AFC step it up in second half to defeat Wembley

AFC Dunstable turned in a Jekyll and Hyde performance, as they picked up all three points against in-form Wembley at the weekend.

The hosts had gone four games without defeat prior to the match, as AFC boss Steve Heath kept faith with the same side who had put eight past Broxbourne last Saturday, while Leon Cashman recovered from injury to be named on the bench.

AFC got off to the perfect start too when Nathan Frater curled a precise strike beyond the Wembley keeper on just four minutes.

However, Heath’s men then struggled to get any cohesion to their play and gave the hosts far too much time on the ball.

The home side became more and more dangerous as they were back on level terms moments before the break, when Ricky Perks saved only for Wright to place the rebound into an empty net.

If AFC turned in a mid-table performance during the first half, they rectified that with one of title contenders in the second period.

They should have taken the lead two minutes in when Brandon Carney’s point blank header from two yards was kept out by Wembley’s custodian, while from the resulting corner, Josh Humbert blasted over from five yards out.

AFC were now closing down the dangerous Wembley play-makers and reaped their rewards when Christie chased down a lost cause to fire home a right-footed strike.

The visitors midfield then sprang into life, as Humbert put in a man of the match display, with Jason Beck’s fine header from Newman Carney’s free kick making it 3-1 just after the hour mark.

AFC were now well on top, as Christie came close to adding to his tally of 33 for the season late on as speaking afterwards, Heath said: “A few home truths had to be said in the changing room at half time and to be fair to the players responded magnificently.

“That first half performance was just not good enough if we are going to compete for the title. We have to deliver our second half effort more often and I cannot see why we can’t do that.”

AFC remained second in the table, four points behind leaders London Colney, who won 3-1 at Berkhamsted.

Heath’s men still have game in hand though and travel to St Margaretsbury this weekend.

AFC: Perks, Massay, N Carney, Beck, Griffiths, N Carney, Gorman, Olaleye, Christie, Humbert, Frater.

Subs used: Cashman, Hall, Jones.

Attendance: 48.