There we were, sitting quite nicely at 2-2 with adequate chances to win and our revered skipper and goalkeeper gives us the latest Hammer moment.

You have all seen this sort of thing - the defender slips the ball to the keeper who is then at liberty to punt the ball up field. The Hammer decided to show how he could dribble round a defender beforehand. The striker intercepts and slots the ball into an empty net.

Well, it is a bit unfair on Paul Taylor, who did pull off some remarkable saves again, and we hope that this relapse is now out of the way for the foreseeable future. Scottie has deleted his ‘sticky’ message on his phone that famously read ‘1-0 down, Taylor error.’ As Jonno Barnett pointed out, there will be games this coming season that will be won because of sustained and exemplary keeping from the Hammer. I know that, but I did tell Paul I would give him a bit of stick, so there it is.

It was indeed a very pleasant evening at Haywood Way and we were treated to a very entertaining an open game, which had skill and quality play amply displayed.

Aylesbury Vale are a proud club and were former (reluctant) hosts of the now nomadic Aylesbury United.

Their ground is compact and adequate and their greeting was hospitable and very friendly. Playing in claret and blue, they very nearly ran out victors, but conceded to Darrell Elliott in the last minute, having come from behind on two occasions.

A draw was fair result, given the chances that fell to either side, but Dunstable had to work a shade harder after the Taylor made goal. At that time they were looking perhaps the stronger and more likely to restore their lead.

Inevitably, there were more changes to the team, with a surprise or two. Danny Ryan and Ryan Quinn were unavailable because of holidays and Mark Shadbolt, Leigh harrington and Ross Hanley went to Holmer Green with the second string.

In tonight were Lee Burgoyne. Richard Harker and one Wayne Mills, aka Billy Whizz, who has played before for the club. Russell Preston, now fit came on as a substitute.
It was no surprise to see that Lee Cowley maintain his selection of former youth and reserve team players who merged well with the seasoned first team lads.

Nothing is set in stone and Cowley senior continues to search for the best selection for the forthcoming league campaign. It was heartening, therefore to see his team seize the lead after just fifty-two seconds, with a pleasing combination of experience and youthful endeavour.

It came after the first meaningful attack and we saw Wayne Mills set up the errant Jay Jay (last on the bus again) with a well taken goal.

Mills’ pass was perfect and he urged Jay Jay to shoot on sight, which he did and he ball went between the keeper’s legs. It was Jay Jay’s best moment as he is charitably described by his manager as a ‘free spirit’. He is that, yet he would benefit from taking heed of some forthright on field advice from his colleagues. He was, however, not bundled off the ball as much and he does show a willingness to be involved all over the pitch.

Vale were, at this point, and for a while after, finding it difficult to cope with the nippy pace of the Blues’ forwards and indeed it was pleasing to see the way that play was spread, and mostly on the ground. We are adjusting to this having seen a lot of long high balls that characterised play last season.

Jay Jay had a passable header from a Colwet throw-in which was easy for the home keeper, and he also had a soft shot saved from a Dean Whittaker pass. Vale had a fine shot well saved by Taylor, who could do little about the well worked equaliser that cleverly left the defence standing.

Taylor saved the first shot with his legs , but it left Baxter with the simple job of converting, with Taylor grounded and unsupported. This was after thirteen minutes. Dean Whittaker sent in a fine header, utilising his Crouch like height, from a measured cross from Richard Harker, the effort went just wide.

At the end of our last game, I spoke to Peter Hiney, maintaining that what we could do with was one of his trademark headed goals from a corner. He duly obliged and shortly after went off injured. Hiney is not yet fully fit, but I consider him to be an able prospect - a solid defender who can and has cropped up with some important goals from set pieces.

Vale rallied and it took a fine clearance from the loyal Nick Nolan to prevent what looked like a goal. The eager Ryan Cowley, diminutive but aggressive in play had a fine chance and was unlucky just to se it land on the roof of the net.

Wayne Mills gave some indication of why he received the sobriquet Billy Whizz, when he beat three players on the run only to find his shot blocked. At this stage, Russell Preston joined the fray, replacing Jonno Barnett. I admire Russell’s optimism and positive attitude and have already forgiven him for scoring against us when he was at Real Barton.

A fine Vale shot deceived Taylor but went wide. Vale pressed and from a corner they weaved a fine equaliser, when Corbauld rifled home. So, at the interval it was all square and high on entertainment.

I was in touch with Scottie, who elected to go to Holmer Green to bag another new ground, and he reported the second string as a goal up.

I was a little amused when one Vale fan said ‘where are the Dunstable crowd tonight?’ Dean Falla piped up with ‘I am here.’ Come to think of it, our Deano does seem like a crowd of one person at times.

Upon resumption, it would be fair to say that both teams looked dangerous on the break, exposing mutual defensive weaknesses, but it was the Vale who took the lead , for the first time in the match, with the already recorded Hammer moment.

Darell Elliott replaced the ubiquitous Jay Jay and there was a spate of free kicks from either side that provided a degree of anxiety. Preston fancied his chances at range, as did Cowley, but the best effort came from Nolan, who fine shot was well saved at the expense of a corner.

Elliott was making some impressive runs forward and one of his crosses found Whittaker whose free header was well saved. Vale should have done better when one of their subs had a golden chance but it cleared the bar with embarrassing space. Paul Marsiglio was unimpressed with his own input, which is, I think a bit harsh, and Lee Burgoyne made a sound return to the team after his injury.

Cowley’s later shot was well saved and Vale emulated their opponents by hitting the roof of the net. They also found the net a little later but the ball had already gone out of play.

Time was ticking and it did seem that Taylor’s blooper would have victory to Vale, but with seconds remaining the determined Elliott converted with a fine individual goal.

It was a good game to watch and amply matched by the superb hospitality of our opponents’ committee that made this indeed a friendly game.

Of course there were questions asked and answers needing to be given but that is what these games are about.
The home friendly against Crawley Green, scheduled for Thursday is now cancelled, owing to the Creasey Park pitch needing some more time for recovery. The goal mouths simply need more time to be match fit, so to speak.

So, next up is the once peerless Enfield, a club I supported as a boy, now some distance away from the fine Southbury Road stadium, scene of many notable triumphs, not least in the FA Cup. They have shared with Borehamwood and St Albans, and now are tenants at Ware FC.

The last time we met we did the league double over them, but I am just pleased that they have survived the many arrows of misfortune and are now well reinstated.

The second string will be playing at Hertford Town.
Scottie phoned the news through that our lads drew 2-2, after leading for most of the game.

So, a fair night for the club, who will be facing some very stern tests soon in their league programmes.

So, to sum up in the Vale game - better service for the strikers, more precise passing, some pleasing possession play and a greater degree of accuracy in set pieces. Some players need to work on achieving optimum match fitness and a higher level of communication would be welcome.

Vale played the game in the right spirit and made a fine contest of the encounter and , of course, we wish them well in their own campaign and thank them for their best wishes for our season

© Dunstable Town Football Club 2008/09. Site designed and maintained by Daniel Crooke.