Aylesbury's spectacular collapse continued with a harrowing home defeat by AFC Sudbury to take their losing streak to three games, and, more worryingly, nearly six hours since last scoring a goal from open play.
United went into the game with a growing injury list which, but using that potential excuse was invalidated as Sudbury made the long trip in a similar predicament with a bench full of reserve teamers, a debutant rookie in goal, and their 38-year old assistant manager featuring at centre-back.
The visitors did, however, feature a dangerous front pairing of Kevin Hawes and Danny Bloomfield and they quickly set about causing Aylesbury problems. Hawes connected with a free-kick on four minutes but his header was easily caught by Vincent.
Five minutes later Hawes slotted a clever through ball into the path of Bloomfield, but he pulled his effort wide across goal with Vincent.
Liam Cutts in the visiting goal was tested for the first time as a senior Sudbury player on the quarter hour mark when Mark Jones played a great raking pass into the path of Lafayette, who cut inside and went for goal with a curling effort which nearly squirmed past the keeper.
The game certainly wasn't setting the world alight, with the ball more often than not bypassing both midfields. Yet when Aylesbury did find themselves in possession they were wasteful with far too many passes going astray.
United's best chance of the first half, and perhaps the match, fell to Chris Marsh. A ball played across the box found Jones who helped it on to the unattended Marsh. With the whole target to aim at his first time shot was practically high enough to clear two goals as he got the finish all wrong.
Another good chance quickly followed when Lafayette showed good persistence to challenge the last Yellow defender and win the ball and feed Neil Roberts, but his shot lacked direction and was beaten away by Cutts.
At this point Aylesbury were enjoying a spell in control and Lafayette headed a quickly taken free-kick goalwards by Cutts was able to lay claim to the ball.
But as the half entered the last ten minutes the momentum began to swing again, and the warning signs were there for the Ducks when Bloomfield fed onto a flick-on from a long ball and beat Kavanagh, but could again only finish wide.
The opening goal eventually arrived on the stroke of half time. Another incisive through ball released Hawes and as Vincent rushed from his line the Sudbury striker made a 25-yard lob look easy. 0-1
Despite a decent first half showing of good endeavour and a fair few chances, Aylesbury were condemned to going in at the break a goal down in the blink of an eye.
Half-time: Aylesbury 0-1 Sudbury
Lafayette had an early chance for the Ducks when he beat Cutts to a Boyce ball in from the right, but his header dropped just wide of the upright.
Former Kings Lynn striker Bloomfield was a continual thorn in Aylesbury's side, and he got on the end of a long clearance from Cutts before eventually shooting wide. A minute later he was at it again but Kavanagh got in a good block to deny him. From the resulting corner Craig Bussens hooked a volley which dipped just off target.
Unsurprisingly, it was Lafayette who came closest to finding an equaliser. His intelligent movement won him the ball at a throw-in, and as he brought the ball into the box he fired in a low left-footed effort which Cutts did well to tip wide.
Roberts did well to keep a volley down with an hour on the clock, although the effort was straight at Cutts, but from that point things began to go downhill for the Ducks. As the game ebbed by United never truly looked capable of mounting a comeback.
Matt Butler hit a couple of wayward long range efforts, and a Mead free-kick was on target an appeared to catch Cutts going the wrong way, but the young keeper recovered in time to catch the ball.
Substitute Nathan Graham had Aylesbury's final meaningful attempt when Mead picked him out with a left-wing cross, but he guided his header well past the post.
Instead, it was left to Sudbury to pile on the misery for United with two late goals, which came with the run of play in the closing stages.
Prior to that Hawes had gone close with a great take down from a goal kick and long range effort which flew just over the bar, drawing warm applause from the home supporters. Moments later the same player back heeled into the path of Sam Clarke who placed a curling effort just past the upright.
The second came five minutes from time and was all of Aylesbury's own doing when Tom Vincent attempted to bring the ball out of defence before being robbed 30-yards from goal. The ball was eventually worked out to the right where it was crossed in and met with a superb flying header by Bloomfield. 0-2
It got even worse for the Ducks as the capitulation was complete a minute from time with a third goal. A ball over the top exposed United's defence and Hawes got in behind Kavanagh before running on a firing past Vincent. 0-3
With the visit of Barton Rovers to come on Saturday, Aylesbury desperately need to find some spark from somewhere or it looks set to be a long and unhappy end to a season which promised so much.
