VIDEO: Late goals see Dunstable Town crash out of FA Cup

Errant defending saw Dunstable Town miss out on a lucrative FA Cup second round qualifying replay as they conceded two late goals in their 3-1 defeat at Needham Market on Saturday.

The Blues were three minutes away from a replay at Creasey Park, but were dumped out by two very late goals from their hosts.

Town director of football John McLoughlin said: “Disappointed is an understatement, we were a victim of thinking we had done a job and got punished.

“We had total control of the first half and to be fair we looked good to win the game, but we stopped concentrating and they hit us with two late strikes and, to be honest, if Adam Watkins’ strike moments before had gone in then we would be having a different look at the game.

“A draw on the day to me was a fair result. Moses Olaleye was outstanding, my man of the match, he kept Kemi Izzet out of the match and Chris Marsh did everything he could to influence the game.”

Dunstable dictated the game for the first quarter of an hour and looked like they would romp into the next round when they took the lead on seven minutes through Nathan Frater’s free-kick.

But the Market men rallied and levelled when Sam Newson’s fierce shot gave reserve keeper Lewis Porcelli little chance.

Porcelli was given a real baptism of fire in his first senior game as he deputised for suspended regular stopper Jamie Head.

Adam Watkins almost restored the Blues’ lead, but his shot struck the foot of the post, while Newson ought to have scored at the other end when he rounded Porcelli but inexplicably shot wide of an empty net.

After the interval Dunstable took their time to get to grips with a game of few chances, as the hosts were needlessly wasteful in front of goal.

Chances from both sides came from corners and were only thwarted by some desperate defending.

Chris Marsh and Lee Roache went closest for the Blues in a game that seemed destined for a replay before the hosts claimed a dramatic late win.

A corner was only partially cleared and substitute Ryan Charles seized his moment to put his team ahead with three minutes to go.

And similar move in injury time saw Luke Ingram score from a rebound to seal victory.

Town host leaders Daventry on Tuesday and on Saturday host Erith & Belvedere in the preliminary round of the FA Trophy on Saturday.

Marketmen: Andrew Plummer, Ollie Brown, Darryl Coakley, Sheridan Driver (C), Lee Townrow, Sam Nunn, Luke Ingram, Ollie Fenn, Jamie Guy, Kemal izzett, Sam Newson. Substitutes Used: Keiran Morphew, Ryan Charles, Danny Bloomfield. Substitutes Not Used: Lee Norfolk, Nathan Munson.

Blues: Lewis Porcelli, Tony Fontanelle, Leon Cashman, Joseph Bruce, Marc Leach, Moses Olaleye (C), Adam Watkins, Tony Burnett (Matt Nolan), Lee Roache, Nathan Frater, Christopher Marsh. Substitutes Not Used: Warren Plowright, Danny Murphy, Damen Pickering, Samuel Ntim-Addae.

Referee: Paul Burnham.

Assistant Referees: Richard Owen and Darin Geary.

Attendance: 251.