BIGGLESWADE UNITED 0 AFC DUNSTABLE 2
South Midlands League Premier Division
Craig Butler and BJ Christie netted in the second half to down Biggleswade as AFC Dunstable clawed themselves to within two points of second placed Creasey Park neighbours Dunstable Town who lost against mid table Colney Heath.
It was a sixth win on the bounce for the OD's and boss Alex Butler said: "The work ethic of this side still amazes me," adding: "We have no superstars, just a great bunch of lads who all fight for each other and when Biggleswade had a purple patch, they battened down the hatches and all mucked in together."
The manager started with the same 11 after hitting seven against Hanwell Town in their last game. His side took time to settle, but started to dominate the ball after ten minutes.
The first decent chance fell to Christie but his shot was well saved on 17 minutes. AFC continued to push forward and a great through ball by Gareth Harnaman picked out Hayden Wills' run but, again, Biggleswade's keeper produced a stop.
The chances were now stacking up and when Wills tamely placed his shot into the keeper's hands, it looked like it was not going to be Dunstable's day.
With all this pressure, it should have been 1-0 on the stroke of half time, when a Harnaman free kick found Danny Ryan, but his typical centre back's effort went wide.
Hoping not to be punished for all these missed chances, Biggleswade upped their game at the start of the second half but finally AFC got the breakthrough on 56 minutes.
A rasping Butler strike was too hot to handle and AFC went 1-0 up. United continued to look more dangerous but just did not have the killer instinct in the final third.
AFC keeper Nick Gardner was called into action on 67 minutes and saved smartly and with United now pushing forward, they were open for the counter attack and great work by Courtney Massey crossed for Christie to slip the ball home on 72 minutes.
The remaining time of the game saw Graeme Buchanan come close as did substitute Moses Olaleye.
AFC's next game is on Monday, January 2 at home to Aylesbury United (1pm.)
DUNSTABLE TOWN 1 COLNEY HEATH 2
Dunstable Town slipped to second place and their first league defeat at home this season in a controversial game that saw six cautions and three dismissals.
There were shameful scenes in the second half which saw a nine man Heath hold out against the Dunstable ten.
As far as the game went it was Heath who held the initiative and George Rowland’s free kick from the left at the start of the second half surprised him most of all when it sailed unchallenged into the net.
A few minutes later, an improving Dunstable, despite the dismissal of Mark Boyce for retaliation, drew level when a free kick, was met by Nick Leach at the far post.
Dunstable were looking stronger until the dismissal of Josh Humbert of Colney Heath. His exit sparked a degree of altercation among players and spectators, and following this Heath also had Glenn Draper dismissed.
An unsettled restart saw Dunstable slow to react and Steve Barker nipped in to put the visitors ahead. Dunstable stormed the opposition goal for the remainder but were thwarted by keeper Tom Blackman and their own inaccuracy.
Elsewhere in Division One, Crawley Green edged out hosts Cranfield United with a late goal from James McCarthy three minutes from time.
