Christie strikes late on to seal victory for AFC

AFC Dunstable left it late to secure a vital win over play-off rivals Potters Bar Town on Saturday night, as two goals in the final 10 minutes were enough to secure victory.

The hosts had Josh Humbert suspended after picking up 10 yellow cards, but centre half pairing Bill Morgan and Terry Griffiths were back, while Courtney Massay replaced James Bishop at right back.

AFC went close early on when a rasping shot from BJ Christie struck the Scholars upright, as the visitors replied when Chris Doyle’s long range effort just cleared Garry Malone’s crossbar.

Just when it looked like the first half would end goalless, in added time, Cashman’s long throw found Christie at the far post who headed across goal for Jermaine Hall to squeeze his shot home.

The visitors were back in the game just five minutes after the break, as AFC were punished for failing to clear their lines, when Tom Bennett netted.

Potters Bar were fortunate not to be down to 10 men on the hour when keeper Ravan Constable handled outside his area, but was only shown a yellow.

AFC were then denied what looked like a perfectly legitimate goal too when Christie scored, but the goal was chalked off for offside, despite a visiting defender getting the final touch.

However, the hosts eventually had their second goal with just four minutes left as Nathan Frater released Danny Murphy and his teasing cross as converted by Christie.

AFC wasn’t finished there either as in stoppage time, he beat the offside trap and found the net to seal victory.

With Marlow suffering a defeat at the hands of league leaders Royston Town, AFC moved back into third place and are now five points above sixth placed Kempston Rovers.

A delighted boss Steve Heath said: “It was pleasing to see the team fight all the way until the final minute.

“With 10 minutes left, it looked like a draw was going to be the outcome so fair play to the players, they went for the win and got their rewards.

“As the referee made some big decisions that didn’t go our way, I thought we knuckled down and got on with the job in hand.”

AFC visit Kempston Rovers in the Beds Senior Cup on Tuesday night.

AFC: Malone, Massay, Murphy, Morgan, Griffiths, N Carney, Hall (Mannion 87), Olaleye, Christie, Cashman, Frater.

Subs not used: Bishop, Byron, Bailey.