Aylesbury’s return to action after the weather-enforced break proved to be disastrous as the Ducks were taken apart by a ruthless Royston Town to emphatically end their interest in the Red Insure Cup, with manager Tony Joyce suffering his heaviest defeat in charge of the club.

A combination of quality from Royston and an all-round abject display from the Ducks culminated in a 6-0 reverse as United totally failed to get to grips with their hosts, who were 3-0 to the good within nineteen minutes and never looked back.

The positives were few, but Jack Sillitoe and Shane Wood both made welcome returns after long term injuries, the former making a number of useful stops to limit Royston to six, whilst Lee Grace’s one match suspension has now been spent.

United had the first effort on goal when Ben Baines won a free-kick 25-yards out in a central position. Daniel Jones hit the target but his attempt lacked the power or direction to test young Stevenage loanee Nick Thompson in goal.

However, it was Royston who deservedly opened the scoring with eight minutes on the clock. Kaan Fehmi got the better of Jack Wood before twisting and finishing well. 1-0 Royston

From that point Aylesbury had to contend with wave after wave of attack from the confident hosts.

Fehmi went close again with a bending effort, and it was no surprise when the second arrived seconds later. Jhai Dhillon delivered an excellent inswinging free kick which caused confusion in the Ducks defence, and marksman Craig Hammond was on hand to get the final touch amongst the scramble and score. 2-0 Royston

Only four minutes later and a third Crows goal arrived, Fehmi robbing Liam Smyth in midfield before running on and producing a sublime finish that bent around Sillitoe and just inside the post. 3-0 Royston

There was no respite for the Ducks, with the ball cut back from the byeline for a shot which really should have produced number four in the twenty-third minute, and aside from three corner kicks the Ducks were unable to make any impression on the hosts’ defence.

Sillitoe did well twice in two minutes to keep the Crows at bay, firstly clawing away a looping header from Hammond from a right wing cross and then saving with his legs to deny Fehmi his hat trick, temporarily at least, after Carl Edwards supplied the through ball.

Antonio Murray and Lewis Endacott both flicked efforts goalwards but found the Ducks number one well placed to deal with them, but Royston, and Fehmi, weren’t to be denied deservedly increasing their advantage.

Fehmi collected the ball and went on a run past four of five weak challenges before picking his spot and finishing off his treble with virtually the last kick of the first half. 4-0 Royston

Half-time: Royston 4-0 Aylesbury

With the game seemingly dead and buried, Crows manager Steve Castle withdrew the excellent Fehmi, and had the luxury of a 15-goal replacement in Robbie Mason to bring on at the interval, whilst Ryan Lockett also replaced Dhillon.

Just like the first half, the second period started with an Aylesbury shot, Stacey Field with a rare sight of goal but shooting low and wide across the target.

At the other end a flicked header from Hammond went wide, but the Ducks were at least giving their hosts something to think about in the final third with half chances for Edgeworth – hooking the ball over his head backwards, but wide – and Daniel Jones, who struck a snapshot on the half volley straight at Thompson.

Sadly, Royston quelled any United improvement with a fifth goal of their own. A corner kick was worked out to Reece Dobson, lurking some 30-yards from goal, and the debutant struck a gem of a drive through a mass of bodies and past the unsighted Sillitoe. 5-0 Royston

Aylesbury responded with a triple substitution as Jason Blackett, Dom Petrucci and Shane Wood joined the game, but still the hosts had the momentum as Hammond tried to add to his tally with two long shots which, the second of which was the pick and had to be tipped over by Sillitoe.

Three minutes later and the scoring was completed with a sixth when Robbie Mason towered above the defence to lever Lockett’s cross into the top corner, despite Sillitoe’s best efforts in keeping the ball out. 6-0 Royston

The remaining fifteen minutes were played out with little further action, the Ducks more than happy to hear the full time whistle. A big improvement will be needed going into the weekend’s derby with an improving Leighton Town (weather permitting).