AFC Dunstable claim controversial Harefield United draw

AFC Dunstable edge to a 3-2 victory at Harefield United in the Molten Spartan SML Premier Division on Saturday.

In an eventful game with goals, controversial refereeing decisions and some fine football, AFC deservedly come away with all three points.

Boss Alex Butler said: “We were furious at the official’s performance, apparently he had been relegated from a higher step and his performance clearly showed why.

“Instead of spending time telling of a good team performance I find myself having to mention an official who had an inability to apply common sense and who had lost control of the game by dishing out cards like confetti.

“However, this result does move us into third place and we can take the positives of the performance to take us into Wednesday’s home game versus Stotfold.”

Harefield started the brighter and debutant keeper Garry Malone had to be alert to a couple of chances to keep Harefield out in the first 10 minutes.

AFC proceeded to force Harefield back as chances fell to Richard Harker and BJ Christie, before Wayne Mills’ whipped free-kick was met at the near post by Craig Butler to slot the ball home after 20 minutes.

AFC had three great chances just before the break, with Harker forcing two great saves and Christie rattling the bar.

However, Harefield levelled on the stroke of half time when they broke and Dan Fleming was afforded too much time in the box to slot past Malone.

The visitors piled on the pressure in the second half, creating chance after chance, but unbelievably it was the hosts who broke and took the lead after 65 minutes in the most controversial of circumstances.

A long kick from the Harefield keeper cleared the AFC back line and, with Jack Lauder about to clear the ball, Harefield’s Gary James handled the ball past Lauder and beat Malone.

To make matters worse, AFC had four players booked for appealing that a handball had been committed.

AFC showed immense composure to dig deep and pile on further pressure, and it was no surprise when some great inter-passing by Christie and Wayne Mills led to Mills whipping a cross into the path of Harker who calmly slotted the ball into the bottom corner past keeper Mike Pearce.

Three minutes later AFC took the lead when the home side failed to clear a corner and Lauder hammered the ball into the roof of the net to give Dunstable a deserved lead.

AFC saw the game out without too much trouble and could have won by a bigger margin against a resilient Harefield side who never gave up.

AFC host Stotfold on Wednesday and go to London Colney on Tuesday week.