AFC Dunstable 1-0 Welwyn Garden City
AFC Dunstable 1-0 Welwyn Garden City
Southern League Division One Central
Saturday 23rd March 2024
A tight encounter was always expected between the two form teams and so it proved. A fine attendance of 320 on Non League Day saw a tale of two penalties decide the match.
New signing from Bedford Town, Louis Walsh made his debut on chilly day at Creasey Park.
The game started like a chess match with both teams making cautious moves but no shots on target. Welwyn came close on two occassions with efforts narrowly wide of Seb Stacey’s post while AFC’s Rio Deall had their first real attempt when his shot went wide on 17 minutes.
The visitors responded with another strike that was inches off target 29 minutes in. The game was showing signs that one goal would win the game and that goal came in the 35th minute when an AFC player was fouled in the box and Arnold Matshazi stepped up to calmly to beat Charlie Crowley from 12 yards.
Welwyn responded instantly and went of the attack. They were awarded a penalty of their own two minutes after Matshazi converted. A handball was given and Dernell Wynter had the chance to bring his team level. HIs penalty was heading for the bottom right hand corner but Stacey dived full length to make a brilliant save to maintain the lead.
The opening of the second half was much like the first, an even contest with little chances on target from open play.
On the hour Welwyn had yet another shot just wide of the target while Matshazi did brilliantly well to round Crowley, it looked like he would double his tally but his side foot shot went agonisingly in to the side netting on 63 minutes.
Welwyn were becoming frustrated with some of the referees decisions and a couple of yellow cards were produced in the last quarter of the game to Bradley Wadkins and Alex Harris.
Tra Lucas did brilliantly well at the byline to get past his marker despite having his shirt pulled but he was unable to get the cross in to a team mate and the visitors defence cut off the angle.
AFC showed determination and grit lead by skipper Callum Nicolson who showed his leadership skills when needed most to make sure his team kept a clean sheet and remained focused until the end.
Yoav Sade and Dan Idiakhoa received cautions for delaying the restart before Welwyn had a free kick just outside the box in injury time but it was well blocked by the AFC wall and cleared to safety. James Kaloczi was booked for dissent in the lead up to the free kick being taken, as he also became frustrated with the referee for what he thought was not moving the wall back far enough.
The free kick turned out to be the last action of the game as the hosts made it two wins and clean sheets in a row.
Team: Stacey; Sade; Bugyei-Kyei (Tamplin 43′); Weyman; Staszewski; Rosner; Deall (Brooks 73′); Nicolson; Idiakhoa; Matshazi; Walsh (Lucas 68′).
Subs not used: Ameganvi and Stirland.
