Dunstable Town 2-2 Harpenden Town 2nd November 2019 Written by Patrick MacKay and Pictures by Chris white. A last gasp goal from Harpenden Town's Chris Blunden saw the points shared on a wet and windy afternoon at Creasey Park. From the start the game settled into a pattern of the visitors having plenty of territory, but Dunstable managed the game well, and didn't look under any particular threat. When the Blues did have possession they looked composed. Seeing more joy down the left wing, Dunstable's best move in the early stages was set in motion by Jack Harvey-Bailey with a lovely pass on the outside of his foot to Adam Sawyer, who drove at the defence and saw his fierce shot blocked well. Sawyer was again involved as he played a short backpass to Dan Gould, but the Harpenden attackers couldn't take full advantage, and the Blues quickly recovered. With the away side still pressing, Charlie Weatherhead and early substitute Harvey Scott both shot over the bar, the Dunstable backline standing firm to deny any clearcut opportunities. Five minutes before the break, Dan Blackman had two consecutive opportunities to deliver from the corner, the second an in-swinger which was met firmly by the head of Davide Pobbe, who aimed low and scored beneath Harpenden goalkeeper Alex Desmond. Having gained the lead, the home team looked to extend their advantage before the break, firstly through a speculative Ben Collins attempt, and then when Joel Nketia cleared a dangerous cross with Joe Hankins lurking. Harpenden ramped up the pressure at the beginning of the second period, with Scott squandering Harpenden's first clear chance of the game when he failed to make clean contact with a cross into the box, Dan Gould saving easily. Minutes later the away team levelled, when Gould received a backpass under pressure, dealt with it well, but the ball came straight back and Nathan McGreevy slotted into the bottom corner. The Harpenden attacks came in wave after wave in their search for a winner, and when Eric Ameyaw conceded a free kick central to the goal and well within striking range, Dan Gould did well to tip Chris Blunden's effort over the bar. Having been the better side in the second half, Harpenden Town found themselves behind again with five minutes left to play. Once again it was a Blackman corner that created the opportunity, this time it was Joe Hankins arriving in space to guide his header into the back of the net. Going into injury time, it looked as though the Blues were going to get the three points, but after the mother of all goalmouth scrambles, Chris Blunden was able to turn the ball into the Dunstable net and earn his side a share of the spoils. Next up for Dunstable is a trip to Biggleswade United on Saturday, before the Dunstable Town Quiz Night takes place at Creasey Park on Saturday evening.
