Kings march on at the top with victory over Aylesbury

The first half saw the two sides largely cancel each other out, as two strong defences made life difficult for the forwards and the midfield was tigerishly contested.

Ed Smith had the first shot for the visitors on 10 minutes, while Kings striker Mitchell Weiss gave James Weatherill an anxious moment from an acute angle 15 minutes later.

Raiding full-back Emmanuel Folarin tested Weatherill again, but a Daniel Gordon free-kick, hooked just past the post by Smith, was the best chance of an uncompromising half.

Battle recommenced after the break, with a rasping Gareth Price shot held by Xavi Comas Leon and a Callum Adebiyi header just wide.

Then came the breakthrough as the game entered its last quarter as a David Hutton corner was headed to Gary Connolly, whose instinctive volley arrowed into the top right hand corner of the net.

It was fitting recompense for the skipper, who has missed a full three months of the season due to injury.

Kings had looked to be getting the upper hand prior to this and they rammed the point home five minutes after the goal, when Hutton threaded a precise ball into the path of substitute Matt Bateman, cutting in from the right wing.

Neat footwork gave him a yard’s advantage over the accompanying attentions of Aylesbury skipper Dan Murphy, and the young striker expertly guided the ball over the shoulder of the outcoming Weatherill to seal the points.