Goal-crazy Dunstable Town are just gr-eight in big win

Dunstable Town closed the gap on Calor Southern League Division One Central leaders Barton Rovers to one point as they came from behind to thrash Ashford Town (Middx) 8-2 at Creasey Park on Tuesday night.

The Blues emphatically beat their second-from-bottom visitors to record their seventh-straight league win, with Lee Roache and Chris Marsh both hitting hat-tricks.

Director of football John McLoughlin said: “What a great result again, this is how far we have come as a club with all four strikers scoring, including two tremdous hat-tricks for Lee Roache and Chris Marsh.

“Nathan Frater and Tony Burnett also set up goals for fun, but it was another great performance from every player.

“We now have two big games with Aylesbury United and Slough coming up, but if we perform like we are then I fear no-one.”

Despite Dunstable’s dominance and repeated attacks, it was Ash who took the lead when some hesitant defending allowed Adam Turner to hook in an opportune strike from the right after 11 minutes.

It took the home side just two minutes to equalise though as Frater fired home a firm free-kick.

Roache put then put Dunstable ahead on 20 minutes when Danny Hutchins’ insightful free-kick picked out Town’s unmarked top scorer.

And two great individual strikes in the space of three minutes meant Roache had completed his hat-trick inside 33 minutes.

Marsh then made it five three minutes later when he was brought down in the box and he smartly converted from the penalty spot.

Ashford tried to rally in the second half and kept the Blues at bay until the 58th-minute when Marsh finished one-on-one against keeper Tyler Tobin.

Burnett converted a fine cross from substitute Jerome Federico and Marsh completed his hat-trick on with 16 minutes to go.

Ash hit back five minutes before the end when Robbie Stich’c free-kick euded everyone and went straight in to give the visitors some cold comfort.

Town are now the league’s top scorers with 40 goals from their 14 league games.

Dunstable head to Aylesbury United for a local derby on Saturday.

Blues: Jamie Head, Danny Hutchins, Danny Murphy, Joseph Bruce, Marc Leach, Moses Olaleye (C), Adam Watkins (Damen Pickering 36), Tony Burnett, Lee Roache, Nathan Frater (Jerome Federico 63), Christopher Marsh (Tony Fontanelle 78).

Ash: Tyler Tobin, Qaseem Sotonwa, Joe Jacobs, Russell Canderton (C), Harry Driver, Jim Mann, Cyril Ocanswey, Scott Wright, Adam Turner, Robbie Sitch, Tom Brunton. Substitutes used: Jack Beadle, Jack Watts. Substitutes not used: Paul McCarthy, Elliott Jones, Joe Lynch.

Referee: Stephen Bates.

Assistant Referees: Mark Stevens and Jeffrey Aldous.

Attendance: 73.

Star Blue: Lee Roache.

>> Meanwhile, in Molten Spartan SML Reserve Division One, The 61 FC (Luton) lost 4-1 at Holmer Green.