Match Report: Risborough Rangers 4-4 Dunstable Town

Photo: Jim Burnside is congratulated after his goal.

Written by James Smith

Dunstable Town showed a performance of high character to come back from 3-1 down to a strong Risborough Rangers team and almost won the game but had to settle for a well earned point.

The team are still in transition after many changes but with evidence of hard work and determination throughout the game Town will be pleased with the performance.

The opening minutes didn’t produce many efforts on goal but George Rose saved well from the lively Josh Williams in the 9th minute.

Three minutes later experienced forward Elliott Buchanan found the net for Rangers but he was ruled offside.

The game unpredictablely changed in Town’s favour soon after Jim Burnside was sin-binned by the referee for something he said to the official but despite being down to ten men they took the lead when Michael Shamalo finished well after an assist from Ethan Goulding.

In the 26th minute Dunstable had to be alert to clear a shot off the line then Rose made a fine save to help retain their lead.

Rose was again called into action with a superb save ten minutes before half time with Prince Madu making an equally superb block in the same attack.

Unfortunately, Town were unable to hold on to the lead going into the break as Williams scored the equaliser with three minutes to play.

With two minutes gone in the second half Burnside had a shot saved then Buchanan shot just wide at the other end.

Risborough took the lead in the 54th minute when Buchanan’s shot was palmed away by Rose but Alex Cathline followed up to score from close range.

Four minutes later the game seemed to be getting out of reach for Town when Buchanan hit a powerful low drive that beat Rose to give his team a 3-1 lead.

Town man of the match JJ Kenna then cleared a shot off the line before Dunstable showed fight and spirit to turn the game on its head.

Joe Caffery pulled a goal back on 65 minutes when he finished calmly to make it 3-2. Soon after a cross from the right was just short of finding Burnside in the box.

However, Burnside got his reward when he found the net in similar fashion to Caffery to draw Dunstable level with fifteen minutes to go.

Risborough looked stunned and it got even better for Town in the 85th minute when a cross caused chaos in the Rangers box as Oliver Sprague almost put through his own net but Ben Bridle-Card palmed the ball, point blank, into the path of Luka Lodder who showed extreme composure to score to give his team the lead.

It was not to be though for Dunstable as Williams scored with a fine curling strike minutes later. Town were adamant he was offside but nothing was given.

Both teams had to settle for a point with the Blues taking high praise from the visiting supporters for the way they fought back and almost won the game.

Team: Rose; Kenna; Sales; Goulding; Madu; Caffery; Burnside; Shamalo; Lodder; Butt; Robinson.

Subs: Rickman; Mukopfa; Peprah; Nicholls.

Attendance: 96

Town Man of the Match: JJ Kenna.