DUNSTABLE TOWN 1-3 BASINGSTOKE TOWN: FULL MATCH REPORT...

Blues Blowtorched By Determined Dragons

Dunstable Town 1-3 Basingstoke Town

Dunstable were beaten by a counter-attacking Basingstoke outfit, which benefited from a first-half strike, defended alongside effective skipper David Ray (we are not related…) with a good deal of concentration and utilised some clever offensive play by Nawa Owusu, Romone Rose, Ashleigh Artwell and Richie Whittington to harass the home defence continually. Indeed, when an early second period equaliser was scored, lifted perhaps fortunately over Dragon Alex Tokarczyk by the busy and lively Jack Hutchinson, the guests were able to ride out a short period of pressure before netting two killer goals and leaving Creasey Park with three deserved points. Their manager Terry Brown, rather often vociferous, must have been well pleased although maybe home manager Antony Fontenelle would point to the early exit of injured striker Shane Bush and the later replacement of left-back Jhai Dillon, both following incidents with Tokarczyk, as reasons why his team functioned less effectively. Certainly Ray (no relation, actually…) and fellow central defender Joe Gater were stubbornly difficult to penetrate throughout and powerful home striker Alex Cathline was offered little in the way of clear-cut opportunities. 

GOALIE JACK SMITH DOESN'T DARE SEE THE RESULT OF THE TOSS...

The early collision between Bush and Tokarczyk was aerial and the tall Dunstable forward appeared to be clutching his head when he landed on the ground. He was stretchered off the pitch and replaced by David Keenleyside but the delay had disrupted a frenetic opening to the match. Quite suddenly however a quick ball released from midfield led to a run by Dragon Rose at inside-right and his hard low drive from the inside-right channel wasn’t kept from his net by home ‘keeper Jack Smith despite partially saving it. 

IS SOMEONE OFF TO THE BOG?

TERRY BROWN APPEARS TO HAVE MISPLACED HIS TROUSERS...

UP WE GO ON A SUNNY OCTOBER AFTERNOON...

SHANE IS BUSHWHACKED BY STRETCHER-BEARERS...

0-1 BUT THE ROSE GOAL WASN'T VIDEOED DUE TO A CHAP DISTRACTING ME JUST AT THE WRONG MOMENT... SORRY, MATE.

A CLIMBING OF DRAGONS...

The hosts were unable to offer much in response to be fair for the Dragons defended their den with robustness and Ray (same surname but definitely no relation…) and Gater relished the task. A challenge by Cathline led to a shot from the right across the goalmouth and wide from 20 yards by Hutchinson but a couple of chances were spurned by the visitors too before the home team threatened again. First Rose, generally picking his passes well, freed Owusu on the right but after turning inside he lashed his shot into the side-netting, then a clipped shot by Rose from 23 yards probably took a slight deflection off a defender which was unnoticed by the two nearby officials although certainly spotted by ‘Stoke’s fans inside the shelter behind the goal, who hooted their derision like they were at a Donald Trump rally in Kansas City.

"FOUL? NO WAY, REF..."

"I DID NOTHING... MERELY SCORED, REF..."

Neat left-side play by the guests involving Whittingham and left-back Rob Atkinson led to the latter’s low centre being lifted a long way over the target by Owusu’s left boot but Tokarczyk was fortunate twice at the other end. He booted a clearance against one of his defenders and the ball flew straight back into his arms like it was a tactic as they say “…practised on the training ground…” Then he messed up the collection of a high cross at his near post by thrashing at it like he was warding off a particularly offensive wasp but he was rescued by the official who deemed that Jack Green’s challenge was rather peevish. Before the half ended though, the guests really ought to have been a pair of goals ahead for Keenleyside was mugged by Rose and Sam Deadfield’s measured left-foot pass freed Artwell in the inside-left slot, only for the advancing Smith to dive and smartly turn away the striker’s attempt at goal.

MEN LOUNGING: AN ADVERT FOR RUGGED CHAPS DRINKING GUINNESS...

Certainly the opening half was stop-start and lacking any rhythm or even pattern but Basingstoke had done a good containing job on Dunstable. An early second-half regaining of parity would surely set up another home victory for the Blues… No, not at all actually.

AN EXASPERATED HOME BENCH...

The weather had been awful on the trip down from Solihull and I had been told that showers were due locally during the afternoon but thus far only dramatic cloud and sunshine had hovered over Creasey Park and only after the equalising goal did Terry Brown’s theatrical urging begin to drift audibly across from the dugouts. The Dunstable goal was a strange one, for Hutchinson was able to steal possession from Artwell near the Dragons’ left corner-flag and despite a crowded penalty-box, the impish winger completed a one-two with Cathline and somehow lifted the ball from an angle which seemed like a cross but Tokarczyk leapt, the ball dropped not only over his head but to the delight of the noisy home fans now inside the shelter, it also plummeted into the far corner of the net. I apologise unreservedly if Hutchinson was shooting, in which case it wasn’t a fluke, as I mentioned initially in commentary…

1-1...

"WAS THAT A SHOT, HUTCH?"
"ER, YEAH. MAYBE..."

Dhillon’s injury came soon afterwards when he did well to break forward as he usually does towards the left byeline but was unable to deliver a cross and the ball rolled out for a goal-kick, at which point Tokarczyk wrestled the ball from the defender and Dillon fell like a gunslinger in a Dodge City alley. It all seemed quite innocuous but Dillon was replaced after receiving treatment and the Blues were forced to reshuffle again bringing on Jordan Odofin in his place. The back division was also reshuffled after a short while, with Danny Green dropping in to cover the danger posed by Owusu. 

OWUSU FOULS GREEN...

The above distraction and disruption took some wind from the Dunstable attacking sails in truth and although Hutchinson had driven his team forward all his efforts were thwarted, for driven on by the resounding bellows of Terry Brown the Dragons suddenly broke forward with real effect and scored a fine second goal. The original interception by Ray (no relation, you understand…) led as usual to a clearance aimed towards a colleague not just a ‘thrash and hope’ punt or volley and, just like that, defence was offense. An astute turn and pass to his right by Whittingham let in Owusu on the right side of the 18 yard box and his finish was classy, clever and stylish, beating the advancing Smith low and accurately. 

1-2...

SMART FINISH BY OWUSU...

The third goal nailed down the Blues’ coffin lid to be fair and the goal can only be described as efficiently clinical. David Longe-King’s challenge for Dunstable sent the ball to Owusu lurking right and he slipped a pass for Rose to reach at the right byeline from whence his low near post centre was turned in expertly on the volley by the hovering Whittingham. The ball flew over Smith and it was the covering Odofin who had been unable to mark Whittingham closely enough.

1-3...

JOY...

HUGS FOR WHITTINGHAM'S NEAR POST EFFORT...

GAME EFFECTIVELY WON...

Substitutions would interrupt the proceedings, something Terry Brown would not mind at all I’m certain, for soon after the third goal the hosts so nearly conjured one of their own. Jack Green had been replaced by Kelvin Bossman and the new man slipped a pass left to release the dangerous Hutchinson but Tokarczyk advanced to make a crucial save with an outstretched boot. Rose, who had been an elusive forward for home defenders Longe-King and John Sonuga to deal with, was replaced by Aaron Jarvis and the substitute was offered a chance to extend his team’s lead soon afterwards. He was freed by Marcus Johnson-Schuster’s clearance from right-back and as the ‘keeper advanced Jarvis stopped and turned, Smith shuffled nervously in front of him, Jarvis switched the ball onto his left side, Owusu looked to receive a pass but the replacement attempted a clipped left-footer instead, from 24 yards, which drifted a good way past the left upright. I didn't hear what Terry Brown said…

OWUSU (4): A DANGER...

Michael Atkinson and George Hallahan replaced Dragons Artwell and Whittingham, meaning 9, 10 and 11 had been relieved of duty before Keenleyside drove wide for the Blues from 25 yards, following a clearing header by Ray (to whom I am not related…). Michael Atkinson’s glancing header from Deadfield’s fine free-kick was off target then Cathline headed much too high from Hutchinson’s corner at the opposite end but the best chance for either team arrived just after the rain began to fall. Jarvis had already fired disappointingly wide of the left stick from Michael Atkinson’s assist but soon, clever play by Deadfield (again) led to a turn on the right by Hallahan and his cross dropped onto Jarvis’ left boot at the far post with only Smith to beat. Unfortunately the replacement totally miscued the shot, although his mis-kick became a dummy, totally fooling himself and the goalie who had taken evasive action. Home skipper Zack Reynolds, who enjoyed a solid and dependable game, almost apologetically took the ball away from the aghast Jarvis. OOPS… 

DAVID RAY, LEFT: IS THERE A FAMILY RESEMBLANCE?

Reynolds had almost fastened onto a low and well played right-side Bossman centre for the hosts as time slipped away but in truth the hosts really were well beaten by a determined thunder of Dragons for whom Gater, Ray (unrelated…), the tall and creative George Bennett and the left-booted Deadfield all supported the relief offensive quartet mentioned in the opening paragraph so effectively. Full-backs Johnson-Schuster and Rob Atkinson were strong and acquitted themselves well too. Dunstable disappointed, although Hutchinson was a threat and a grafter for the ninety minutes, both Reynolds and Dillon had pushed on to some effect at times and Danny Talbot had worked a tough shift along with the Greens. Bossman looked a danger during his late cameo appearance but the home defence struggled to cope with the drifting Rose, the lively Whittingham and especially the gifted Owusu throughout this keenly fought match.

WE LIKES A LITTLE SCOTTISH DANCING...

I stood beneath the shelter at the car-park end as heavy rain, even hail fell onto the roof like a drumbeat with no bass, awaiting an easing off so that I could jog, my injured knee permitting, to my car which of course was only just the other side of the alternative but unused wooden exit gates at the opposite end of the surrounding fence. Some of the rain on the M1 on my return journey was hellish but Solihull, oddly, had dried up… 

DRAGON FANS SNUGGLE FROM THE RAIN, NEAR THE END...

As I drove, I wondered whether David Ray was a distant relation of mine…

It’s what I do.

TEAMS:

DUNSTABLE TOWN:

JACK SMITH, ZACK REYNOLDS (CAPT), JHAI DHILLON, DANNY TALBOT, JOHN SONUGA, DAVID LONGE-KING, JACK GREEN, DANNY GREEN, ALEX CATHLINE, SHANE BUSH, JACK HUTCHINSON.

SUBS:

KELVIN BOSSMAN, DAVID KEENLEYSIDE, JORDAN ODOFIN, JAMIE HEAD (GK).

BASINGSTOKE TOWN:

ALEX TOKARCZYK, MARCUS JOHNSON-SCHUSTER, ROBERT ATKINSON, NAWA OWUSU, JOE GATER, DAVID RAY (CAPT, BUT NO RELATION, CERTAINLY…), SAM DEADFIELD, GEORGE BENNETT, ROMONE ROSE, ASH ARTWELL, RICHIE WHITTINGHAM.

SUBS:

GEORGE HALLAHAN, KIERAN GREENE, AARON JARVIS, MICHAEL ATKINSON, ADAM FRANCIS.