Match Report: Dunstable Town 0-0 Tring Athletic

Photo: Alex Butt chases down an opponent.

Written by James Smith

Photos by James Smith

Dunstable Town picked up a valuable point to remain unbeaten their opening opening four matches.

Opponents Tring Athletic will feel it was a big chance to gain maximum points but their finishing didn’t match their domination of the ball for long periods.

Town looked jaded after a difficult game in the heat on Saturday in Harlow and struggled to keep the ball following a good opening few minutes. Tring made a few changes to freshen up their line up that was defeated at home to Arlesey Town.

Tring who took control after the opening minutes, putting pressure on the Town goal with a few shots and a corner won.

Alex Desmond continued from where he left off at Harlow by making a good save in the 16th minute before Town broke away a minute later and had the ball in the back of the net when Luka Lodder converted Hadley Gleeson’s cross but the latter was ruled offside in the build up.

Photo: Kodi Briggs on the attack.

Desmond pulled off a great stop with twenty minutes gone to deny Bailey Osbourne as Dunstable struggled to keep possession, making unforced errors much to their frustration.

In the 28th minute Blake Argent called Desmond into action again, saving his shot well before a cross flashed across Desmond’s six yard box but there was no one to convert.

Tring controlled the next ten minutes with a lot of possession but weren’t able to turn it into goals.

Town ended the half well when Mulik Rickman and Lodder had shots blocked but the visitors had the last efforts on goal as Lewis Smith had to block a shot from the edge of the Blues’ box then Max Hercules headed over right on the half time whistle.

Photo: Mulik Rickman shoots for goal.

Dunstable forced a corner that was cleared early on in the second half but Tring almost capitalised on a mistake at the back on 62 minutes but Mason Watkins-Clark had to block superbly well for the second time in the half.

Tring shot over as they continued to push for the opening goal but again their shot conversion was lacking despite having a lot of the ball.

With just over 20 minutes left Steve O’Reilly introduced Montel Brown who scored the dramatic winner three days earlier.

It was a positive move as Brown was on the front foot from the off as he headed just wide on 74 minutes then Tring shot wide a minute later.

They then shot high over the bar before Town had their best chance of the game when Brown was sent clear but Josh Ameganvi saved well to deny him.

A cross from Mason Clarke ended with a looping header from Osbourne bouncing off the Town bar.

Photo: Montel Brown’s introduction was a positive one.

Tring’s Finn Rolfe then hit a fine strike against the post with ten minutes to go as both teams tried to get the winner.

Brown then forced another save from Ameganvi before Desmond made another fine save at his near post.

Lodder shot off target in the final moments as both sides had to settle for a draw as the game ended goalless.

Team: Desmond; Kenna; Briggs; Smith: Watkins; Russell; Rickman; Butt; Lodder; Mead; Gleeson.

Subs: Matthews; Sales; Goulding; Clark and Brown.

Dunstable Man of the Match: JJ Kenna.

Attendance: 284