AFC Dunstable U18's 0-1 AVDFC U18's

AFC Dunstable 0-1 AVDFC

Firstly let me thank our hosts for the quality of the pitch, the dressing rooms and the hospitality. Secondly many thanks to those who made the journey especially some whose progenies weren't involved. The look on the lads faces as they got a deserved round of applause .....

Lastly congratulations to the squad.

We had 8 players unavailable inc our 2 keepers. Liam Walker ,basically a central defender for our Sunday U18s , who has played only 2 games in goal, stepped into the breach and was rightly voted MOM not cos he had lots to do ,far from it, but by dint of helping out. Apart from spilling one long range shot he performed up to standard as is a useful addition to the squad.

In front of him full backs Kris Collier and Joe Hatton allowed only 2 crosses into the penalty area and central defenders
Takuma McCabe and Rhys Edmonds (back from injury) dealt with everything thrown at them. (Ball bounced only twice!!!)
Kenan Kiarie and Jude Guest-Brainch dominated their opponents allowing Amir Shah to prod passes forward. Up front Charlie Cawston was what a defender would call a pest showing remarkable energy to constantly keep AFC Dunstable occupied.

Out wide Loui Bowman finally, looks he's shaking off the shackles of Junior football and contributed massively.

And now to Tafara (I can miss from anywhere with either foot) Dube.
Actions speak louder than words.

Our opponents started by winning a dangerous corner from the kick off. But in the second minute a Loui Bowman free kick from 40 yards was headed delicately home by Kris Collier for what proved to be the winner.
For the next 25 mins we were superb . 4/5 superb chances were carved out and at least 2 should have been converted and even by half time the only concern was the scoreline .
AFC Dunstable got more into the game on the resumption partly through their efforts partly through a drop in our standard and the game got bitty and we were unable to make inroads.
Ironically an injury to an opponent served to break up the flow of the game and we began to match fire with fire.
An unsavoury incident on 58 mins resulted in Amir Shah retaliating and receiving a Red Card.

Our new defensive resolve would be tested. We dropped into a 4-4-1 shape with the 2 wide men showing energy and brains in helping out defensively and helping create chances.

In midfield Joe Leek stepped seamlessly following a hamstring injury to Kenan
Kiarie who had to be substituted at half time.

Amazingly the longer the game went the more we looked like extending our lead with Sadibo Camara, replacing Charlie Cawston showing desire and ability to all but double the lead.
The back 4 and Liam Walker in goal were a powerful unit and we showed an ability to run down the time to gain a hard earned but well deserved win and extend our record to 220 mins since we conceded.

The spirit was exemplified by the support from the bench of Freddie Ripley and Prince Will who didn't get to kick a ball in anger. Fair play to both of you.
Chris Jurazsek