O'Reilly 'angry' as Dunstable Town lose at home to Harpenden
Dunstable Town joint manager Steve O’Reilly declared he was ‘angry’ following his side’s 2-1 SSML Premier Division home defeat against Harpenden Town on Saturday.
The Blues took to the pitch on the back of a 2-1 win over Baldock Town on Tuesday evening thanks to goals from Kai Phelan and Andrew Simmons, as both sides made a quick start.
It was Harpenden who threatened first, a free kick well saved by Blues keeper Sam Ngay, but just before the break, Dunstable moved in front when Ashton Grant’s cross was met by captain JJ Kenna, whose looping header found the net.
After the interval, conditions worsened, as the hosts looked to extend their advantage, only to be denied by Harps stopper Connor Freeman.
The visitors managed to level on 70 when Jon Clements pounced on a mistake and then they won it five minutes later through Rod Orlando-Young.
O’Reilly said: “Credit to Harpenden, the way that they finished the game and they took their moments, but I’m pretty angry and I told the players that.
"I’m not angry at them as individuals as I think we did a lot of things pretty well, but angry because we had an opportunity to go and win that game.
"Make no mistake about it, there was a key part of that game, the 15-20 minutes after half time, where they came out and tried to get on the front foot, but we broke so many times and had opportunities to finish the game with a chance, or make the right pass or execute the final ball correctly, and we just didn't do it.
"You have that horrible feeling a little bit as a manager when you see that and be like, we should be two or three up at this moment and you’re playing against a good team who are going to create their own opportunities.
“When the games are level or we’re behind, we have a freedom, but when we’re in front, we get too protective and put ourselves under unnecessary pressure.
"I didn't like the way we ended the game, as the last 20, 25 minutes, we just kept giving them the ball back to them.”
» Barton Rovers saw their four match Southern League Division One Central unbeaten run ended in disappointing fashion as they fell to a 2-1 defeat at Hadley on Saturday, writes Alfie Robinson.
Murphy Culkin opened the scoring for the visitors in the 17th minute, when his well-struck free-kick flew into the bottom corner.
However, Hadley restored parity in the 39th minute as Rovers goalkeeper Matt Boylan misjudged a cross, allowing Jordan Edwards to head over the stranded stopper and into the net.
A poorly defended corner summed up Barton's afternoon, as they failed to clear a wind-assisted delivery, allowing Louis Udeh to score what proved to be the winner just seven minutes after half time.
Rovers host Thame United this weekend.
» Crawley Green made it five SSML Division One games unbeaten with a 2-1 home win over Irchester United on Saturday.
Crawley visited Cranfield United in the Beds Senior Trophy last night and then head to Huntingdon Town in the Division One Cup this weekend.
Caddington lost 3-1 at Milton Keynes Irish Reserves and host Sun Sports on Saturday, as Totternhoe visit Pitstone & Ivinghoe, with The 61 FC (Luton) entertaining Milton Keynes College.