Match Report: Dunstable Town 1-0 Aylesbury Vale Dynamos
- 7 days ago
- 3 min read
Updated: 6 days ago
Photo: Mason Watkins-Clark heads home. (JS)
Report by James Smith.
Photos by James Smith & George Lewington.
Dunstable Town won what could be their last game under their current name with a 1-0 victory over Aylesbury Vale Dynamos.
With the club possibly merging with AFC Dunstable, it was fitting that over 500 people watched an historic day end with Mason Watkins-Clark’s header being enough to end the season on a high after such a rollercoaster nine months when it looked bleak at the end of February and relegation a possibility.
Since the defeat at Tring Athletic and the second half performance in that game, the team have lost just two of their ten remaining matches, one against FA Vase finalists Cockfosters and the other against Wormley Rovers, where they could have picked up a point.
Town started the game well, dominating the opening stages and had the ball in the net in the opening two minutes when Luka Lodder finished off a free kick but was ruled offside.
Blaaze Lawrence almost scored the other end for the visitors when his free kick from outside the box curled narrowly wide on 18 minutes.
Photo: Blaaze Lawrence’s free kick. (JS)
Just after the half hour mark Lawrence hit a shot wildly over before Jake Anthony just missed the target for Dunstable on the counter attack.
With half time approaching, Luke Beckwith was close to scoring for Aylesbury but was just unable to connect with a cross from the right.
Seconds before the interval Lodder was played through but was inches short of connecting with the ball before Matthew Bonsu intervened in the Dynamos goal.
Town started the second half as they did the first, with intensity, as Lewis Smith’s shot took a deflection and went centimetres wide then Owen Russell had a shot blocked in the opening four minutes.
Photo: Kodi Briggs (left) about to whip in a free kick. (GL)
Lodder had a shot easily saved before the Blues opened the scoring. Kodi Briggs whipped in a free kick that Lodder headed downwards towards goal but Terry Griffiths headed off the line for a corner. Briggs put in another excellent restart that found Watkins-Clark who rose superbly to head home with 61 minutes played.
Photo: Watkins-Clark (middle) is congratulated by Josh Dooley (left). (GL)
Dunstable managed the game well for the majority of what was left of the game with the ever hardworking Anthony bringing a save from Bonsu with six minutes to go then Alex Butt went on a surging run before shooting over.
Daniel Forde had a good opportunity to equalise for the visitors but sliced his shot wide when through on goal then Dynamos headed over with a minute left.
In added time Mulik Rickman back-heeled the ball to Lodder with his powerful shot being saved by Bonsu.
Photo: Mulik Rickman before his back-heel. (JS)
It was an enjoyable game to mark the end of a difficult season, as those in attendance applauded the efforts of the team that cleared them away from relegation.
Team: C Smith; Nicholls; Hudson-Doncaster; Kenna; Watkins-Clark; Dooley; L Smith; Bowyer; Anthony; Russell; Lodder.
Subs: Rickman; Butt; Ajana; Briggs; Rahho.
Photo: Luka Lodder in action. (JS)
Attendance: 532.
Match sponsors Man of the Match: TBA
Match galleries:
