Dunstable Town 0-2 AVDFC

Team: Dan McAteer; Paul Adam, Luke Nugent, Jack Hodgins, Paolo Bagatti; Dave Brown, Alfi Touceda, Davide Pobbe, Charlie Ogle, Callum Shortt; Jake Baldwin

Subs: Dan Ball, Ollie Lemon, Dan Boateng, Josh Edworthy, Matty Chew

Steve Bateman made a couple of forced changes to the starting line up as Jack Hodgins came in for Terry Griffiths and Davide Pobbe was back from suspension. Dunstable also had new management and 6 new players if you believed the buzz round the stadium.

Dunstable were out of the block quickest as the won a corner and the resulting header went over the bar. The rain was pouring down and the pitch was slippy and playing fast. Ten minutes in and Dynamos created their first opportunity. Jake Baldwin collected a ball out from Paolo Bagatti and set Callum Shortt through. His shot was low but well saved. 20 minutes in and Dunstable were on top and had another shot which Dan McAteer held onto well considering the conditions.

A couple of minutes later, Callum Shortt became provider for Jake Baldwin as he skipped past a challenge and found Baldwin in the middle. He smashed a shot which was well blocked by the Dunstable defender. Jack Hodgins was then on hand to clear another Dunstable attack as Dynamos failed to keep possession for a period of time. 34 minutes and a Davide Pobbe foul saw Dunstable hit a long range free kick into the box which eluded everyone and crashed against the Dynamos bar with Dan McAteer on the floor. The referee spotted a foul on Macca and free kick to The Dynamos. The last chance before half time looked like it would fall to Jack Baldwin, but Alfi Touceda’s through ball saw Jake stray offside.

Half time 0-0.

Just after half time it was Aylesbury with the first chance. A familiar set up with Baldwin and Callum Shortt combining and the latter getting a shot away which was saved. 54 minutes and Dunstable carved out the best opportunity so far. A cross from the right wasn’t cleared and left the Dunstable striker in front of goal, but his shot went wide of the goal….somehow….! A minute later and a ball out from Dan McAteer was controlled by Jake Baldwin and he passed to the onrushing Davide Pobbe who rounded the keeper and found the net, only to be called offside in a tight decision.

Another chance for the away side went begging as Charlie Ogle squared a ball to Jake Baldwin but his shot was saved from close range. 61 minutes and Dan McAteer was called into action again as a great reactive save from him stopped a certain goal and Jack Hodgins cleared his lines. Paul Adam was then subbed off with Dan Ball coming on in his place. Five minutes later the deadlock was broken. Alfi Touceda and Jake Baldwin combined and set Charlie Ogle racing off down the wing. He pinged a great cross which the Dunstable defender bundled into his own net to give Dynamos the lead. 1-0 Dynamos.

76 minutes and Dynamos were looking to increase their lead. Some great feet from Jake Baldwin saw him create room for a shot, but this was blocked. The ball fell to Charlie Ogle and his cross was met by Callum Shortt, but the header was saved by the keeper. Dave Brown then decided it was his turn and took on 4 Dunstable players and squeezed the ball to Charlie Ogle and his shot was palmed away. Dunstable were piling on the pressure as 90 minutes arrived. A shot came in which was half blocked and Dynamos just cleared the ball with Paolo Bagatti and Jack Hodgins both getting in vital tackles.

The 93rd minute and the Dunstable crowd thought they had the equaliser. They worked the ball in and their player hit a fantastic shot into the top corner, only to see Dan McAteer diving full stretch to get his fingertips to it and clear for a corner. The last action of the match saw Callum Shortt get possession and run past his marker, passing into Alfi Touceda. “Keep the ball” was the shout with seconds remaining but he played a lovely ball wide to Charlie Ogle and the keeper had half come out. Charlie looked up and curled the ball over the keeper and into the net for a lovely goal.

Final score 2-0 to The Dynamos.