Written by James Smith
Photo by James Smith
Dunstable Town 0-1 Baldock Town
Saturday 10th August 2024
Spartan South Midlands Premier League
Dunstable Town were hit with a sucker punch in injury time, conceding a goal when the game was heading for a draw. Town were slightly the better team, creating more clearcut chances but were unable to convert them.
The opening stages were nervy from both sides but Ayo Akinbobola created the first attack in the 4th minute but no one was able to be on the end of it. Nine minutes later he was sent through on goal but his shot was saved by Tautuydus Poniskaitis.
Akinbobola set up Shea Greene on the half hour with another cross for the right but his effort was straight at Poniskaitis as Town increased the intensity.
Joe Hankins did well to cross for Akinbobola but his shot was high over the bar then Dunstable keeper Alex Desmond was called into action for the first time, ten minutes before the break, smothering the ball well to deny the visitors a chance.
In the 38th minute, the lively Kodi Briggs went on a fine run but his finish couldn’t match the skill to create the opportunity as his shot missed the target.
In added time the visitors had their best chance but the header went just over the bar. This was followed by another great run by Briggs whos strike was saved well with the ball falling to James Lauder on the edge of the box but he shot narrowly wide.
The second half was cagey to start with. The home side thought they had opened the scoring in the 58th minute when a quickly taken free kick found Briggs who crossed for Jamie Ovington to score from close range but the referee pulled play back having not blown for the restart to be taken.
Harry Dollimore had a shot blocked for the visitors minutes later but there was little attacking opportunities for either team until the 89th minute when Baldock’s Newman Carney had a direct free kick go over the bar.
The game was won two minutes later when Dunstable had a corner but left themselves open for the counter attack. Riley Carr received a through ball on the halfway line, turned and sprinted clear, rounding Desmond and finishing from a narrow angle.
It was heartbreak for Dunstable as they did enough to win the game with chances created but ruthlessness in front of goal was proving an issue and being so open from their own corner will have been a lesson learned.
They will find positives again, especially with chances created but need to turn them into goals. Briggs was a real bright spark for them too.
The team are back in action on Tuesday at Aylesbury Vale Dynamos then play Arlesey Town at Creasey Park on Saturday.
Team: Desmond; Kenna; Williams; Smith; Ovington; James; Akinbobola; Lauder; Greene; Briggs; Hankins.
Subs: Butt; Gavin; Davis; Goulding and Purvis.
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