No panic buttons need be pressed as this pre-season game provided manager Grant Carney with plenty of issues that he will address before the season begins in earnest.

Unlike the Luton game, where the team maintained its focus throughout, this match saw some lightweight defending and only a lacklustre showing from the front players.

Padbury were well organised and had the benefit of being a settled team that knew its strengths and defied its limitations. They play in Division Two of the Spartan South Midlands League and will be very encouraged by what was a comprehensive victory over a Premier Division outfit.

The Buckinghamshire side played a better passing game and a commendable willingness to shoot on sight, giving Paul Taylor a busier time than he probably expected.

But it was Dunstable who looked the brighter in the opening spell, with manager Carney making five changes from the team that faced Luton Town. The pace was brisk but it was clear that the Blues’ players are not yet versed in the foibles of their team mates and this brought a certain amount of predictability with safe rather than adventurous play.

There were few outright chances on the rather uneven pitch, but Dunstable took the lead after a quiet opening quarter of an hour finally yielded a good chance for the already notable Luke Lincoln. I had been impressed with the defensive play of Damien Pickering and was pleased to see Rory Smith back in the team - even if his current lack of fitness became more apparent.

Luke Lincoln’s goal was taken opportunely but his second had a touch of swagger about it, being a neat and well judged lob that gave the goalkeeper only a token chance.

But with the lead established, many were expecting Dunstable to relax and move the ball around with more confidence. This was not achieved since Padbury organised a series of counter moves that were often cleared long and thus the ball was soon back in the danger area.

The perceived weakness of the Dunstable defence was exploited well, and Padbury’s advantage also lay in their physical superiority.
The equaliser came direct from a piece of hesitancy in midfield from Jonathan Barnett which allowed a swift forward manoeuvre.

This attack looked to be beaten down but a piece of confusion, with two players leaving it to the other to clear was punished with a goal from close range.

We had almost reached the half hour mark and Dunstable had failed to build on their hard won lead, sacrificed so cheaply. The remainder of the first half was more about Padbury’s imposition of their ability to pass and move better and nullify with ease any long passes forward that invited Dunstable strikers to outpace their markers. Thus the moves from the Blues were easily read and dealt with.

Level at the interval it was for Carney an obvious disappointment but his half-time chat was entirely supportive as he picked out the best moments of play.

Since the game was played in an open field on a Milton Keynes recreation ground, both teams took their interval in the open.

I was a little surprised at the venue but I am assuming that Padbury’s own ground was unavailable. The fixture was moved to Conniburrow Boulevard, a grand name for so modest a venue. It mattered little since these pre-season friendlies yield much of value in terms of strengths and weaknesses.

The second half was, from a Dunstable point of view, largely disappointing. They failed to match the incisive attacking style and passing finesse of their opponents who were strong and effective in the challenge and, as before shot on sight. Taylor needed to be alert but there was one occasion when one effort struck his crossbar, and he would not have been able to do much about it had the ball’s flight been an inch or two lower.

After fifty-one minutes Padbury won a corner and this was bundled in at close range to give then the lead. Their corners were better than the Blues who tended to spray them in too deep.

But three minutes later there was the pleasing sight of Kyle Lincoln’s equaliser which was notable for the calm lob to finish a rare effective forward move.

Rory Smith, well known to Dunstable supporters as a youth team player of promise had the embarrassing sight of seeing his attempted clearance converted to an own goal after sixty-eight minutes, and for the remainder of the match it never seemed likely to see a Dunstable resurgence.

But Padbury’s fourth goal highlighted the need for an effective defence. A long throw in was met with an unchallenged headed goal with the scorer having nothing but to concentrate on just where he would put the ball.

This kind of goal is one that ought not to be conceded and it was a glaring lack of presence of the defence that will find its way into Carney’s tactical notebook. There ought to have been just a little more urgency about Dunstable’s closing period of play, even if it was ’just’ a pre season friendly.

But, although my tone may appear critical, I am all to aware that these are very early days and matters can only improve as the tem selection is sorted and players become accustomed to one another. To lose was a good reminder that the standard of play we expect is high.

I remember last season when a jubilant Aston Clinton left Creasey Park after recording a fine win over nominally senior rivals. Dunstable face a long and hard season against teams that have proved themselves to be among promotion contenders - such as Chalfont St Peter and Royston Town.

There is time and there are more games to come, and the issues will be addressed as they have to be.

As a game it was not without interest and I was impressed with Padbury’s unity and strength.
This comes from team work and for this new Dunstable team it is the start and much has been learned today.