Despite the emphatic score-line this was a decent performance by Grant Carney’s team, especially in the first half.

The recent romp at Offley was not awfully important but it served its purpose. It was all too clear that the United Counties league side St Neots would provide an enduring test for the embryonic Blues.

The Rowley Park Stadium is an impressive venue for a match at our level and beyond.
Mind you it took me some time to find it as Mr Sat Nav told me in no uncertain terms to do it on my own, after ceasing duty at the railway bridge.

A local cabbie put me on the right track, and track it was across a makeshift road on a developing building site. The facilities are first class and there is also a money earning 3G pitch behind the ground. It all serves to remind us how we too will, in a nearer future enjoy similar facilities.

Of the pre -season games this was the one that has provided the best clues of the standards we must aspire to, as our hosts play at an equivalent level.

For the engrossing first half it was evident that there was a notable performance by the defence, and although limited to snap chances, there was a degree of creativity and earnestness that was heartening.

Gary Duncan played in goal for the first half and he performed well, with one particularly magnificent save matched erelong by his counterpart who palmed away a delightful shot from the combative Darrell Elliott, after being set up by the pleasingly persistent play of Lee Burgoyne. Burgers had an impressive half before a knock sidelined him.

Elliott is, as I have said, a player that appeals to the Carney style and when the striker was later unwillingly substituted, his glowering attitude was seen by Regimentals as a good thing. We have, they opined, a hungry player who is looking to replicate the form he enjoyed in former times.

But there was also good stuff from defenders Kerran Birch, Kyle Lincoln and Steve Howth.
The sprightly attacking force of the Saints was met with the appropriate resistance, as the hosts looked perhaps a shade stronger in midfield.

They looked sharp up front as well and after a number of opportunities that they erred in terms of accuracy, got the ball into the net after thirty-six minutes.

The referee signalled a goal but the linesman kept his flag aloft despite being unwittingly ignored. After some persistence from the ‘lino’ the referee consulted him and to the disparagement of the homer supporters signalled no goal. Mind you, it was a lead they probably deserved as they had pressed heartily and to good effect.

Duncan’s marvellous save and his counterpart’s equally splendid stop were highlights in a fairly contested first half that finished without legitimate score.

But I put the Huntingdonshire side marginally ahead on points owing to their greater control in midfield that amounted to more goal chances.

Dunstable had defended well and were no slouches in creating a quick break and what possibilities that came their way were well worked from some good short passing moves.

As well as this both sides essayed probing crosses that brought the best from goalkeepers and defenders.

I spoke to some home supporters during the interval and they revealed the same thing - unfamiliar players and those under scrutiny for possible long term inclusion.

This meant, of course that there were multi substitutions for both sides, as is normal, but it worked better for the home side that became increasingly dominant.

Carney was more concerned in giving as many of his squad a go, including himself. For the Blues we also saw Damen Pickering, Nathan Miller, who scored the only goal for the visitors. James Potter and Ross Morrisey.

The commencement of the second half saw some initial aggression for the Blues but this faded noticeably as the half wore on. Elliott could well have snatched the lead but he dragged his shot wide, and it was the home side that scored first after fifty-five minutes.

Three minutes later the Blues drew level after Pickering had forced a corner. The Regimentals were discussing the tactic of both sides in having two players at the corner flag, perhaps a feint for the possibility of as short kick.

Not on this occasion as Burgoyne executed an inswinger which rebounded from defensive attention only for Miller to give parity with a firm follow-up.

Dunstable had thus given good value but apart from a speculative header from substitute Carney and a couple of earnest flurries this was really the end of the Blues real aggression on front of goal.

What followed was a settled performance from the Saints who went on to score a further three goals of generally good quality that matched their incisive supporting play.

I must add that there were some glaring errors from the Blues substitute goalkeeper who had replaced Duncan, owing to the latter’s back strain.

This takes nothing away from the solid play from the Saints who thoroughly deserved their win.
Their goals came after sixty-five, seventy-eight and eighty-four minutes. The last came from a rebound after the Blues keeper had done well to parry the initial shot.
Even though the score was somewhat indicative of the home side’s general superiority, there as much to please the travelling supporters.

With a steadier midfield and an optimum level of fitness, this side could well be in contention for some solid results in the league programme.

Darren Croft was right to point out that he, along with Carney and Castleman have assembled a squad that is not overburdened with a large budget. The days of even modestly filled brown envelopes is not part of the Dunstable structure for the time being at least.

Croft speaks of the team as a new club and I know what he means. Even so there will be a contention for places as for this season we have had to forgo the luxury of a reserve team, and there is also the sad dispersal of the successful youth team.

It is all about rebuilding on and off the pitch and tonight we saw some real endeavour and glimpses of probable success in the league and cup campaigns.

We are not alone in this and importantly, Dunstable Town is alive and well, alive and kicking.

The visit of local rivals Crawley Green to Creasey Park on Saturday marks the end of home matches for a short while as the Spartan League have generously allocated our first fixtures away from home in order to accommodate the ground development.

As for the game, well, I enjoyed it and was delighted to visit such a fine ground and its hospitable staff and supporters.

I am always encouraged to see a growing prosperity and witness the pride in a club and its stadium. This is something we impatiently aspire to and it gets closer each week.

So, no heroics in Huntingdonshire, but a solid base from which to work from. The Saints pulled off a double over Bedfordshire after defeating Arlesey recently, but I hope it is not too long before we meet again in full blood, so to speak.