Written by James Smith
Photo by George Lewington
Kempston Rovers 2-3 Dunstable Town
SSML Premier Division
Saturday 2nd November 2024
Luka Lodder scored with his teams’ last kick of the game in a dramatic ending at Hillgrounds on Saturday.
In a crazy ending to a rather non-eventful second half Town’s recent impressive form continued with a valuable three points to move them further up the table.
New signing Liam Hayden started on the bench while Jack James came into the starting lineup for Tom Silford.
Town got off to a bad start when the unmarked Aaron Hudson found the net in the 5th minute despite the best efforts of keeper Alex Desmond, who tried in vain to keep the powerful effort out.
Rovers were causing all sorts of issues down the visitors’ right and another cross came in two
minutes later, which Desmond did well to stop but his opponent was fortunately offside.
Dunstable began to settle down as a Lewis Smith free kick hit the wall while a superb cross by James just evaded Lodder at the far post.
They drew level on 26 minutes when Lodder was fouled in the area before confidently converting the spot kick.
There was little further action until four minutes before the break when a Kempston cross was almost met at the back stick but thankfully for Town, it missed its intended target.
Desmond had to be alert to a shot that bobbled up in front of him as the half ended even.
The second half got underway in a cagey opening few minutes until Kodi Briggs gave Town the lead with a delightful angled drive into the net via the far post in the 52nd minute.
The next twenty five minutes produced very little from both teams except a few bookings and substitutions as the flow of the game was less than frequent.
With 77 minutes gone Hayden thought he had beaten the offside trap and brought a save out of Kacper Kurylowicz before the assistant raised his flag.
A minute later Lodder had an effort deflected over for a successive corner, which was cleared.
Town were comfortable but needed a third goal to kill the game, unfortunately it was Rovers who capitalised on some poor defending from a free kick, which allowed a header back across the area to Elijah Muya fired home the equaliser to leave the Blues stunned.
However, the game ended in pandemonium when Kempston lost possession in midfield, the ball found a tired Lodder who’s only real option was to shoot from just inside the box as he had run out of steam but what a shot it was.
He curled a delightful effort into the top corner via the hand of Kurylowicz to spark scenes of joy on and off the pitch.
The last kick of the ball was by the hosts for the restart as the referee blew for full time a second later.
A great showing of character from Town who deserved the win.
They travel to Leighton Town on Tuesday in the first round of the Bedfordshire Senior Cup.
Team: Desmond; Bishop; James; L Smith; Ovington; Osborne; Mead; Briggs; Butt; Ezenwaka; Lodder.
Subs: Hankins; Kenna; Hayden; Greene; Bircham.
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