Following an impressive performance and victory against high flying Leverstock Green over Christmas, the Ducks were unchanged for this fixture at Creasey Park against 3rd in the table AFC Dunstable. The match was played under a sunny sky, but in a bitingly cold strong wind blowing down the ground, which the Ducks had the benefit of in the first half. The advantage the conditions gave was soon to become obvious as the majority of the action was in the Dunstable half in the first period.

On 3 minutes, Marcus Sawyer picked the ball up in midfield and advanced towards the penalty area. Unfortunately his shot from 25 yards was always rising and did not trouble Gardner in the home goal as it cleared the bar. There followed a brief spell of Dunstable pressure, with three chances in quick succession. Two minutes later, a free kick was cleared by the Ducks defence, but only as far as BJ Christie, 20 yards out. However, like Sawyer before him, he couldn’t keep the ball down and it sailed harmlessly over the crossbar. A good run down the left flank by Olaleye resulted in a cross to the back post, which Danny Jones struggled to pick up because of the low sun. Fortunately, Massey coming in behind him was unable to capitalise on the slip, and failed to hit the target. This was quickly followed by a cross from the impressive Dunstable left back Lincoln, which had Jack Sillitoe backpedalling furiously, to be relieved as the cross rebounded to safety from the face of the crossbar.

The Ducks were soon back in the ascendency though, pushing forward and making the most of the wind at their backs. After 18 minutes, Paul Edgeworth won the ball on the edge of the penalty area and fired in a shot low to Gardner’s left which he did well to push round the post. Soon after, more great work by Edgeworth released Sawyer down the left wing. His high cross caused Gardner problems, and the keeper was a relieved man to touch it over the bar for a corner. Melford Simpson was next to impress, holding the ball up well, then laying it off well to Edgeworth who unloaded just inside the box. This time Gardner was slightly fortunate as he fumbled the shot, just recovering before it crossed the line. On 35 minutes, the best Ducks move of the match so far saw a sweeping move started by Simpson on the left side to the livewire Joey Acheampong. He moved the ball onto Ben Baines who passed it out to Lewis Hallford on the right wing. His cross again fell to Edgeworth but unfortunately he couldn’t apply the finishing touch required and the ball flew over the bar.

By now there was a feeling that sooner or later the Ducks would make this pressure on the home goal pay. Unfortunately, the goal that arrived went to the home side, very much against the run of play, with the Ducks undone by a sucker punch. Craig Butler won the ball in midfield and played a slide rule pass between the centre backs to Christie, who looked suspiciously offside to those in line. With the linesman’s flag staying down, Dunstable’s leading scorer outpaced the defenders and coolly slid the ball under Sillitoe into the net from 18 yards for a very classy finish.

The half finished on a low note for the Ducks, as Joey Acheampong picked up the first yellow card of the match from referee Williams, for what appeared no more than an innocuous aerial challenge for the ball which left Gardner on the floor, although he was soon up and didn’t require any treatment.

Neither side made any changes at half time, but there was a feeling that the second half could mirror the first with AFC having the conditions in their favour. This didn’t turn out to be the case however, with a much more even game ensuing. Sillitoe was the first keeper to be called into action as Massey fired in a shot from the edge of the area, which he did well to get down to and save at his near post. After 52 minutes, Simpson did extremely well to keep the ball in play on the right side, and played a fine pass down the line for Acheampong. He had an awful lot to do from wide on the right, but his determination saw him beat 3 players as he made his way towards the penalty area. Unfortunately, like so many shots in the first half, his left footed drive sailed over the bar.

After 57 minutes, there was a bizarre moment which saw Butler being shown a yellow card. The AFC number 8 had been ordered to the sideline by referee Williams apparently to change his shorts. However, he chose to re-enter the field of play without the ref’s permission and was rightly cautioned, much to his own frustration.

The Ducks faithful (travelling in great numbers as usual, and bolstering a healthy Bank Holiday crowd) thought their team had scored a well deserved equaliser after 68 minutes. A cross from Danny Jones was headed in by Edgeworth, only for the referee’s assistant to raise his flag just as the celebrations started.

Baines was next in the book, as he went in late on Graeme Buchanan, which some in the crowd thought was worthy of even greater sanction. The final stages of the game saw the Ducks have 2 credible appeals for a penalty, as first Acheampong and then 2 minutes later, Baines went down in the box under strong challenges. Unfortunately ref Williams decided neither was a penalty. As the clock ticked towards added on time, the Ducks won a corner on the left. Sensing this was likely to be the last chance Sillitoe made his way up front in an attempt to be a hero. However, it didn’t quite turn out that way, as he inadvertently got in the way of a goal bound shot, and had to chase back to his own area as AFC brought the ball out of defence. The final action of the game saw the otherwise immaculate Wood misjudge a ball in the wind and slip, letting in substitute Ryan Quinn for a clear run on goal. This time, Sillitoe was the hero as he made a fine double save to keep the ball out of the net.

Shortly afterwards, the ref blew his whistle for the end of an entertaining match, which in truth could have gone either way based on the balance of play and chances created. The Ducks will be disappointed to have lost, but AFC will be delighted to have achieved the double against us this season, and maintained their fine recent run of results, and cementing themselves in 3rd place in the league. By contrast the Ducks dropped one place to 9th, but should take plenty of confidence from their performances in the holiday fixtures into the next game against bottom of the league Hanwell Town next Saturday, where 3 points should be achievable if they apply themselves as they have done in the last 2 matches.

Thanks to Ian Pluck for this match report