Oxhey Jets 4 v Dunstable Town 3 HT 1-1 attendance 48

Disputed Decisions Deny Dunstable

Dunstable finally returned to league action for their first Spartan Premier fixture since late November last year, to face Oxhey Jets, whom they beat by a single Perrin goal in October at Creasey Park.

This present match was altogether more entertaining, but ultimately frustrating for Blues’ manager Darren Feighery who was at pains to point out what he thought were extremely poor decisions by the youthful officials.

The first point of disagreement was when the home side was awarded a free kick and without waiting for a whistle the ball was placed neatly in Ryan Hagerty’s net.
‘The referee clearly pointed to his whistle’ said Feighery, ‘ and if he did that he is making it clear that the kick is to be taken when the whistle is blown. If not he should at least indicate to the players that he would be allowing an early kick’.

The second major point of dispute was when Hagerty had made a save but dropped the ball - the far official signalling that the ball had crossed the line.

Again Feighery was emphatic ‘ there was no way that the ball crossed the line simple as that. The officials’ have made errors and at a crucial time for us.’

Well, more of this anon. My own view about the result was that a draw would have been, on balance of play a more fitting result.

Who is this Hagerty, R you may well be asking.
Well, he is no relation to the legendary Barnstoneworth player, who, you may recall played alongside Hagerty J in that legendary but fictitious team who were featured in ‘Ripping Yarns’. The Hagerty R - that is to say Ryan, is on loan from Hitchin Town since Paul Taylor is suspended until next month.

The game had a kind of Barnstoneworth air about it with a final score of 4-3 to the Jets, with two penalties to accompany the controversy, one for either side and both converted.

This was Dunstable’s first visit to the Boundary Stadium for a few seasons and for Aaron Flood it was short lived as he was substituted in the opening minutes by Lewis Osborne. Flood was one of the players feeling the strain of that cup tie against Aylesbury that went to extra time.

Within three minutes, Dan O’ Connor had eluded the offside but his shot was dragged wide. Lee Grace did himself a favour when he beat an advancing Douglas Kisuule in the next Blues’ attack, and Jets began to settle, making their own quick raids on goal.

Kisuule had a snap shot, well saved by Sam Styles, but the Dunstable striker had a torrid time against both Chris Harding and Chris Ingham,
Kisuule’s fellow striker Dan O’Connor needed to work hard to elude his marker as well.

Matty Baldry nearly surprised as al when his eighth minute shot proved to be closer than expected. Lee Armitt’s effort from close range was well covered by Hagerty.

Both teams were determined to get forward at every opportunity and this pattern of play remained steadfast until the end. It was Dunstable though who scored first, when after the award of a free kick a few yards outside the area, Russell Preston’s shot took what is known as a wicked deflection and wrong footed Styles.

Just a minute before, Luke Armitt had brought a fine save from Hagerty. Dunstable were soon facing some aggressive counter play as Jets sought an early equaliser Lee Inch tried one but Hagerty had his measure

When the Jets did find the net it was, ironically, scored from a deflection, but was not undeserved. Chris Ingham cared not a jot who deflected it and it amply reflected how both teams were keen to attack.

This goal was scored five minutes before the interval and that was how the score remained.

But just three minutes into the second period Dunstable snatched the lead from a quick attack.
Excellent and persistent work from Dan Picknell led to the goal after he looped a short ball into the area and Dan O’Connor’s shot was blocked, the ball came back to Picknell who sent it back, where it cannoned off a defender into the path of Luke Flood netted quite easily.

Three minutes later brought the controversial equaliser. I can well remember Thierry Henri scoring from a free kick when all around him were unprepared. The referee gave the goal and there were dark mutterings that the talismanic Frenchman had not really been fair or sporting.

Our referee, Rob Smith, had blown for a free kick in a dangerous area and, as I have said, this kick was taken immediately and put away by Tim O’Mara. No whistle had gone to indicate play could commence but the youthful referee indicated a goal and faced a barrage of protests from the Dunstable players. It would be interesting to note what the number of Spartan league officials thought of it as presumably they were there to assess the referee’s performance.
I heard no whistle but I did see the referee point to it which would indicate that the kick ought to be taken on his command.

Play then ought to have been brought back and the kick retaken, but the goal was allowed and Jets were level.

It was a crucial equaliser as it prevented Dunstable from consolidating their play to hold on to or increase their lead. It actually had the opposite effect as by the sixty-third minute Dunstable had slipped to concede two more goals and the task of rebuilding from that looked remote.

On the hour mark came the Hagerty dropped ball and the did it cross the goal line question. Luke Beardsworth was the marksman and one felt for Hagerty. He had just made a splendid save from Lee Inch and this one looked a competent save until he spilled the ball and scooped it back.

He was adjudged to have scooped it from behind the line as signalled by the linesman, and again this was bitterly disputed by the Dunstable players and management team. It stood and thus the Jets were in the lead for the first time in the game.

There was little dispute when Jets were awarded a penalty after Luke Flood had handled and Beardsworth coolly converted for his second goal of the afternoon. Jonathan Barnett had come on as a substitute with the injured Shane Wood giving way. New signing Alex McCarthy was also employed in the latter stages.

Poor old Doug Kisuule was earnest and full of effort but was getting nowhere. I did ask Darren Feighery later if it might have been an option to have put Jay Jay on, since he would have utilised his pace well. Darren did say it had crossed his mind but he was a little concerned that he had made two early substitutions. Jonno Barnett had been quite influential and one has to take into account Jay Jay’s erratic play on occasions.

And then I thought of the great comeback at Royston, with its thrilling last minute winner from Lee Burgoyne, unavailable today because of illness.

There were chances, many of them before the end, and for both sides, but intriguingly, Dunstable provided the better chances and there were some thrilling moments of near misses, stern defending and, oh yes, another goal.

And it came from another undisputed penalty, rattled home by Neal Perrin for his twelfth goal of the campaign. Barnett’s superb cross was the precursor and with sixty-five minutes gone there was hope.

We saw a wonderful lofted ball from Picknell to O’Connor who raced ahead of his defender and sent in an low angled drive that was travelling just slowly enough for Chris Ingham to clear heroically from the line for just a corner. It was a heart breaking moment as Picknell’s alertness and O’Connor’s spirited sprint deserved a goal.

Similarly, a relatively late double effort from Lewis Osborne brought initially an outstanding save from Sam Styles and the second effort was a creditable bit of athleticism with an over head kick.

In the same breath I will also mention a couple of notable saves from Hagerty, which amply illustrates that Oxhey were themselves looking to make the game even safer for themselves.
Had Dunstable brought matters level at 4-4 I do not think there would have been too much complaint from the home spectators, but I did note some mention that there was a suspicion of handball for Dunstable’s second strike.
For me the game hinged on the curious decision of the referee not to bring play back when that lightning free kick was executed.

From my position in the stand I cannot state that the ball did not cross the line for Oxhey’s third but simply report the vehement and heartfelt protests that it did not.

Was it a good game - given the controversy I would say yes it was. One of the Spartan officials told me in the board room after the game that it had been a great advert for Spartan League football, but for many it was an exposure of a degree of naivety from officials of limited experience. I will say that they made their decisions honestly and with integrity but there is still a huge doubt that they had it just right.

It is not uncommon even at the highest level and whatever the result, a decision must be made and adhered to. Dunstable have now played nineteen of their league matches and have a few in hand, but this will be seen by Darren Feighery as a severe blow to his desires to make up lost ground on the top teams.

Tring Athletic won handsomely away and nab the top spot from Aylesbury who were hors de combat today with a postponement at Haywood Way.

Dunstable return to cup action on Tuesday 26 January with a home tie against Aston Clinton who declared some intent by walloping basement club Welwyn Garden City 7-1 in the same competition.

The Saturday brings Royston Town to Creasey Park in a league encounter where the Hertfordshire side will be looking to gain recompense for that startling last minute defeat against the Blues.

So, from my point of view a draw today would have been an equitable result, but it was not to be.
Team news today was that Danny Ryan was out injured after his heroic stint in goal, Lee Burgoyne was ill and Wayne Mill’s drew the wrong shift with the Fire Brigade. We hope that Shane Wood and Aaron Flood recover from their knocks in time for Tuesday.

OXHEY JETS

Sam Styles, Ian Bywater, Lee Grace, Steve Brown, Chris Harding, Chris Ingham, capt. Goal 40 minutes, Lee Inch, Nathan Roberts, Luke Armitt, Luke Beardsworth, two goals, 60 minutes and a penalty on 63 minutes, Tim O’Mara, goal 51 minutes.
Subsitutes- Wayne Gladdy, Ben Chandler, John Elliott and Jim Wagner.

DUNSTABLE TOWN

Ryan Hagerty, Matthew Baldry, Scott Wood, Shane Wood, Luke Flood goal , 48 minutes, Neal Perrin, goal, penalty, 65 minutes, Aaron Flood, DANIEL PICKNELL, my Blues’ Man of the match, Douglas Kisuule, Dan O’Connor, Russell Preston. Goal, goal 23 minutes.

Substitutes- Terry Jay Jay Billy, Ed Thompson GK, Alex McCarthy, Jonathan Barnett and Lewis Osborne

Officials Referee - Rob Smith, Letchworth and assistants, Chris Checketts, Dunstable ! and Lee Haywood, Luton.

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To the Regiment, I wish I was there.

Guest

out of the six league fixtures we have lost

In three we have made double substitutions because of injuries