Aylesbury returned from the long trip to Malvern with only a point to their name after a disappointing afternoon. Against a team rooted to the bottom of the table, who had only nine points to their name before the match, the result has to go down as a huge disappointment.
United went into the game looking for a fourth successive win, and things looked to be going their way when Chris Marsh won and converted a penalty after just ten minutes. Marsh placed the ball perfectly into the bottom right corner. 1-0 Aylesbury
The early goal was due reward for a bubbly start by the visitors, and after a wayward free-kick from Dave Reynolds at the other end, they looked to continue the pressure on their hosts, and Mead had a dangerous inswinging free-kick punched away by goalkeeper Craig Humphries.
Sam Swonnell tried to muscle in on the act but his effort was blocked in the area, although it appeared to be trickling wide in any event.
Aylesbury's lead was shortlived as Malvern managed to grab an equaliser just six minutes later. Under pressure, keeper Jack Sillitoe managed to let a catch squirm out of his hands from Town's deep free-kick and the ball fell kindly for Joe Kings to stab into the empty net. 1-1
The Ducks' good start had quickly gone out the window, and they failed to pick themselves up after the equaliser to such an extent that Malvern could, and very much should, have taken the lead.
A cross in from the right was headed all the way across goal by a defender, where it was met by number six who somehow contrived to head over the bar, with players queuing up to bury the ball in the net.
Moments later Craig Malins jinked his way into the box with barely no tackle made on him, but placed his shot wide with the whole goal to aim at.
Aylesbury did improve in the second quarter of the game, and they were nearly given the lead back by a defender who came close to turning Roni Joe's low cross into his own net. The resulting corner was flicked on by Kevin Mealor and presented Carl Kavanagh with a great chance, but he ballooned his shot over from five-yards.
Stevens had a drive blocked in the area, and Marsh saw a shot easily held as the Ducks continued to probe going into the interval, without ever seriously testing Humphries.
Half-time: Malvern 1-1 Aylesbury
Malvern started the second half on the front foot, and it took a saving challenge from Carl Kavanagh to keep them out early on.
It was much of the same from Aylesbury's perspective though, too often trying to over be too intricate in the final third and regularly finding themselves frustrated.
Kevin Mealor managed to turn the Malvern defence with a fantastic surging run down the left, but his cross was only met by a scuffed shot from Hawkins which gave Humphries an easy catch.
The game continued in its drab fashion, punctuated by the odd chance for either side. Reynolds blazed over on the half-volley when well placed, and Mead fired an effort over the bar for Aylesbury.
Rather like the first half, United slightly raised their game as the midpoint arrived, and had a couple more efforts on goal as a Kavanagh header dropped just wide of the target, and Mealor struck a shot on the turn which was straight at Humphries.
Henney was introduced early in the second half, and he looked dangerous with his direct running style. Nathan Graham also joined the game for the last fifteen minutes, as Aylesbury ended the game with five strikers on the pitch.
It made little difference as their struggles in the final third continued. The closest they came to re-establishing the lead in the closing stages came courtesy of Hawkins' left boot, but he guided a low volley all the way across goal and wide from Swonnell's pass.
The best chance in what little time remained fell to Malvern and Reynolds, who was given far too much time and space in the area to turn and go for goal, but Sillitoe was a match for the effort and managed to smother the shot.
With that came the full time whistle, and although there were some positives for Aylesbury, particularly the successful returns of two players from injury, this was definitely a case of two points dropped.
Perhaps a lack of match sharpness contributed to the result, but the performance at Stourport in similar circumstances looked a world away. Aylesbury's ?zip' was missing all afternoon and with the games set to come thick and fast as the weeks progress, a quick improvement will be needed.
