With just four games left to preserve their Premier Division status United travelled to the Thurrock Hotel ground knowing that anything short of a victory would scupper their survival chances.
The Ducks sat in twentieth place in the league, just two off the bottom, but more importantly one below the safety line.
With games left away at sixth placed Purfleet and eighth placed Billericay and home against fifth placed Chesham and mid table Gravesend, Aylesbury were really up against it but felt that three wins would be enough. This would be a tall order though as after three consecutive defeats without scoring, confidence was low among Gary Phillips' men.
United had more than their fair share of posession early on without really threatening the home goal, while Phillips kept his team in the match with a superb save just before the break.
The travelling faithful were given hope within a minute of the restart when a Phil Mason corner fell nicely to Darren Grieves who crashed the ball home at the second attempt.
New signing Gary Wotton, in for the dropped Scott Honeyball, performed heroics at the back in the face of some heavy pressure.
Gary Crawshaw missed a gilt-edged chance, adding to the supporter's agony before Grives grabbed a vital second just nine minutes from time. Collecting the ball on the left, the shaven-headed striker cut inside and unleashed an unstoppable curling effort from twenty five yards out.
Unfortunately the joy was short-lived as both the other teams in the bottom three also won.
