Written by James Smith
Photo by James Smith
Dunstable Town travelled to Buckinghamshire on Tuesday night to face newly promoted Winslow United on an intensely hot evening.
Steve O’Reilly made three changes to the starting line up with Dan Purvis, Spencer O’Leary and Alex Desmond replacing Josh Hatton, Alex Butt and Caleb Chandler.
The first half was scrappy in the main but both teams had opportunities to open the scoring.
O’Leary had the first effort on goal in the 5th minute but his shot was easily gathered by Alfie Mumford in the United goal.
Six minutes later Mason Davis broke into the box but couldn’t quite cut his cross back to a teammate.
Courtney Massey then shot wide for the home side before Joe Hankins did the same at the other end.
Midway through the half Winslow’s Harry Scott unleashed a fine strike from distance which Desmond tipped onto the bar and away for a corner.
Ethan Flanagan was lucky to only get a yellow card for a nasty late tackle on Alex Ward as the game turned heated to match the conditions it was being played in.
Ten minutes before halftime both teams had efforts on goal in a three minute spell of end of to end action.
Ward shot at Mumford, which he saved but then the best chance came for the visitors when a superb cross from James Lauder found Hankins free six yards out but he didn’t get enough on his header and the ball agonisingly drifted wide. Aaron King then fired just over for Winslow.
Two goals early in the second half proved costly for Town and they will feel both were avoidable.
A direct ball found Scott in plenty of space to volley past Desmond who could do little to prevent his fine effort finding the net.
A minute later O’Leary was clean through on goal when he decided to pass rather than shoot when he had the chance to score but the pass was intercepted.
This proved a key turning point as minutes later a long kick from Mumford, which seemed to be miscued, found Nathan Amannyng in space and he struck the ball past Desmond to deflate the visitors.
Desmond made an excellent save on the hour to keep Dunstable in the game. Purvis then had a shot on goal deflect just wide.
Winslow’s physicality and experience made the last quarter difficult for Town as they broke up play at will and received two bookings for cynical fouls by Jardel Brown and Jake Stronge.
Town had a shot deflected over for a corner in the 83rd minute but a cross came back in for a free header by Hankins but he couldn’t get any power on it.
Desmond was called into action again with five minutes left before Winslow should have added a third in injury time but somehow missed the target with the goal at their mercy.
Team: Desmond; Purvis; Lodder; Lauder; Ovington; Onu; Ward; O’Leary; Davis; Hankins; Briggs.
Subs (all used): Hatton; Fox-Nania; Butt; Greene & Gavin.
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