With Steve Hatch and Paul Edgeworth unavailable, United turned to veterans Derek Brown and Kevin Gallen once again as replacements, whilst Jets’ side featured seven changes to that which had beaten Leverstock Green 7-1 at the weekend.

Retaining his place, however, was 26-goal striker Lewis Putman and he played a part in creating the opening goal which arrived with just three minutes on the clock as the Ducks made a disastrous start.

Putman spread the ball out wide to Butler on the left who whipped in a great cross where Ben Poulton got ahead of the centre backs to head beyond Jack Sillitoe into the far corner. 1-0 Oxhey Jets

Within a minute Aylesbury had a great chance for an equaliser when Stacey Field played a low ball across the box for Ben Baines but goalkeeper David Jacks made himself big enough to make a smothering save.

Aside from that the Ducks had little to cheer in the opening stages with Jets well on top, and another Butler cross nearly gave them a second as Ian Bywater dive-headed the ball just wide.

Full back Andrew Lomas’s long shot deflected through to Sillitoe comfortably enough, but there was nothing comfortable for United when Putman raced clean through onto a long header downfield but with only the Ducks keeper to beat he slotted wide.

Jacks foiled Aylesbury again in the 18th minute when a fabulous, defence-splitting pass from Baines released Field, only for the visiting stopper to win the one-on-one duel, the resulting corner kick being flicked wide by Mulholland at the far post.

United were enjoying their best spell of the half having finally grown into the game, with Gallen firing a long shot over the bar, and Baines producing a flying header that dropped wide from Hammond’s excellent clipped pass over the defence.

Zac Reynolds then got in on the act with a narrowly wide shot on the turn having made a vital block in defence 90 seconds earlier to keep Putman at bay, and two minutes later Ben Butler volleyed goalwards with Jacks just about keeping hold of the greasy ball although no-one had followed in.

All the good work that suggested Aylesbury were back in the match was then undone by a 45th minute second goal by Jets. Putman was the creator – bringing the ball a long way as the green shirts timidly backed off, before teeing up Butler who crashed home a superb 20-yard shot into the top corner. No chance for Sillitoe, enraged by the lack of pressure on the goalscorer. 2-0 Oxhey Jets

Half-time: Aylesbury 0-2 Oxhey Jets

At half time Tony Joyce elected to withdraw the cautioned John Mulholland and introduce Joey Acheampong, with Jack Wood dropping into his much more effective central defence position.

The substitute was immediately involved as he took the ball down the right, his low cross popping out for Gallen on the penalty spot who fired in a venomous shot. Unfortunately it was far too straight allowing Jacks to make another good save with his legs.

United weren’t to be denied for long, and pulled a goal back with nine second half minutes played. Hammond’s corner kick delivery was headed goalwards by Brown, with Jacks only able to palm the ball spinning towards goal where Baines applied the finishing touch to carry it over the line. 1-2

Aylesbury found it difficult to build on their goal and Jets – Putman in particular - continued to look threatening as he had efforts go wide, then blocked by Reynolds and Brown in quick succession.

Louis Austin entered the fray and quickly won a free-kick for his side on the edge of the box, which was drilled low and hard by Hammond and Jacks held on well once again.

Momentum remained with Jets though as the visitors looked the most likely to add to the scoring, and they did just that three minutes from time.

A corner kick into the heart of the six-yard area was cleared properly, and Ian Bywater fired home through a mass of bodies in the box. 3-1 Oxhey Jets

With only a few minutes to play out a couple of late bookings was the only remaining action, and Oxhey Jets deservedly advanced to the third round.