STOTFOLD 0 DUNSTABLE TOWN 1
South Midlands League Premier Division
Dunstable kept their shape and discipline to win by a solitary George Brinkman goal at Roker Park in a game that was as tight as a drum.
The win keeps the Blues in second place and it was vital following the unexpected home defeat to Colney Heath last week plus leaders Royston Town thumping Biggleswade United 7-0.
Playing against the cold prevailing wind, Dunstable’s best chance came when Brinkman needed to steady himself as well as the ball as a cross came in but the striker was unable to get enough purchase on the strike. Craig Henney followed up with a narrow miss.
The game’s only goal came on 29 minutes as Nathan Frater and Damen Pickering exchanged quick passes in midfield before the overlapping Mark Boyce made a run along the right flank. His cross was converted well by Brinkman under defensive pressure.
Stotfold responded with two shots within a minute but returning keeper Paul Taylor was determined to keep a clean sheet. Both sides created chances and emerged from the interval with the same attacking ideas.
A superb display by the Dunstable back four with new signing Jack Nelly impressing alongside the consistent Joseph Bruce, it was always going to be hard for the Rokermen who had lost their last six league and cup games against Dunstable – and always by a narrow margin.
With the wind behind them Dunstable kept possession well and there were decent chances for Frater and substitutes Jonathan Cooper and Lee Roache.
Stotfold pressed whenever they could with attempts from Gareth Cottenden and Lee Harman but Taylor was never seriously troubled.
Individual runs from both Cooper and Roache very nearly added to the score late in the game but the Blues were content to go home with the three points that keeps their championship challenge alive.
AFC DUNSTABLE 1 AYLESBURY UNITED 0
BJ Christie's 15th goal of the season made it seven straights wins though the win at home for AFC Dunstable but was the least convincing performance for quite some time.
AFC coach, Justin Redmond, said: "I expect we cannot win with flowing football all the time. Aylesbury came here with a game plan and nearly executed it.
"Even though we were not up to our usual standards, the team worked tirelessly and if you actually look at chances created, we probably edged it."
A slight reshuffle took place as the suspended Danny Ryan missed out, so Graeme Buchanan dropped back into the defence from midfield. Richard Harker made his first start since November and Moses Olaleye returned to the starting line up.
In front of a bumper Bank Holiday crowd of 189, they witnessed a very tight game which could have gone either way.
Aylesbury set up to work hard all over the pitch, to give AFC no time at all on the ball and cut off the supply line to Christie.
Joey Acheampong was a concern for the Dunstable defence all afternoon and the first real chance of the game fell to him but he shot wide.
Three successive corners for the Ducks gave AFC problems as they struggled to clear their lines but against the run of play AFC took the lead. And on the only time Aylesbury let Christie go on 22 minutes the striker raced clear and coolly slotted home.
In reply, Aylesbury's Melford Simpson once again set up Acheampong but James Baldry denied him.
Knowing they had to up their game in the second half, AFC nearly made it 2-0 four minutes into the half when Harker latched onto an Olaleye pass. Instead of hitting the ball first time, he dwelled on the ball and the chance had gone.
The next chance fell to Courtney Massey nine minutes later but his strike was well saved by Jack Sillitoe.
Aylesbury continued to look dangerous and had two good shouts for penalties turned down and Baldry and Buchanan had to be on their best form to keep them at bay.
The visitors thought they had drawn level on 79 minutes but it was ruled out for offside.
With the game becoming a midfield battle, AFC still looked dangerous on the break and a mazy run from the halfway line by Kyle Lincoln ended up with an weak effort.
After the injection of Hayden Wills and Ryan Quinn, Wills broke clear but ran out of pitch.
With nerves jangling, Quinn beat the offside trap in the last minute but he shot was well saved by Sillitoe.
SOUTH MIDLANDS DIVISION ONE
Crawley Green's home match against New Bradwell St Peter was postponed.
