Frater fires Dunstable Town to terrific Daventry win

A brace from Nathan Frater and a goal from top scorer Lee Raoche saw Dunstable Town to a massively important 3-0 victory at promotion rivals Daventry Town on Tuesday night as they closed the gap at the top of Calor Southern League Division One Central to one point on leaders Rugby Town.

Frater opened the scoring a minute before the break and added his second two minutes into the second half, before Roache (55) scored to secure victory.

Director of football John McLoughlin said: “We have put ourselves back in the hunt for the championship with a huge performance against the title favourites.

“We were just too strong and powerful for them. We answered all of their questions and outplayed them all over the park and I cannot give you a man of match as I believe all 15 players were fantastic.

“Daventry are still favourites, but this result has put us back in the game.”

Daventry had started the season superbly, winning every game until losing for the first time in October.

But it was Dunstable who impressed last night with a deserved victory at Communications Park.

Daventry, with games in hand, could overhaul all their main rivals at the top of the Premier Division, but turned in a mediocre performance as they managed just two weak shots on goal.

Dunstable were masterful in possession and spread the ball around, with Roache looking particularly dangerous up front as he had a goal chalked out.

He then turned provider when his shot was initially saved and Frater followed up with a simple conversion on the stroke of half time, with the keeper stranded.

Dunstable mastered the midfield and were resolute in defence, and doubled their lead right after the interval when a long ball forward from Marc Leach was gathered by Frater who produced a precise finish.

And disappointing Daventry were hit again when Roache calmly lobbed the keeper after 55 minutes.

The Purple Army did their best to counter, but were continually thwarted by Dunstable’s well-drilled defence.

The win leaves Dunstable second in the table, a point behind Rugby Town, but Daventry still have a number of games in hand.

This Saturday Dunstable Town entertain AFC Hayes.

Purple Army: Richard Morris, Ollie Wilkinson, Tom James, Marcel Simpson, Liam Dolman (C), Adam Confue, Ross Oulton, Ryan Howell, Ashley Robinson, Will Green, James Husband. Substitutes used: Josh O’Grady, Tommy Berwick, Mykel Beckley. Substitutes not used: Luke Keen, Josh Blake.

Blues: Jamie Head, Jerome Jibodu, Danny Murphy, Joseph Bruce, Marc Leach, Moses Olaleye (C, Ryan Plowright 75), Adam Watkins, Nathan Frater (Tony Burnett 49), Lee Roache, Terry Dixon, (Kyle Anthony 58), Leon Cashman. Substitutes not used: Newman Carney, Tony Fontanelle.

Booked: Confue, Oulton, Howell.

Referee: Lisa Rashid.

Assistant Referee: Jonathan Walker and Luis Martin.

Attendance: 121.

Star Blue: Nathan Frater.