Forde pounces late on to send Blues through in FA Cup

A late Dan Forde winner ensured Dunstable Town could enjoy the magic of the FA Cup on Saturday as they earned a 2-1 victory at Essex Senior League side Ilford in the extra preliminary round.

The Blues started brightly against a strong home side who they had faced during pre-season, taking the lead on 27 minutes when Aidan Swaby’s cross was met by Luka Lodder whose shot was blocked, allowing skipper Jake Anthony to follow up and score. Ilford had a few chances of their own in the first half, but visiting keeper Carlos Simeon was in fine form to keep Dunstable ahead going into the break.

In the second period, Ilford came out of the blocks and applied some real pressure to their opponents, Simeon called upon to make several good saves, while some excellent defending from Dunstable’s back-line kept them in front. They were finally breached on 58 minutes, as Ilford equalised when a corner was met by Ilford’s Aseel Albrek to finally beat Simeon.

The rest of the tie was an end-to-end affair, but it was the Blues who won it with eight minutes remaining, Simeon pumping the ball forward and when his opposite number spilled it, Forde was on hand to fire the ball into the empty net and send his side through. Dunstable will be at home to North Greenford in the next round on Saturday, August 22, while they return to SSML Premier Division action this weekend at Kings Langley.

» Caddington FC enjoyed a 6-1 triumph over AFC Oakley in their pre-season friendly clash on Saturday. Bruno Gomes and Mason Perry both scored doubles, with Milton Tomlinson-Dennis and Jacob Taylor also on target. The club have announced that Tomlinson-Dennis will captain the side this term, while Tierlen Wilson and Perry have been named joint vice-captains.

» The 61 FC (Luton) lost 2-0 Letchworth Garden City Eagles in their pre-season friendly.