Aylesbury’s long FA Trophy trip to Hastings United went unrewarded, as a Jack Harris hat-trick helped the hosts romp to a 4-0 win over the Ducks.

Going into the game missing four of their regulars, the greens came up against a side packed with players having plenty of higher level of experience, and could have no complaints at the final scoreline.

The complexion of the game might have been different however, when their best chance of the game went begging on 24 minutes. With an immediate counter attack, Hastings went ahead, and the hosts quickly added a sucker punch second to effectively put the tie out of reach.

Aylesbury made a steady start and had the first shot of the day when Sonny French’s interception allowed him to run on and feed Jake Bewley, whose touch and shot drew a save from former Chelsea keeper Lenny Pidgeley.

The Us responded with a smart turn and shot from Frannie Collin which was easily held by Zaki Oualah, and he went close again four minutes later when he went for goal just outside the box only to see the ball come back off the post where it hit Oualah on the back, somehow not spinning not the net.

Collin was in the thick of most of Hastings attacking play, bending a 15th minute free kick wide before seeing a shot deflected wide soon afterwards having been set up by Harris. The resulting corner was headed wide by Sam Cole.

The home side’s luck was out again midway through the half when a sublime curling effort from Simon Johnson bounced down off the crossbar, and again hit Oualah on the back only to spin clear.

With Hastings well on top, it was against the run of play that the big chance for Aylesbury arrived. A fortunate ricochet put French suddenly in the clear, but he couldn’t beat Pidgeley from ten-yards, the keeper saving with his legs.

As they countered with purpose, the ball was eventually played in to Harry Stannard who cut in and found the net with a well placed finish to break the deadlock. 1-0 Hastings

Four minutes later and Hastings doubled the scoreline, when a free kick into the box was helped on by Ollie Rowe for Harris to crash his first of the afternoon into the roof of the net. 2-0 Hastings

Still the relentless pressure continued, and Rowe might have done better when a corner dropped to him in the box only for him to hammer it over the bar.

Another good move saw a desperate Ryan Kinnane intervention having to be saved by Oualah to prevent an own goal after Watt sprayed a fine pass out to the left flank for Cole to drive across the box.

Three became four shortly before the break, Aylesbury unable to clear their lines following another dangerous attack, allowing Matt Bodkin to retrieve the ball and stand up a cross for Harris who was more than happy to accept the simple headed chance. 3-0 Hastings

The half did end with Greg Williams lofting a volley over the bar, but the Ducks trudged off at the interval facing a second half mountain to climb.

Half-time: Hastings 3-0 Aylesbury

Collin had an opening to add another within seconds of the restart when he beat the offside trap but saw a tame shot comfortably fielded by Oualah.

Three minutes later and Pidgeley was on hand to save from Jack Wood at a corner kick, the ball rebounding off Watt and flying just the wrong side of the upright from being an unfortunate own goal.

A quiet Chid Onokwai, in his last action before being replaced by Taylor Collins, then tried his luck with a driven effort that cleared the crossbar having come inside from a wide left position.

Hastings were next to go close, when indecision by Ellis Hercules allowed Bodkin to nip in on the end of a long ball, lob Oualah but watch disappointedly as the ball dropped just wide of the gaping goal.

Five minutes later, and the home side were able to celebrate extending their lead further. Again it was a rather simple finish for Harris, as the Ducks defence made a mess of trying to clear Bodkin’s cross, leaving Harris a tap in to complete his treble. 4-0 Hastings

Johnson went close again with a volleyed effort that was placed just wide, with Bodkin likewise having a shot from outside the box snuffed out by a defender.

An impressive save from Oualah twelve minutes from the end denied Collin a goal after the striker had sent a 25-yard free kick in the direction of the top corner, and he then had another good chance when picked out by Bodkin but got his header all wrong and sent the ball skimming through to Oualah.

There was still time for one more chance when substitute Alex Akrofi went on a long run at a tired Aylesbury defence, coming inside across the box before his curling effort was well held by Oualah as the game ended 4-0.