W. Allotment 2 Dunston UTS 1

Dunston turned over at Allotment ...
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23 October 2014

Northern League Division 1
West Allotment 2
Dunston UTS 1

Dunston are on their travels again this time to West Allotment for a league game. Allotment have had a poor start to the season and are currently in third bottom after 12 games but have at times turned in good performances especially in cup games. Dunston are currently on an unbeaten run of 3 games 2 of which have been away and although their last performance at Newton Aycliffe required a superb strike from captain Michael Dixon who scored the only goal of the game.

Dunston are currently 5th in the league but have games in hand on all the teams above them although they will have to continue their run of victories as the other top teams are picking up victories as well. Dunston will be checking the fitness of centre half David Coulson who went off with a knee injury at Aycliffe but his replacement recent new signing David Scorer took over and continued the defensive rear guard which has seen Dunston have 5 clean sheets.

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Just after team had been named, Dunston had to change their plans as Halliday twisted his ankle on a pothole on the temporary warmup area allocated which had poor light conditions, so Dan Craggs was included at left back and Andy Clark added to the bench.

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Dunston started well passing the ball well on a very good pitch surface and got their first chance on 2 minutes as Craggs shot from 35 yards which went across the Allotment goal. On 6 Harrison played a through ball for Fenwick and Bulford but Fenwick was adjudged to have fouled the defender.

A minute later Bulford played a ball to the back post but Fenwick was unable to get a shot on target. On 10, McDermott could not direct a header on target from a Bulford cross. Allotment gradually got into the game and on Connell took a shot from Reed, 3 minutes later Nicky Kane played a low cross along the Allotment 6 yard box but was cleared at the back post. Allotments Reed had 2 shots on 20 & 23 but both were dealt with, on 26 Dunston almost went ahead as Pendlebury tried to clear and it rebounded off Dunn and fortunately wide of the Allotment goal. On 28 Fenwick shot over the bar before Reed again had a free kick saved by Connell and then a Bell shot was again saved by Connell. A Harrison free kick on 33, was put in and Fenwick headed just over the bar.
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Allotment had a spell of chances as first Reed on 34 shot over, McGlen on 40 put in across which went across the goal, Chapman on 43 shot wide from 25 yards out before Bulford had a shot which was deflected and was cleared off the line by Henderson. Just before the half time whistle Bulford played a cross into the far post were Gregg McDermott was on hand to tap home for the opening goal.

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Half time score: 0-1

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The game started slowly in the second half while teams settled down again and Allotment got the first chance as Bell ran in onto a through ball, however Connell deftly managed to tip the ball around Bell and then clear on 53, but on 55, McGlen got on the end of a cross field ball and shot past Connell for the equaliser. On 59, a Harrison free kick went through to Fenwick at the back post but his shot went over.

Four minutes later Bulford under challenge headed over a Kane cross. On 64, Reed for Allotment put in ashot which Scorer cleared for a corner, from the corner the ball was pushed on target from a meld of players and Connell was fortunate to collect. On 65 a Craggs cross was cleared, before a Bell cross had to be cleared by Gilhespy. On 67 Harrison put in a corner which went right across the

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Allotment 6 yard box, before Bulford shot from 18 yards out after the ball had rebounded off a defender on the line. Allotment replied with a free kick by Dummett on 75 which Reed headed on target only for Connell to collect. On 76 Harrison sent in across which found Kane at the back post, hisheader was returned across goal but no Dunston player was able to connect. 4 minutes later McGlen had a shot saved by Connell. On 84 Craggs had a shot from 30 yards saved by Beal. Disaster on 84 minutes as Dummett crossed to the front post and Reed ghosted in and glanced a shot past Connell for 2-1 to Allotment. Dunston tried to respond but the attack was cleared by the Allotment defence. On 85 Burrell shot over the bar filled by a Wightman cross was cleared.
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On 90 minutes after a bad clash of heads required the players to have treatment and then leave the field of play for bad cuts. Dunston now desperate for the equaliser and West Allotment wasting as much time as possible a shot from Craggs on 93, and then after Gilhespy broke forward and crossed for Dixon whose header was blocked and rebounded to Wightman whose shot from 2 yards was held by Beal.

In the 5th minute of added on time Wightman had a header again saved by Beal. The game ended without any success.
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In game which started amicably the Referee caused confusion and mayhem at times with her incorrect decisions against both sides this caused issues with her control of the game as it progressed but this should not be construed as the reason for Dunstons defeat as they suffered from several opportunities to score against a willing opposition who battled to stay in the game. It was a game of Dunston missed chances especially in the second half to impose themselves on the opposition and claim the game, in the end Allotment got the breaks and made them pay dearly.

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Full time score: West Allotment 2 Dunston 1

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Dunston Man of the Match: No one person shone out in a average team performance but new guy David Scorer did well in his first full game.

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West Allotment: Beal, Pendlebury, Dummett, Hall, Anderson, Dunn, McGlen, Henderson (Hudson 77), Chapman (Dormand 75), Reed, Bell (Lee 90). Subs not used: Mullen, Allen

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Dunston UTS: Connell, Harrison, Craggs, Burrell, Scorer (Ormston 90), Gilhespy, McDermott, Dixon, Fenwick (Wightman 75), Bulford (Wilson 83), Kane Subs not Used: Shaw, Clark,

Next game: Home to Durham City 26th October 2014, 3:00 KO