Unbeaten Town triumph in tight Dunstable derby

Nathan Frater’s 14th-minute strike proved decisive as newly-crowned Molten Spartan SML Premier Division champions Dunstable Town beat AFC Dunstable 1-0 in the Dunstable derby at Creasey park on Saturday.

Town director football John McLoughlin said: “As normal it was another tough match against AFC. However, I am happy with the three points as our goal was to finish unbeaten and we are still on track.

“To be fair, AFC gave us the runaround in the second half, but our defence held out for another clean sheet and they have been awesome all season.

“We had only a few chances, but the front three worked well and never stopped running. It was great to see a good turnout and I hope we can start attracting more supporters next season as we enter the higher division.

“It will be weird without the derby games next season as they always produce good games and I think they will be in the top of the division next season.”

A combative derby had plenty of passion, but lacked clean finishing and stylish zest in from of an SML season high gate of 392.

Town edged the first half with Tony Burnett hitting the bar as Lee Roache saw his follow-up cleared off the line.

There were relatively few chances for either side as Town were unable to replicate the rhythm that had been their hallmark in recent games.

Having taken the lead through Frater, Dunstable continued to create chances but were met with stern and effective resistance.

AFC looked the livelier of the teams in the second half, but failed to test keeper Paul Taylor.

Town fired several crosses across the face of goal but there was no-one there to convert, while Danny Ryan missed a good headed chance.

Roache should have scored his 54th goal of the season after great work from Frater, but fired over, before AFC squandered late chances to grab an equaliser.

Town’s Wayne Mills admitted ‘sometimes you have to win ugly’, as Town made it 40 league games unbeaten with just two matches to go.

This Saturday AFC host Leverstock Green and Town go to Haringey Borough and next Tuesday AFC head to Haringey Borough.

Blues: Taylor, Mills, Mead, Leach, Buchanan, Carney, Pickering (Fontanelle), Burnett (Jackson), Roache, Frater, Christie.

Attendance: 392.