Dunstable Town purred through the gears on Saturday to put on a fine display of offensive football and complete the double over London Colney.
Joe Sellers-West was unwell which meant a starting place for Remell Stirling. The younger brother of J’Ardell, Remell made his debut, and made it a double day to remember with a neatly taken debut goal.
A “worldie” from Terrence Muchineripi and a 7th goal of the season for Kyle Faulkner made sure the large crowd of 214 went home happy.
Blues supremos Joe Deeney and Kyle Durcan deserve huge praise for turning around the fortunes of the Club. Sitting bottom of the table four months ago the pair have motivated their new look team and now sit in 10th place and remain unbeaten in their last 13 games.
Average attendances are up to 180 which is higher than when the team graced the Premier Division of the Southern League four seasons ago.
Deeney and Durcan have put smiles back on the faces of supporters as the Club enjoys a run of form not seen since Darren Croft’s Invincibles team ten years ago.
London Colney had no answer to the Blues dominance in the key areas. The three goals scored could and probably should have been more but for the outstanding display from the Colney keeper who kept the scoreline respectable.
London Colney were captained by former Town man, Jimmy Hartley. Jimmy rallied his troops and gave everything for the cause. He needed to be carried from the field in the second half with a nasty looking injury. All at the Club wish him a speedy recovery.
If Dunstable had a poor start to the season and are now enjoying some decent results, the men from Hertfordshire are having a reversal of their fortunes. A decent start to the season has stalled and results recently have been disappointing. Finding the back of the net has proved difficult and as the League’s lowest scorers Dan Gould in the Blues goal didn’t offer them any respite.
Gould looked comfortable for the match and protected by the strong backline wasn’t unduly troubled by the London Colney attack.
The Blues went ahead after 20 minutes when another pinpoint corner from Dan Naylor found the head of Kyle Faulkner. Naylor’s dead ball accuracy has helped Town reap rich dividends since his arrival from Kempston Rovers.
Skipper Jamie “Jammers” Nicholls penned programme notes to commemorate the death of his closest friend. Describing how PK had been instrumental in persuading him to come out of retirement, Jammers played a captain’s part in the day’s proceedings despite the obvious emotion of the day.
Blues pushed and probed and countered the red shirts when they advanced. A second goal, you felt, was necessary to give a bit of breathing space. When it came it was a thing of beauty. Muchineripi shooting from distance. The ball looked to have been overhit and heading for the wire netting behind the far goal.
But the ball dropped deceptively and nestled into the back of the net, giving Terrence his 5th goal of the season and another contender for Goal of the Month.
Two became three soon after the break when Remell Stirling tucked the ball home after Muchineripi’s shot had been parried by the Colney keeper.
Wave after wave of blue shirts swept forward but no further goals were scored thanks to the heroics of the Colney keeper.
Benji Gray received a yellow card from referee Jack Frost who had a good game and drew warm praise from Joe Deeney after the game.
Saturday’s win makes it 7 wins and 6 draws in the last 13 games. Dan Gould and his defence have kept 5 clean sheets and with a points per game average of just over 2, the Blues are on target for a top half finish come the end of the season.
Before then, they face three tough away games, starting next Saturday away at Arlesey Town and then second and third placed, New Salamis & Hadley respectively.
Hold on to your hats this is going to be some ride.
Written by Andrew Madaras