint hopes of a Ducks recovery with a fifth Petersfield goal in under a minute when a low ball into the box was turned in on the near post by Neighbour, with all kinds of question marks over Aylesbury’s defending once more. 5-2 Petersfield

To pile on the woe Town grabbed a sixth not long afterwards when the impressive Briggs escaped down the right yet again and delivered a telling cross to substitute Jason Norgate who headed home with probably his first touch, two minutes after entering the fray. 6-2 Petersfield

Lyon was given a brief cameo at the end, as French’s late free-kick struck the defensive wall as the curtain came down on another harrowing home defeat for United.