Written by James Smith
Photo by James Smith
Dunstable Town 2-0 Winslow United
SSML Premier Division
Saturday 9th November 2024
Dunstable Town’s good league form continued on Saturday as they overcame a competitive Winslow United at Creasey Park.
In a highly entertaining game in front in 263, Town reversed the score and performance in the away fixture in July by competing with a physically strong opponent and deservedly taking the points.
Alex Desmond had to be alert in the 8th minute to tip Aaron King’s header over for a corner, which King then shot wide.
The hosts opened the scoring five minutes later when a ball from Lewis Smith seemed to deceive Alfie Mumford in the United goal and Alfie Osborne stooped in to direct a header brilliantly into the net.
In the 18th minute, Luka Lodder came close to a second for Town but Mumford made a brave save at his feet with Lodder then shooting over in the next phase of play.
Midway through the half Winslow’s Josh Flanagan became the first of many bookings in the game for both teams but it was one of a few for fouls committed when more should possibly have been forthcoming.
Mumford gathered Jamie Ovington’s header before Desmond made a superb reaction save from King to keep his team ahead.
Controversy came in the 35th minute when Sam Ezenwaka knocked the ball past Mumford in the area only to see the Town striker go to ground under the challenge. Despite vigorous appeals for a penalty, Ezenwaka was cautioned for simulation.
Two minutes before half time United’s Jardell Brown became the next player to be booked for a foul. They then hit the post with George Kerr firing the rebound wide.
There was still time for another yellow card, this time to Charlie Rowe as the visitors became frustrated with the way Town were controlling the game.
Dunstable kept it tight for the opening minutes of the second half and almost scored again when Osborne’s header across the box to Ezenwaka was sent towards goal but the ball was cleared for a corner in the 53rd minute.
The restart so a small melee on the goal line but Luka Lodder managed to direct the ball over it, which the assistant referee had no hesitation in giving, as Town went 2-0 up.
Winslow came narrowly close to halving the deficit with a header just wide a couple of minutes later.
The start of some very soft bookings came just before the hour when Desmond was next into the book for allegedly taking too much time over a goal kick.
Liam Hayden who came on as a substitute in the 60th minute was then cautioned eleven minutes later for simulation in the middle of the pitch when he seemed to be caught by a late tackle.
On 72 minutes Desmond saved well and set up a counterattack, which saw Ezenwaka’s shot diverted for a corner.
Another substitute Will Bishop became the next to be cautioned as some other decisions went unpunished. Harrison Mead who was on the end of a late tackle being one of them.
Hayden was given a second yellow card two minutes from the end of the ninety for a tackle, which saw frustration from the bench and spectators, given how many dangerous tackles had gone unpunished previously.
There was still time for Kerr to be issued a yellow and sin-binned deep into nine minutes of added time.
A very good performance from Dunstable who travel to MK Irish next Saturday for another tough match but will take confidence from their recent form against some equally tough opponents.
Team: Desmond; James; Silford; L Smith; Ovington; Osborne; Butt; Ezenwaka; Lodder; Briggs.
Subs: Hankins; Kenna; Hayden; Greene; Bircham.
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