AFC Dunstable 3 Hertford Town 2

AFC Dunstable 3-2 Hertford Town

Saturday 15th March 2025

A really good game in front of a decent crowd – including our visitors from Parkfields – saw AFC take

the points in a thrilling end to the match.

In a fairly even first half, the first chance fell to Sean very early in the game – his shot from 20 yards

whistled just past the post. Hertford took the lead with 14 on the clock when a speculative shot

bounced awkwardly on the dry hard surface and over Matts outstretched arms. Our visitors had the

next couple of efforts as they dominated the middle section of the half – both were well dealt with

by Matt in the home goal.

AFC got back in to the game and equalised on 36 minutes with a goal from Ollie Spicer. I’d love to tell

you it was a 25 yard smash in to the top corner but truth be told, all of us were chatting over in the

far corner and none of us actually realised we had scored until the shouts of celebrations from the

AFC supporters and the players on the field! I’m sure it was a great goal though. 1-1 at half time.

Hertford started the second half the stronger team and had a couple of early chances – one fiercely

struck shot went just over and then a well hit free kick bounced off the bar. It was no surprise when

they took the lead on 55 minutes following some poor defending by the ODs.

A couple of substitutions on 62 saw AFC start to take control of the game. AFC won a corner

following an error from an poorly hit backpass. The corner was knocked away by Hertford but as we

played the ball back in to the box Sean bravely went in for a header and got to the ball just before

the keeper to nod the ball home. In spite of a lengthy protest from the Hertford players that the

keeper had been fouled, the referee quite correctly awarded the goal – 2-2 and very much game on.

AFC were definitely in the ascendency and took the game to the visitors. On 70 minutes a shot from

Sim was smothered by the keeper and 4 minutes later, Tali battled to keep control of the ball in

midfield and burst through to take a shot but it ended just wide.

As we went in to 5 added minutes Sean looked to have been fouled in the box but the ref waved

away the appeals – looked a definite penalty to us! Three minutes in to added time saw the very

welcome return of Ethan Holt having been out for just short of a year. Within a minute of Ethan’s

arrival we scored the winner – a towering header from Harry from a corner gave the keeper

absolutely no chance. Get in there!!

Man of the match (as decided by the AFC committee) was Stan Georgiou.

Team line up (subs in brackets) ; Matt Bonsu, George Joyce (Tali Jallow 62), Khyan Frazer-Williams

(Ethan Holt 93), Kyle Lynch (Tali Jallow 62), Harry Riley, Stan Georgiou, Abel Damoah-Kyeremeh

(Simone Troso HT), Charlie Davis, Sean Duodu, Ollie Spicer (Joel Anker 73), Kyle Brooks