Hereward Teamwear United Counties Football League
Daventry United 1 vs
3 Newport Pagnell Town
The penultimate fixture before we bring an end to football at the Royal Oak and United fell just short again losing this fixture in the last ten minutes. The Swanns were still smarting their mid-week cup defeat against St Ives and if I'm honest, looked a little lacklustre in the opening exchanges. United were value for money when Bobby Lea broke through only to shoot straight at the keeper, then two minutes later Brad Harris split the defence to release Lee Vince who made no mistake giving United a deserved lead. Lea was very busy for United and Lee Vince was causing the two centre backs a few problems.
Newport Pagnell’s equaliser came by way of a Darran Lynch penalty after Lee Farrow had brought the attacker down. Luckily, the official only produced a yellow card. United rallied well and the half finished all square.
Both teams started the second half slowly and it looked as if the long hard season was beginning to take its toll as both sides looked very tired. But like so many times before it was the visitors who took the advantage with Darran Dykes beating everyone in the air to head Pagnell into the lead. With only eight minutes remaining United had to push and just could not find the killer ball or finishing touch to square this game up. Farrow made two great saves low to his right and from point blank range at his left hand post as Pagnell tried to extend their lead even further.
The game was put out of their reach when Richard Armstrong was gifted the chance to strike at goal and what a strike! He smashed the ball back over the defence and Farrow’s outstretched arm into the far top corner from twenty yards out. United played well again and are getting little reward for their efforts but the team are still working hard as the season comes to a close and there are few teams who have as tough a run-in as United with an away fixture at Stotfold and Sleaford next weekend.