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Tue 8th Sep 2009
Challenge Trophy 1st Round
Dunstable Town 3-1 TAFC First team
TAFC goals: David Whicker |
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Tring Athletic lost their hold of the MSSML Challenge Trophy with this 1st Round defeat at league leaders Dunstable Town, which kicked off fifteen minutes late due to floodlight failure. Tring made five changes to their starting line up from the weekend home league defeat to Dunstable, who made four changes. Dunstable took the lead on 14 minutes through Nick Jackson, but Athletic fought their way back on terms on the half hour from David Whicker. The second half saw Karl Davidson regain the Dunstable lead after 55 minutes and Tring made changes to chase the game. Nick Jackson sealed the home sides win three minutes from normal time, although a further eight minutes were played.
This was the second meeting between the two sides in 4 days and again Tring had lots of position but failed to turn this into scoring opportunities. Tring won this competition last season ,so will be disappointed to go out in the first round.
The game was delayed by 15 minutes due to flood light problems and during the early stages, both sides made errors as they tried to gain the upper hand. Free kick were being given away by both sides but these were in each others own halves and came to nothing. Darren Franklin and Vinnie Ionnone combined well but neither were able to get a clean shot in. Robbie Duncan had a good effort from distance saved under the bar by the Dunstable keeper. Vinnie had to chances but the keeper saved the first and the second hit the side netting. Another good run from Franklin came to nothing when he was unable to pick out another Tring player.
In the 14th minute Dunstable took the lead when a long throw eluded the Tring defenders leaving Nick Jackson a clear run on goal which he duly put away.
Tring were still creating chances, Danny Gray picked out Ionnone but he again failed to hit the target then Graham Hall went just wide. A corner was headed back by Chris Salmon but again no one picked up the ball which was cleared.
A good break from Dunstable was thwarted by a last ditch tackle from Gray other wise the striker would have been clean through.
David Whicker was winning plenty of mid-field position and in the 30th min. he went on a run, eluding several tackles to hit a shot which bounced in front of the Dunstable keeper and into the net to even the score at 1-1
Two minutes later a blatent hand ball was ignored by the referee and shortly afterwards Graham Hall hit the post. Dunstable’s two forwards were like lightening on the break and another last ditch tackle, this time from Robbie Duncan prevented another scoring chance. The half end even at 1-1
The second half carried on in the same fashion with Tring having plenty of the ball but Dunstable breaking at every opportunity, running past our defenders to pick up long balls from their defence.
Dunstable scored their second in the 55th minute when a shot came back off the bar and Tring’s defence were unable to clear allowing Karl Davison to hit a great strike into the net.
Tring continued to get down both flanks but again the crosses could not be converted into goal scoring chances and the Dunstable keeper was not being troubled.
On 61 minutes, Mark Burfoot and Tony Fields replaced Ionnone and Gray respectively. Two minutes later Franklin picked out Whicker after a good run but his shot went over. The flow of the game was being broken up at every opportunity and some rash challeges resulted in Dunstable’s Aarron Flood and Tring’s Whicker being cautioned. On 69 minutes Ashley Addison replaced Rob Duncan.
Tring now tried to push forward more directly but the passing went astray and gaps were being left at the back for Dunstable to exploit. Davison had a good chance but shot wide and Dunstable then hit the post and the ball was cleared off the line. Another quick break allowed Jackson through and he made no mistake to give Dunstable a 3-1 lead.in the 87th minute. At this stage it was game over and although the referee foun 8 added minutes over time it was Dunstable who should have had another goal. Some good foot work by Flood beating two defenders and the keeper to set himself up a chance which struck the post and in the following melee the ball hit the bar and was headed off the line before finally being cleared.
A disappointing result to go out of this competition so early and there are plenty of tough games coming up, but Tring are not playing badly and more than matched the league leaders for possession. They just have to be more creative and clinical in the final ¼ of the pitch. Dunstable have a very quick and skilful front line and will score goals against most teams, especially if playing a high line in defence.
TAFC: David Clark, Chris Salmon, Rob Duncan(Ashley Addison 69), Graham Hall(capt), Steve Smith, Henry Thomas, Andrew Mullins, David Whicker, Vincenzo Iannone(Mark Burfoot 61), Darren Franklin, Danny Gray(Tony Fields 61). Subs not used: David Salmon, Matt Myatt.
Dunstable Town: Paul Taylor, Wayne Mills, Chris Doggett, Shane Wood, Luke Flood, Matt Baldry, Lewis Osbourne, Dan Picknell(capt), Karl Davidson, Russell Preston, Nick Jackson. Subs: Michael Moss, Dean Hitchcock, Jake Bewley; not used: Jim Townsend, Neal Perrin.
Goals:
TAFC: David Whicker 30
Dunstable Town: Nick Jackson 14, 87, Karl Davidson 55
Cautions:
TAFC: David Whicker 77, Steve Smith 90
Dunstable Town : Matt Baldry 75
Referee: Philip Wilkinson
Assistants: John Chidley, John Wortley
Attendance: 131 |
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(No photos on file)
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