AFC Dunstable 2 - 3 Grays Athletic

Grays pushed from the first whistle as they looked to dominate and could have taken the lead as early as the second minute when a free kick from Lee Flynn found its way to Danny Bunce who crossed to find the head of Junior Baker, who’s header just went wide. Dunstable weren’t fazed and immediately tried to turn the game with the pace of TJ Billy and Hayden Wills opening the Blues defence.

Baker was solid as Wills broke clear to see his run cut out by the in-form defender. From a John Barrett corner a header from Craig Butler was cleared off the line by Bunce as the OD’s pushed forward. Moments later, some nice play down the left saw Baker lay off the ball to Harry Agombar. His deep cross found Craig Pope free at the back post who laid the ball across the six yard area for Louis Dennis to finish well.

Grays pushed again to try and increase their lead a Flynn free kick was hit just wide, Kenny Beaney ran forward and shot wide, a Bunce cross came to Joe Sweeney but the home defence closed the shot down. Dunstable, playing 4-5-1, started to control the midfield and moved forward to force a series of corners but the Blues defence held firm to keep the ball clear.

The end to end play continued as Beaney and Jason Fontaine found space to find Dennis but his clever footwork and shot was well saved by Nick Gardner in the home goal. With seven minutes to go a run by Dunstable caused a defensive slip by Bradley Thomas for Billy to run in and put the ball wide of Andy Hall to level the score.

The Blues moved forward from the restart to try to get back on top. Baker picked up the ball in his own half and ran forward. A pass wide to Bunce saw the defender run in to head the cross into the net to put Grays back in front with just minutes to go in the half.

The Blues came out in the second half with a purpose and took the game to the home side. Beaney found Bunce clear but the home defence cleared the ball for a corner. Bunce put in the cross for Thomas to rise above everyone to head the ball into the net to double the Blues lead with just a minute of the half gone.

Dunstable, although stunned didn’t give up and came forward and another error saw Billy run in clear, but a miss-timed tackle by Bunce saw the forward felled. The ref had no hesitation in showing Bunce a red card as he was the last defender to reduce the away side to ten men.

Grays immediately brought on Eljay Worrell for Sweeney to try to balance the side but the OD’s started to make the extra man count and began to dominate. James Baldry ran clear but Hall saved the shot. Billy was still causing problems with his pace but couldn’t find a way through as Grays closed ranks.

Joao Carlos came on for Fontaine to bring fresh legs into the fray but the blues were camped in their own half as AFC went looking for goals. A foul on Butler gave Dunstable a free kick just outside the area and a superbly struck shot by Barrett flew past the out-stretched arms of Hall to make the score 2-3. Grays finally moved forward and some good play by Pope and Beaney found Carlos but his shot went harmlessly wide. Billy’s pace saw him run clear of the defence to turn and shoot fiercely but the shot went just over the bar to the relief of all.

Dunstable pushed looking to level but solid defending by the Grays defence kept the ball away. A late sub brought Jared Small on for Dennis and the Blues kept their head to run down the dying minutes as the ref finished the game to give the Blues a winning start to their FA cup campaign.

Grays Athletic: - Andy Hall, Craig Pope, Bradley Thomas, Junior Baker, Lee Flynn, Jason Fontaine (Joao Carlos 67), Kenny Beaney, Harry Agombar, Danny Bunce, Joe Sweeney (Eljay Worrell 55), Louis Dennis (Jared Small 83).

Subs not used: - Ali Aksoy, Ian Gayle, David Cowley, Anthony Ryan.