Dunstable Town edge Hanwell win as they stand on verge of the title

Victory over Haringey Borough on Tuesday night will secure Dunstable Town the Molten Spartan SML Premier Division title for the first time in 10 years after they claimed a 2-1 win at determined Hanwell Town on Saturday.

Fourth-placed Hanwell were on a run of 15-straight home victories and were looking to become the first club to beat Dunstable in the league this season.

Director of football John McLoughlin said: “What a great week for DTFC. We have kept our unbeaten run and reached the league cup final.

“In my opinion Hanwell Town are the best side we have played this season and we rode our luck, but a great penalty save by Paul Taylor then gave us the lift we needed and Lee Roache opened the scoring with a well deserved goal.

“His work-rate was tremendous and he has now beaten Kerry Dixon’s record. We now need three points and, with three league games again this week, I would like to think we will be champions either Tuesday or Thursday.

“What a great achievement by the players to go this far without losing and with the Dunstable derby game on Saturday we will welcome everyone in the area to not only see a good game of football but to see us crowned champions and see us lift the trophy.

“We gave the players a big ask to win the league, reach the cup final and go unbeaten. We have ticked two of the boxes and let’s hope we tick all three, the team deserve it.”

Things began ominously for the Blues as striker Nathan Frater was forced off through injury inside 10 minutes and replaced by Tony Burnett.

Dunstable looked a little edgy for the first 20 minutes and Hanwell seized the initiative.

Bill Healey’s shot struck both posts before being scrambled away to safety.

Hanwell though showed some anxiety and nearly gifted Roache a goal with an alarming back pass after he’d gone close with a lob earlier.

Both sides had good chances in the first half as Dunstable began to look the stronger side.

Newman Carney’s free-kick brought a fine save from Charlie Fanner, while Paul Taylor did well to hold on to a shot from Hanwell’s Russian striker Nicolai Tararov.

The hosts had a golden chance to take the lead when they were awarded one of two second half penalties on 58 minutes.

Michael Buckley’s fierce low drive to the left was magnificently saved by Paul Taylor.

This spurred the Blues on and they took the lead 10 minutes later when Roache beautifully headed home his 53rd goal of the season from an in-swinging corner.

And Dunstable doubled their lead two minutes late when BJ Christie headed Wayne Mills’ floated free-kick against the keeper and defender Scott Ensom deflected the ball into his own net.

Hanwell recovered well and grabbed a lifeline when Taylor was adjudged to have committed a foul and Terry Smith fired home the resulting penalty after 73 minutes.

An exhilarating end-to-end finale saw Christie’s header from Mills’ cross well saved, while Taylor had to produce a fine stop to save Chris Mills’ free kick with seven minutes to go.

However, Dunstable prevailed as they notched up yet another league double to stretch their unbeaten league run for the season to 37 games.

The Blues are away to Harefield United on Thursday and face AFC in the big Dunstable derby on Saturday.

Blues: Taylor, Mills, Mead, Leach, Pickering (Buchanan), Olaleye, Carney, Jackson (Fontanelle), Roache, Frater (Burnett), Christie. Substitutes not used: Head.