Written by Alfie Newbury
Photos by Liam Smith
Dunstable travelled to The JSJ Stadium to play Stotfold FC in the final game of the season.
The home team already guaranteed second place finish after beating Leighton Town on Thursday night. Stotfold will play in the promotion play off. For Dunstable, it was about playing for pride and finishing as high in the table as possible.
Dunstable started the brighter side as in the first 3 minutes Kyle Faulkner had a deflected shot from outside the box that was easy enough for the Stotfold keeper Liam Gooch to catch.
Stotfold had their first opportunity in the 6th minute as Kurtis Alleyne shot wide of Carl Knox’s post.
In the 8th minute Robbie Goodman’s lobbed pass found Joe Sellers-West as he perfectly volleyed with the side of his foot it into the bottom right hand corner to make it 1-0 to Dunstable.
Stotfold 0-1 Dunstable Town
Dunstable kept up the pressure to grab a second goal and had a great chance when Tolu Ikuyinminu shot from outside the box that just went over the bar.
Dunstable then had another chance to go 2-0 up as Danny Webb's close-range shot was bravely saved by Stotfold keeper Liam Gooch with his body.
Danny Webb had another golden chance to put the away team two up as he was through on goal, he put his effort just wide.
Stotfold had one last chance to get a goal with five minutes to go when Jordan Stevenson's half volley just went wide.
The referee blew the whistle for half time with both sets of supporters showing their support for their teams by clapping the players off the field.
Half time
Stotfold FC 0-1 Dunstable Town FC
The second half started with Dunstable starting the game as the better team as in the 49th minute, Kyle Faulker’s perfect cross met the head of Danny Webb’s but his effort was palmed away by the instinctive reflexes of Stotfold goalkeeper Gooch.
Two minutes later, Stotfold skipper Josh Bamford’s sliding cross met the number 7 Aaron Hector as he bravely slid to put the ball in the back of the net to make the game all square.
Stotfold FC 1-1 Dunstable
In the 66th minute, Dunstable had a good chance, but Faulkner’s header was saved by Gooch.
Seconds later, Faulkner had another chance but his volley outside of the box was wide of the post.
In the 76th minute, Danny Webb was through on goal, but his shot was saved once again from Gooch who had a decent game for Stotfold. But Dunstable won the ball in midfield as Danny Webb’s cross from the wing was met by Kyle Faulkner as he headed the ball in the bottom right-hand corner of the goal to put Dunstable in front once again.
Stotfold 1-2 Dunstable
5 minutes later, Tolu Ikuyinminu showed his class as he went past the Stotfold defender and found Faulkner in the box as he just tapped the ball in the back of the net with four Stotfold players on the line.
Stotfold 1-3 Dunstable
Stotfold had a chance in the 88th minute to get some hope in this game as Kade Bagge had a chance to make it 3-2, but his shot just went wide.
The full-time whistle went, and Dunstable won the game on the final day of the season finishing 4th in the table behind Risborough Rangers on the same points, but who had a better goal difference. The Dunstable fans congratulated the team off the pitch with Joe Deeney and the coaching staff showing their support to the large number of away fans who travelled to the game game.
Stotfold have a play-off game next Saturday to see if they will be promoted or stay in the division, so we wish them luck.
Full time
Stotfold 1-3 Dunstable
We would like to thank the fans of Dunstable Town, for your support home and away this season. You guys have been brilliant and we can’t thank you all enough. Even though we didn’t get promoted, finishing 4th is very good for the team, and we can take positives going into next season. We hope to see you all next season supporting the boys and hope we reach high expectations as well.
Thank you.
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