Dunstable Town 2-0 AVDFC

Team: Charlie Jones; Harvey Matthews, Nathan Brownsword, Terry Griffiths; Tom Cove, Ashraf Masumbuko, Aaron Pike, Abdullah Jellal, Sam Oluwale, Abu Khan, Jake Baldwin

Subs: Princewill Madu, Jonathan Pascal, Ashley Lamb, Lewis Workman, Archie Henderson

A few months after last season finished and we were back for the new 23/24 season.
The team has had many changes including a new Management Team. Paul Batchelor took charge of his first competitive match, assisted by Ryan Davis and new physio James Lewis.

Dynamos started the match with no less than 6 debutants, with 3 more on the bench. Charlie, Abu, Jake, Harvey and of course Captain Terry Griffiths the remaining players from last season.
Dynamos created an early opening as Sam crossed into Jake who headed his effort straight at the keeper for a routine save.
Aaron Pike was getting some joy down the right wing and his cross was blocked for a corner but Dunstable cleared.

Dunstable were expected to be title contenders this season and they soon started to try and break the deadlock. Charlie fisted a decent corner away and on the 10th minute, they broke through but blasted the ball over from 15 yards.
Some good defensive work from Harvey saw him release Abu in the channel and his first time shot whistled over the bar. Good chance.

The match was a tactical battle with not many chances as the half hour approached. Brownsword and Cove were working the left flank well for Dynamos but couldn't thread that final ball through to Abu or Baldwin.
Charlie was on hand again to make a decent save before both teams got their handbags out and all squaring up to each other. Abu and Baldwin both receiving Yellow cards for their part in the fracas. The resulting free kick was easily cleared by Griffiths and Abdullah completed the clearance.
The closest chance of the half fell to Dunstable. A decent corner was met well by the head of their defender, but it rattled the crossbar and over for a goal kick.
In the dying seconds of the half Dynamos had a chance. Baldwin was fouled 20 yards out and Ashraf stepped up but his free kick was headed over for a corner. Dunstable cleared.

Half Time: 0-0

Baldwin was injured in the first exchange of the second half, but was able to continue. Tom Cove did float a free kick onto the head of Griffiths but his header went harmlessly over the bar.
Dunstable were starting to get the better of the match and another decent save by Charlie followed by a superb headed clearance from Matthews kept the game goalless.

Aaron Pike then received a yellow card for pulling his opponent back whist taking a throw on. Dunstable continued to press looking for the opening goal. A couple of corners, cleared by Dynamos and a free kick which Brownsword just managed to get away as it was a sustained attack.
Finally the pressure told and decent through ball found their sub attacker who rifled his shot into the bottom corner of the net. 1-0 Dynstable.

Paul Batchelor made his first change with Aaron Pike being replaced by Jonathan Pascal.
With 15 minutes left on the clock, Dynamos should have been level. Good work from Sam saw his shot blocked and the ball fell to Pascal who also had his shot saved.
84 minutes and Ashley Lamb was introduced, replacing Sam Oluwale.
4 minutes later and Dunstable took the 3 points with another well worked goal, with the same sub scoring it.

The referee did play 9 minutes of injury time, but a couple of corners and a free kick were not enough for Dynamos to make any comeback.

Final score: Dunstable Town 2-0 AVDFC