IN PICTURES: Christie bags a treble as AFC thump Stotfold

Josh Humbert slides in to score for AFC Dunstable at Stotfold

AFC Dunstable were handsome 5-0 winners over Stotfold in their SSML Premier Division clash at the weekend.

The visitors had been forced into three changes from last Saturday as Leon Cashman (suspended), Jermaine Hall (tonsillitis) and Ricky Perks (wedding) missed out, so in came Gary Malone, Josh Humbert and Nathan Frater.

Although Stotfold could consider themselves unlucky to lose the FA Vase game 3-1 a fortnight ago, there was no such excuse this time, with AFC keeper Malone was a mere spectator.

The visitors opened the scoring on 10 minutes when a superb corner from Newman Carney found the head of younger brother Brandon to make it 1-0.

With a strong wind against them, AFC then had a second when the older Carney’s excellent free kick was met by Humbert to poke home from close range.

After 35 minutes the third arrived too when Courtney Massay’s cross from the right saw Christie flick home.

After the break, AFC had a fourth goal through Christie ruled out for offside on 55 minutes, as hosts Stotfold were struggling to launch any meaningful attacks.

It should have been 4-0 on 82 minutes, when a great cross from Taishan Griffith saw Christie head just wide.

Looking to make up for that miss, Christie decided to make the scoreline more convincing as put through by sub Dale Turney he finished clinically on 88 minutes, before outpacing the home defence to complete his hat-trick moments later, bagging his 27th goal of the season.

AFC boss Steve Heath said: “To have players missing of the calibre we had out, all the squad are pulling in the right direction and worked so hard in difficult conditions.

“I am hoping to have my skipper Moses Olaleye back soon, as he is training and doing the warm ups and it was so good to see Dale Turney back after being out for three months.

“Josh Humbert and Nathan Frater had to come off with knocks, we will assess them to see if fit for Tuesday.”

AFC remain two points behind leaders London Colney with a game in hand as they travel to Dunstable Town in the Beds Senior Cup on Tuesday night.

AFC: Malone, Massay, N Carney, Griffiths, Beck, Griffiths, B Carney, Humbert, Christie, Gorman, Frater.

Subs used: Bufano, Turney. Subs not used: Hall, Silvestri, Olaleye.

Attendance: 45.

To view News/Gazette photographer Guy Wills’ pictures from the game, click on the link above.