Dunstable Town promise changes following Marlow defeat

Dunstable Town’s Calor Southern League Division One Central title aspirations were dealt another blow as they fell to a third consecutive defeat with a 2-1 loss at Marlow on Saturday,

The Blues surrendered a 1-0 lead courtesy of leading scorer Lee Roache’s fourth minutes striker as they succumbed to mid-table hosts.

Director of football John McLoughlin warned: “That performance is just not acceptable for what we are trying to achieve so we have to look at bringing in two or three players that want to challenge for the title and I can assure you by our next match at least two new players will be in the dressing room and two will be out.

“We have been fair, and also to be fair to lose three games in a row and only be two points off the top is not a disaster, but we have to react as we have given Rugby the advantage.

“We have two massive games in Slough and Beaconsfield and need points, it’s as simple as that.”

Dunstable dominated the first quarter-of-an-hour and deservedly led when Roache neatly converted following some sparkling work from Adam Watkins.

And were it not for the splendid work of home keeper Simon Grant Town would have gone further ahead as both Roache and Nathan Frater went close.

Man of the match Jon Bennett’s spectacular volley drew an equally spectacular save from stand-in goalie Louis Porcelli, before he hooked home following a corner on 17 minutes as Marlow equalised against the run of play.

Marlow pressed in the second half and played the more fluid football and took the lead eight minutes in when Bennett scored his second from a left flank cross.

Dunstable had few opportunities in the second half and went closest to an equaliser when Roache had a snapshot and defender Marc Leach had an effort cleared off the line from a Frater free-kick.

This was Dunstable’s third consecutive defeat and endangers their prospect of finishing in the play-off positions as well as their championship aspirations.

Barton Rovers’ match at Egham Town was postponed due to an unplayable pitch.

This Tuesday Rovers head to Uxbridge, on Saturday Barton host Daventry Town and Dunstable Town visit Slough Town, on Monday week Dunstable go to in-form Beaconsfield SYCOB and the next night Barton entertain North Greenford United.

Blues: Simon Grant, Chris Ovenden, Jordan Lee-Brown, Lewis Gabbidon, Tom Moran, Danny Lingwood (C), Jon Bennett (Carl Davies), Michael Alexis (Adam Richards), Michael Bartley, Richard Witt, Ian Davies. Substitutes not used: Erno Bostyan, Danny Williamson, Richie Whittingham.

Blues: Louis Porcelli, Danny Hutchins (Taishan Griffith 85), Danny Murphy, Joseph Bruce, Marc Leach, Moses Olaleye (C, Terry Dixon 71), Adam Watkins, Tony Burnett (Nathan Frater 9), Lee Roache, Leon Cashman, Christopher Marsh. Substitutes not used: Danny Ryan, Tony Fontanelle.

Referee: K Morris.

Assisted by R Goodwin and A Phillips.

Star Blue: Marc Leach.

Attendance: 121.