After bouncing back from their 0-1 FA Cup 3rd Qualifying Round defeat at home by Ryman League Premier Division rivals Carshalton Athletic two weeks earlier with a 3-0 home league win over Hampton and Richmond the previous Saturday, The Ducks retained top spot as they took their unbeaten league run to 8 games with this comprehensive demolition of one of their title rivals at Gander Green Lane.

In a game which saw Cliff Hercules make his 600th appearance for the club, The Ducks dominated and could have won by more had they not failed to convert their chances.

The first real chance came the visitors' way in the 6th minute when Jermaine Darlington curled over a cross and Steve Butler, under challenge, headed the ball against a post before the danger was scrambled away.

Then at the other end in the 14th minute, a sweeping Sutton move from their own half involved half a dozen players before top scorer Nassim Akrour was released inside the box but the Frenchman scuffed his shot wide at Ducks keeper Richard Wilmot's left hand post.

Then in the 30th minute the visitors took the lead when Gary Crawshaw's ball in from the left flank found Corey Browne, whose lofted cross gave Butler the room to head past Sutton keeper Gareth Howells for his 3rd goal of the season.

Aylesbury could have wrapped it up in the 45th minute when Ian King's swerving free kick came back off a post but just 3 minutes into the second half, it was 2-0 when Darlington ran down the left before sending over a perfect cross for Butler to head past a rooted Howells into the corner.

The hosts immediately responded by bringing on winger Andy Salako and pushing 4 payers into advanced postitions but The Ducks refused to be knocked out of their stride and continued to hold sway.

With the game seemingly all over, the hosts pulled one back in the 83rd minute when Dave Harlow was given space to cross from the right and Akrour looped his header over Wilmot to set up a tense finish.

The Ducks looked nervous for the first time but after a couple of unnecessary scrambles in their own box, Bob Dowie's side deservedly held out to keep their title challenge on track.

Match report courtesy of David Figg (aka Brains)