Written by James Smith
Photo by James Smith
Dunstable Town’s recent good form came to an end at second placed Cockfosters on Saturday.
A below par performance not helped by an injury to Frankie Bircham early in the game and dismissal of Jamie Ovington with over half an hour to play added to a difficult afternoon in North London.
Alex Desmond returned in goal, while Joe Hankins and Alex Butt both started ahead of Finbar King and Ethan Goulding.
Cockfosters got off to a good start and they thought they had taken the lead when George Lutaaya slotted home but it was correctly ruled out for offside in the 8th minute.
Town responded with a shot by Hankins that went wide but then lost Bircham to what seemed like a muscular injury with 17 minutes gone.
The Blues were struggling to keep possession of the ball as Malik Nosike then shot straight at Desmond.
Ethan Rookard shot wide for Cockfosters in the 31st minute but they took the lead ten minutes later when his shot was well saved by Desmond but Lutaaya was on hand to finish the rebound with a header at the far post.
Luka Lodder shot wide just before half time as Town went into the break with work to do.
Unfortunately, the game was virtually over in a crazy ten minute spell after the break when Town conceded two goals in three minutes then had Ovington dismissed.
They failed to clear their lines three minutes into the new half as Nosike finished with ease. He then added his second a few minutes later, finding space on the edge of the box to shoot a high curling effort over Desmond into the roof of the net.
Ovington was booked for dissent in the aftermath of one of fhe goals then things got heated in the 58th minute when a small melee broke out just outside the hosts’ penalty area and Ovington was alleged to have lashed out and was sent off.
The game turned slow paced after the incident as Cockfosters had time to keep the ball with an extra man and comfortable lead.
They shot wide on 77 minutes before Richard Ennin had a shot easily saved by Desmond with five minutes remaining.
It was a disappointing day for Dunstable who had been on a good run but unfortunately too many things went wrong against a strong opponent.
Team: Desmond; Kenna; Briggs; Butt; Ovington; Osborne; Hankins; Bircham; Hayden; Mead; Lodder.
Subs: Goulding; King; Ezenwaka; Howgego; James.
Attendance: 164.