FA Vase: Peterborough Northern Star 1-3 Dunstable Town

17/11/12- FA Vase 2^nd Round

Peterborough Northern Star 1-3 Dunstable Town

Two goals from Dunstable striker Lee Roache was enough to take his side through to the next round of the FA Vase after beating Peterborough Northern Star 3-1.

Picture by Steve Sharman: Star scorer Billy Smith

The former Barnet man put in a man of the match performance to guide his side past last year’s quarter finalists Northern Star at Chestnut Avenue.

Two headers from Roache and a strike from winger Tony Burnett saw the Spartan South Midlands Premier League side beat Star whose only goal came from a Billy Smith penalty.

The game got off to a slow start with both teams struggling to break each other down creating little at either end.

It was the visitors though that opened the scoring in the 29^th minute as Roache headed home from close range from a Newman Carney corner.

The goal spurred Dunstable into life and they continued to pressure their hosts throughout the rest of the half but failing to add to their advantage.

The second half began as the first had ended with Dunstable looking for a second goal. The goal nearly arrived as Tony Burnett’s run and shot from the right was well saved by Star keeper Nick Conroy.

Burnett was once again in the action as he doubled Dorchester’s advantage with a well struck shot. Good work on the wing from Roache saw his cross pulled back by Wayne Mills for Burnett to strike the ball in off the post.

The goal spurred Star into life as they tried to create their first real opportunity in the game having been pegged back for much of the game.

Picture by Steve Sharman: Action from today's game

Dunstable though wanted to close the game and came within inches of doing so as Jon Cooper’s low shot was somehow blocked on the line by Roache.

Having been let off moment before, Star responded instantly with a goal of their own. A weaving run down the left from substitute Adam Scotcher saw the striker tripped in the box, giving the ref with no option but to award a penalty which was expertly despatched by Billy Smith.

But it was Dunstable who responded immediately by scoring next and closing the game as Roache scored his second of the game, heading in unmarked from another Newman Carney set piece.

The striker could and should have had his hat trick moments later after an excellent run saw him evade three defenders and the goalkeeper only to see his effort roll agonisingly wide of the post.

The goal had given  supporters hope of a comeback for Star, who were denied another penalty after a Dunstable defender seemed to handle the ball in the box.

Star had one more chance to pull a second goal back as Scotcher raced through one on one with the keeper only to see his effort saved by the legs of Paul Taylor.

The victory takes Dunstable through to the third round of the competition and continues their unbeaten run in all competitions this season.

Teams:
PNS: Conroy, Challinor, Wason, Morris © Kilby, Cox, Balde, Stain (Moore-Papworth), Smith, Furnell (Kerrison), Davey (Scotcher)

Dunstable Town: Taylor, Mills, Pickering © Mead, George, Olaleye, Cooper, Carney, Francis (Frater), Burnett (Junior), Roache