Dismal K’s Done by Dunstable
This was really quite bad, a display so stunningly flat and lifeless that the bewildered away fans spent most of the game suffering flashbacks from Barkingside away last season.
Dunstable have been struggling badly in the Evostik Premier, average crowds of 90 and played the first-half as if they’d be happy with a draw. Slowly but surely they probed K’s weaknesses and began to both grow in confidence and fashion chances, two of which they took, many more of which they squandered.
This could have been more than 2-0. Dunstable had one disallowed in the first-half, hit the woodwork and were denied at least three times by Rob Tolfrey.
In the end it took until the 53rd minute for Danny Talbot to open the scoring and the same player effectively put the game to bed 20 minutes later.
Why so bad? Well, the loss of Aaron Goode to injury at Bognor on Tuesday completely unhinged our right-hand side. Dylan Casey sought to deputise gamely on his unnatural flank but the consequence was Daniel Bennett being almost completely starved of service. On the left, George Wells and Peter Dean do not a combination make.
Jake Kempton did his best upfront but injuries to Pico Gomez and Ricky Sappleton meant Harold Odamatey, a central midfielder, was forced to play in an advanced role and, frankly, it didn’t work.
We had two chances. Odamatey had a header saved in the first-half from close-range. And Sam Page booted miles over the bar after a corner had found him at the back-post.
Man of the match should go to Paul Bastock, the Dunstable keeper who, as Si “great fact” Bell immediately recognised, played against K’s for Boston United some 17 years ago. He was born in 1970. He used to work in a care home. He praised “Big Phaz” (Steve Farrelly) and wished us well. We wish him well too.
Match report by Taimour Lay.
