Gloucester City hammered another nail into Aylesbury United?s relegation coffin, securing a 1-0 win at Buckingham Road which sees the gap between the Ducks and Premier Division safety increase to 12 points.

Aylesbury certainly made a game of it though, and with a bit more quality in front of goal could have won the match. Instead, Dave Wilkinson?s fantastic 80th minute half-volley ensured all three points returned West with the Tigers.

Neil Trebble made one change in personnel, Richard Pringle restored to the starting line-up in place of Kyle Kilmartin, which meant a reshuffle in formation.

The game started slowly, the first real clear chance falling to Aylesbury midway through the first period when Richard Pringle back-heeled into the path of Mark Bridge, who fired wide.

Nick Jackson then cut inside but could only hit a shot which bobbled through for Matt Bath to comfortably gather.

Gloucester hit back with two good chances of their own ? Wilkinson heading wide at the far post, then Paul Stonehouse blazing well over after Adie Harris had cut the ball back to him.

Pringle had two further attempts before the interval. The first saw the burly striker get on the end of Jackson's fantastic cross, but he couldn't connect fully with the header and the ball went wide. Secondly, he tried an ambitious shot from well outside the area.

Half-time: Aylesbury 0-0 Gloucester

The Ducks were the better team for much of the second half, but they got no reward for their efforts. Kieron Deane fed off burly striker Pringle, firing in a left-footed effort which was comfortably held by Matt Bath.

Jackson then linked with Pringle, and the latter put the winger clean through, but he was successfully run off the ball by the covering defender although the Aylesbury player claimed a foul.

Leon Gutzmore went closest for United, Pringle again with the flick-on from Jackson?s free-kick, Gutzmore diving to head for goal but his effort was superbly tipped over by Bath.

Wilkinson was Gloucester?s biggest threat, and he again fired wide with a driven effort.

Aylesbury continued to press, but were restricted to long-range efforts. Jackson fired in a shot which was well hit, but straight at goalkeeper Bath. Paul Kelly then fired over from 25-yards.

Wilkinson's moment of brilliance soon followed, as the ball dropped to him after a corner kick he superbly smashed home from the edge of the area on the half-volley. 1-0 Gloucester

The home side weren't quite done though, Mark Bridge had an effort deflected wide. In the dying moments came Leon Gutzmore was unlucky as he just couldn't reach the ball, after substitute Aston Goss had turned Kieron Deane's low ball back across the face of goal.

In the end though it was another disappointing afternoon for Aylesbury, as Gloucester continued their good recent form.