Written by Andrew Madaras
Photos by Liam Smith
The Blues ended their home campaign signing off in spectacular style in front of another above average attendance of 268. Ahead by two goals in the first two minutes on this form they are an irresistible watch and when you consider this was their fourth game in a week it makes the achievement even more praiseworthy.
Harpenden Town brought a good following with them but apart from a 10th minute goal their loyal fans had little to cheer about on an afternoon which belonged to the home side.
The Blues ran out eventual 5 -1 winners with Messrs Webb & Faulkner scoring a brace each with Joe Sellers-West scoring the first goal of the afternoon with mere seconds on the clock.
It meant that Webb, Faulkner & Sellers-West all joined Kelvin Osei-Addo on 14 goals for the season. With two away games still to play it will be a tight finish to see which of the Blues marksmen ends the season as the highest goalscorer.
Heavy overnight rain meant that the stadium pitch failed a lunchtime pitch inspection despite the mopping up activities of a dozen or so Club volunteers who responded to the call to brushes and garden forks to try and make large puddles of water disappear.
A valiant effort by the volunteers was all in vain though, but with express permission from the League and the agreement of Harpenden Town & referee Josh Burns, the match was switched to the all weather surface at the back of Creasey Park.
Supporters were rewarded for their perseverance and loyalty with warm sunshine, the delightful wares of Mark from Farmhouse Catering and a five star performance from the Blues.
The weather was in stark contrast to the antediluvian torrent of rain that fell over the Brache just five days earlier. Biblical references seemed appropriate to describe the monsoonesque volume of water that fell from the skies. A devastating seven-minute spell just after the hour mark saw Dunstable score three goals which was enough to see off a spirited performance from Crawley Green.
Another large away following braved the elements and congregated in the stand and standing supporters covered area, except for Scottie, Dean, and the junior regiment who stood behind the goal, banging the drum and ringing the cowbell. Music to my ears.
Former Blue, Dan Gould was Crawley Green’s man of the match pulling off some outstanding saves to keep the scoreline respectable. Dunstable hit the woodwork twice in what was a thoroughly professional performance to secure all three points on the road.
They repeated the feat 48 hours later away at Aylesbury Vale Dynamos. Another former Blue, Charlie Jones, was in goal for the home side, but he, just like his predecessor, was unable to stop the Blues from scoring three times. Ethan Creary popped up with a well-deserved brace, the first time he’s earned himself a goal bonus since his goal against Holmer Green in the FA Vase on September 24th. Ethan deservedly winning the Man of The Match award for an almost faultless display.
Since the beginning of March the Blues have played six games away from Creasey Park, winning four, drawing once and losing once, and scoring 13 goals and conceding 5 goals.
After a shaky few games at home where successive draws against Biggleswade, Colney Heath & Baldock Town dented confidence it has been a very welcome return to form.
It’s not just the winning which has been enjoyable, but the manner of the performances which have been professional, exemplary and rewarding for the Blue Army which follows the Club away from home in numbers unsurpassed in all my years of being a supporter.
As the home average attendance reached 206, support away from home has twice been over 100 and several times in the 70’s and 80’s.
Now as the season reaches its climax the Blues face two enormous tests of their character and resolve, starting on Tuesday 18th April when they travel to Risborough Rangers.
Risborough lie in third place ahead of the Blues on goal difference and by virtue of soring 11 goals on Saturday against Colney Heath. Eight different players scored for Rangers so the Blues defence will need to be as secure as Fort Knox to keep out the League’s joint top goalscorers who have hit the back of the net 90 times this season in League games alone.
And then our attention turns to the last game of the season where the Blues travel to Stotfold for a match which may determine which Club finishes second and goes into the play offs.
On a wet November afternoon last year, Stotfold came to Creasey Park and played the Blues off the park, winning comfortably 4 -0. It has been the only time this season that we have conceded four goals and irrespective of final League positions, the players will want to avenge that defeat and restore their pride. A large away following is guaranteed to get behind Joe Deeney and the players in what is shaping up to be one of the most exciting final League matches for many a year.
Comments