Written by James Smith
Photos by James Smith
FA Vase 2nd Qualifying Round Saturday 21st September 2024
Dunstable Town’s stay in the FA Vase was a brief one after a second half performance that saw them lose a two goal lead to crash out of the competition at the first hurdle.
Tring to their credit played well throughout but two defensive errors contributed to Town being in a commanding position at halftime.
The Blues started in fine fashion in the second minute when Ethan Goulding’s shot was only parried into the path of Sam Ezenwaka who scored from eight yards.
The visitors responded well with a lot of possession and two headers just off target, one of which by Bailey Osbourne.
Dunstable sprung a counterattack when Luka Lodder broke away in the 16th minute and his shot was blocked for a corner. The restart was met by Jamie Ovington whose header was spilled by Dan Gould to the feet of Ezenwaka who scored at the second attempt.
Another header off target by Tring midway through the half came before a huge turning point in the 26th minute. Lodder again broke away, rounded Gould but didn’t get his shot away quick enough. Instead he cut the ball back to Ezenwaka who was denied a hat-trick by a defender on the line.
It was a crucial moment when Lodder probably should have taken the shot on earlier but crucially for the visitors a bit of excellent defensive cover kept them in game.
On the half hour mark, Tring had a shot deflected narrowly over before Ovington’s free header was saved by Gould.
Right on half time Alex Butt’s header at the far post could only find the side netting.
For the second Saturday in a row Town came out for the second half slowly and conceded four minutes into it when Harry Shepherd headed home.
Shepherd got his second on 53 minutes when a low driven corner found him unmarked to side foot past Alex Desmond.
Frankie Hercules then hit a fine shot, which hit the roof of the net on its way over the bar as Tring were very much on the front foot.
A lapse in concentration in the 64th minute allowed Shepherd to score his third when Town switched off when Tring took a quick free kick to the unmarked attacker who drilled his shot past Desmond.
To make matters worse for Dunstable they conceded a penalty in the 72nd minute which was converted by George Carbery.
With eleven minutes remaining the visitors hit the post but thankfully for Town the move was ruled offside.
Soon after James Lauder and Jack Harvey were both booked for each team for a small melee.
In added time Kodi Briggs had a shot easily saved before Tring countered to score their fifth when Osbourne capped off a fine comeback and leave Dunstable shell-shocked.
Team: Desmond; Kenna: Briggs; Goulding; James; Ovington; Hankins; Butt; Mead; Ezenwaka; Lodder. Subs: Greene; Bishop; Onu; Lauder & Amu.
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