Our excellent unbeaten run came to an end at Dunstable when the home side scrambled the winner in injury time after a close game in which few chances were created as heavy rain in the closing stages made things difficult for both sides. The fact that we had played only one game since December 8 did not help, and the task at Chester on Saturday became even tougher. However the Blues are going through a difficult spell and although we are the underdogs, we shall not go there without hope.
Although there had been plenty rain everywhere, the pitch was quite playable, even if it was rather heavy and neither side really mastered the conditions, a great volley from Rhys Tyler which flew just wide was the nearest either side came to scoring with neither keeper being tested. Nat Jarvis tricked his way across the penalty area but could not get in a shot at goal, whilst Victor Osubu fired over and Connor Calcutt’s header was also way too high as a rather dull first half came to an end.
We create an opening after the interval when James Clark broke through and appeared to be fouled by the goalkeeper on the edge of the area, but the free kick went to the home side and to add insult to injury, he was booked for diving. The rain, which started during the second half gradually became heavier and heavier and the home side began to press forward and we had a let-off when they hit the corner of the post and bar with a free-kick, but almost immediately Nat Jarvis hit the underside of the bar with a fierce shot., James Rusby got his head to a dangerous cross in front of goal but unluckily deflected it wide rather than into the net.. With the 90 minutes already up and a point almost in the bag, we tried to play the ball out of defence, but lost possession and substitute David Keenelyside bundled the ball into the net to deny us the point we appeared to have secured. It was a cruel end to the game, a result which saw us slip back to 6th. place just outside the play-offs, but the league is still very tight and any side in the top half is still in with a chance.
Team; Strudley, Horgan John, Boardman, Day, Rusby, Tyler, Rees, Jarvis, Clark, Preen(Goodger), Subs;Brown, Herring, Draycott, Jones.