We continued our league campaign on the road at Dunstable Town last night. It was a lovely warm evening, more akin to sipping San Miguel with a sea view rather than watching football. However, the quality of football last night made us all glad we were at Creasy Park .
The game started in frantic fashion, but it didn’t take the lads long to settle and get into their stride. Once again, we were treated to some really lovely passing football, and as the half progressed we became increasingly dominant.

The first big chance came on 6mins when Max fizzed a ball in which was met by Blake with the goal at his mercy, but the pace of the ball made control difficult and his effort went over the bar.

We continued to pass well and press for the opener, with Dunstable largely chasing shadows and struggling to create any meaningful chances of their own. Whilst we were dominating possession and getting the ball into the danger area, we too were struggling to create clear cut chances. However, the keeper was forced into a fine save from Bailey on 20mins when he just tipped over a rasping shot. On 30mins a lovely move through the middle found our attackers three on two with the Dunstable defenders but the resulting shot from Blake was saved once again by the keeper. The half drew to a close at 0-0 and we were rightly disappointed that we had nothing to show for our dominance of the game and chances created.

The second half started much as the first had finished with the team playing some really lovely football and largely dominating possession. However, once again, we struggled to carve out clear cut chances in the final third. The said we did easily create enough chances to score a couple of goals. On 59mins the keeper made a rare mistake and gifted the ball to Bailey, but neither he or Max could make the keeper pay when a goal looked a certain outcome. On 77mins a superb ball in by Mason was glanced on by Bailey only for the ball to hit the top of the bar. On 85mins Finn was found on the edge of the area and he lashed a fierce shot in that came back off the post – it was that kind of night.
To be fair to Dunstable, they defended resolutely and could even have nicked it late on at 88mins when Josh was forced into a great save when we were caught on the break. They also forced a couple of late corners which rattled a few nerves amongst the substantial travelling Tring Army, but the game ended all square at 0-0.

In many ways this felt like a defeat at the time given our dominance and chances created but it’s a truism that if you don’t score goals, you don’t win football matches. However, being objective about it in the cold light of day, a point away at Dunstable is a good point and there were so many positives to be taken from the game. The lads played some lovely football at times and were a pleasure to watch. Also, the effort and application all over the pitch was fantastic and we do have a very good team who are a pleasure to watch. We must take these positives forward and build on them – the results will surely follow.

Team: J.Ameganui, K.Kember, E.Hearn, M.Hercules, J. Harvey, E.Daffern, D.Fitzpatrick, H.Beaumont, B.Argent, M.Clarke, B.Osbourne.
Subs: G.Deer (58min), J.Chamberlain (71min), H.Jones, F.Rolfe (73min), L.Stobbs (82min)