A late goal from Royston’s recent signing John Frendo condemned Aylesbury to their second league defeat of the season, after they had looked set to pick up a useful point.

Along with Simon Thomas, Frendo had been brought in to kick start the Crows’ season, and the experienced striker capitalised on what was likely the only defensive slip up by a well regimented Ducks rearguard to score his first for his new side and win the game.

Both sides had suffered FA Cup disappointment the week before, but Aylesbury boss Glyn Creaser kept faith with his side and only named one change with available again Bruno Brito drafted in to replace Ollie Hogg.

Royston, meanwhile, made three after their harrowing 4-1 home loss to Heybridge Swifts.

The Crows may have made a faltering start to their campaign, but they were quickest out of the blocks at The ASM, winning a free kick after just two minutes from which Adam Murray headed back across goal for defensive colleague Ryan Frater who could only head weakly straight at Zaki Oualah.

Three minutes later and Martin should have done better from Danny May’s corner kick when he made himself first to the ball but only flicked over at the near post.

Aylesbury threatened for the first time when Ellis Hercules got ahead of Thomas to a deep free kick but was only able to guide the ball straight into the goalkeeper’s arms.

The visitors continued their dominance, but wastefulness, as assistant manager Chris Watters sent a free kick sailing over the bar, before a square pass picked out a burst forward by May who could only produce a similarly wayward finish.

Thomas set up Martel Powell for a curling effort that also cleared the crossbar, and May tested Oualah with a driven free kick that had power but was straight at the Aylesbury stopper.

Brito tried his luck from range at the other end with a shot that was always flying wide, but better was to follow as Aylesbury could have nicked an opener shortly afterwards.

Reece Cameron did brilliantly on the right, getting the better of Watters and whipping the ball in which goalkeeper Reece Paine dropped right into the path of Taylor Collins, who was as surprised as anyone and unable to find the net.

In truth, it was a rare moment to savour for United with Royston continuing to look dangerous as Josh Castiglione drew a save out of Oualah after a smart turn, but they remained unable to make the pressure count as the half ended goalless and with Watters firing another long shot well over.

Half-time: Aylesbury 0-0 Royston

The second half followed much the same pattern, and when Hinds-Cadette took down Kaan Fehmi just outside the box, Town wasted their free kick opportunity by teeing the ball up for sturdy centre half Ryan Frater who crashed a shot wide from 30-yards.

With distant thunder and lightning illuminating the stadium, the rain started lashing down and proved something of a leveller as ball control became difficult and sliding tackles started flying in.

Aylesbury were next to go close when Lea Coulter’s chipped ball forward was met with an acrobatic Brito overhead kick that wasn’t far away.

Frendo’s entry just past the hour mark saw him quickly involved, taking a pass on the edge of the box before making space for a shot but lofting the ball over.

Aylesbury made a double change of their own with Alvin Rajaram and Sonny French thrust into the action, but failed to stem the flow of the game.

On 73 minutes the visitors spurned a glorious chance as Spyros Mentis was played in down the right before picking out Thomas six-yards out, but with all the time in the world the former St. Albans and Chesham man fired straight at Oualah.

Instead, it was the Ducks who came inches away from taking the lead themselves. Brito was released on the left, just inside the Royston half, and spotting Paine well off his line lofted a shot goalwards that cruelly came back off the crossbar.

Brito pulled up with an apparent hamstring injury in the process and was replaced by Bewley.

Royston continued to knock on the door, substitute Ryan Ingrey retrieving a half cleared cross before playing in a ball towards Thomas was just unable to get a touch on, before a slick move ended with Gus Scott-Morris’s low cross being just smuggled behind by Hercules.

After another great Crows chance came and went – the towering Murray heading Watters’s corner kick wide at the far post, it looked like United might just hang on for a hard earned point.

Royston had other ideas though, and just a minute later claimed the decisive goal. Scott-Morris raced away down the right leaving Bewley floundering, before arrowing a low ball into the box which wasn’t dealt with by the covering Hercules and Coulter, where it fell to Frendo who made no mistake in finding the bottom corner. 1-0 Royston

It was rather harsh on the Ducks’ efforts in the game, but one defensive mistake had ultimately cost them.

There was still time for French to fire over from the edge of the box, but with no recognised striker on the pitch at the end of the game, a comeback was looking a tough ask, and so it proved.