This match against Marlow, replayed after a serious injury to Ollie Hogg caused abandonment of the first tie three weeks earlier, ultimately went the same way with Marlow winning by the two goals to nil at which that game was halted.

Both sides had their own agendas going into the game - for Aylesbury it was a ‘second chance’ following their below par showing when the sides met previously, whilst Marlow were looking for ‘justice’ for their perceived controversial nature of the early end of the first game – although there were numerous personnel changes for both.

Buoyed by a good weekend performance at Ashford Town, the Ducks made a strong start and tried to take the game to their visitors early on.

After some pressure, the most productive move came in the third minute when Sonny French’s enterprising run saw him find Reece Cameron on the left wing who stepped inside and went for goal with a curling shot that was deflected behind.

Yet it was a bright opening that Aylesbury weren’t able to build on, and Marlow fired a warning shot when Allen Bossman streaked away on the right flank before finding the in-form Marcus Mealing who flicked a header across goal and wide.

Two minutes later and the South Bucks side had the lead. United’s defensive organisation left a lot to be desired as a deep free kick picked out Mealing whose looping header seemed to catch Zaki Oualah out as it dropped over him just inside the post, for his seventh goal in nine games. 1-0 Marlow

From that point the game degenerated as a spectacle, characterised by Aylesbury constantly giving the ball away when in possession. Marlow were content to counter attack when given the opportunity, and did so with directness and pace.

It meant a game of few chances though, the next effort at goal not coming until the midpoint when Jay Welch struck a wildly ambitious effort that was easily fielded by Oualah.

Aylesbury did then fashion a good opening through good work by Cameron, who made a good run to receive French’s pass before crossing for Troy Witter who made a mess with his finish when well positioned.

The Blues were then inches away from doubling their lead when Oualah chose to punch a right wing cross, the ball falling to Jordan Brown lurking on the edge of the box whose skilful volley came back off the upright.

Nine minutes from the break and Oualah was in action again, Brown tricking his way past his marker before driving in a fierce effort that the keeper turned wide of the post, as Aylesbury survived to the interval just the single goal behind.

Half-time: Aylesbury 0-1 Marlow

The second half started much like the first, with the Ducks doing their best to up their game. Although they did manage to force two early corners, once again it was the away side who came closer to scoring, Mealing off target this time as he beat Oualah to Welch’s teasing cross but headed over.

From a Marlow corner Calum Gallimore then flicked the ball wide, whilst from a flag kick at the other end seconds later Jack Wood headed well over the bar from Cameron’s drilled delivery.

Witter, who showed glimpses but largely struggled to make an impact, made another hash of connecting with a fine delivery from Taylor Collins in the box, and his night ended soon afterwards as Ollie Hogg replaced him.

The visitors continued to look the more likely, with Allen Bossman driving wide after a simple throw in fell to him in the box. Mealing then went close with a great chance, intercepting an underhit pass to Wood before running in but place his shot just outside Oualah’s post.

Aylesbury made a double substitution in a last-ditch attempt to change the course of the game, but it wasn’t to have the desired effect as Marlow scored a killer second shortly afterwards.

Good strength from Mealing saw him hold up the ball against the United defence, and when it popped out to Brown he lit up an otherwise uninspiring night with a superbly taken finish with the outside of his boot from 20-yards that had Oualah beaten all ends up. 2-0 Marlow

With the game now seemingly put to bed, another lull ensued before Nathan Poulton fired a low, long range effort wide as the ball eventually fell to him from Brown’s redelivered corner kick.

In the closing stages French saw a shot deflected wide, and from the resulting corner Hogg found Jake Bewley at the near post who fired wide, but it ended as a fairly comfortable win for Marlow with Aylesbury unable to muster a shot on target over the course of the game.