The second period saw Tameside lose the plot after going 23-13 ahead. They managed to struggle on to the half time whistle to lead 31-23 mainly thanks to Finbow and some solid defence. The Owls shooting was well below par or the game would have been over by now.

The third quarter saw Aylesbury's Jayaratne gain more influence on the game coupled with unusually less discipline from Tameside, who only scored 10 points in the ten minutes, saw them holding onto a slender 41-36 lead.

The last quarter saw the Owls defence, normally their strongest asset, become ragged and disjointed and as much as coach Mat Foden tried to rally his team they seemed incapable of playing co-ordinated team basketball.  Pete Finbow seemed to fight a lone lost cause offensively and despite scoring nine points in the period could not save his team losing their grip on their first division title by a single point.

Owls Scorers: Finbow 23, Pullen 13, Peel (g) 12, Tarkenter 4.

Scorers for Aces: Jayaratne 20, Jellows 16, Dear 7, Blake 6 and Blomfield 4.