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The Final Countdown!

The Final Countdown!

JIM DAVIS24 Apr 2014 - 08:14
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Exciting finish to the Southern League Season for Daventry Town!

Daventry Town go in to their final match at home on Saturday, knowing that even if they beat Chalfont St Peter, they will not win the league title, unless Dunstable and Rugby both drop points!

Having suffered their worst league defeat this season at Egham Town by 4 – 1 , the league title is now out of their hands, a game in the play –off semi - finals next Tuesday, will be the outcome if other results do not go their way!

If Dunstable Town beat Uxbridge on Saturday then they'll win the league, if Rugby Town better Dunstable's result, they will be Champions!

Slough must equal or better Barton Rovers result on the final day of the season to secure the final play - off position. Four teams now have a serious chance of winning the Southern League Central Division title; any two of six teams are still in contention for promotion!

Daventry Town Manager Darran Foster felt his team started the match well but the pace of the game affected his players, having played five games in nine days!

`It is beyond me what went on in the second half, for the first thirty minutes we were superb!
Of course the delay to the second half did not help, but Egham were in the same situation, so we have no excuses.
The biggest problem we had was their raw pace, time and time again they punished us with balls in behind and it just completely knocked the stuffing out of a lot of tired weary legs.

`I am a great believer that decisions must go for you in such important games and again last night they did not, Richard Morris had their first goal in both hands, but was then bundled over, which the ref did not give, not only was it a foul but at an important period of the game!
We then got involved with the officials and lost all our discipline which was my biggest disappointment.

`All in all a very bad night but one that we must forget very quickly, the pressure now moves to Dunstable and Rugby in their games with AFC Hayes and Uxbridge, maybe they will now feel the tension and weight of expectation!
Our focus is firmly on securing three points against Chalfont to make sure we have a home tie in the play offs!

`Lastly, maybe now people will realize that no title is ever won until the trophy is in your hands, to be honest all the talk about us being title favourites has been a little embarrassing and just fuels the fire for other teams to make sure it does not happen. It is not an excuse as we were not good enough at Egham, but I can guarantee it did not help.

`I am proud of my lads for their superb efforts over the course of this season and that will never change; they still have a very good chance of promotion, even if we have to do it the hard way!
They have done so much and brought so much to the town of Daventry this season and I know my players will give every last drop of energy to achieve our goal!

Daventry went ahead in the 14th minute, a goal from Luke Keen settling the early nerves, but by half time `The Sarnies` had equalised through Mo Harkin.
The start to the second half was delayed by 25 minutes as one of the assistant referees was unwell and an ambulance was called to take him to hospital!

The second half saw Daventry concede three more goals and striker Scott Cross was sent off with five minutes remaining after collecting two cautions, in as many minutes!

Losing to Egham was a hugely disappointing result, but Daventry still have a chance of winning the league and must go for all three points against Chalfont St Peter, then hope other results go their way. If not automatic promotion the play –offs provide another opportunity. This has been a fantastic season for Daventry Town; it could still be a promotion winning season! Egham is History, Chalfont is the next game, and so is the most important game for the club!

Jim Davis
Sports Writer

Final day`s fixtures:
Dunstable v Uxbridge, AFC Hayes v Rugby, Daventry v Chalfont St Peter, North Greenford v Kettering Town

Match Facts:
Egham Town 4 Daventry Town 1
Wednesday 23rd April 2014
Competition: Southern League Central Division
Location: Runnymede Stadium, Egham, Surrey
Daventry: Richard Morris, Ollie Wilkinson, Tom James, Marcel Simpson, Liam Dolman (Captain), James Husband, Ross Oulton, Ryan Howell, Josh Blake, Josh O`Grady, Luke Keen
Subs: Ashley Deeney, Scott Cross, Mykel Beckley, Adam Confue, Guy Sanders
Goal scorers: Daventry Town: Luke Keen 14mins Egham Town: Mo Harkin 29mins, Josh Andrew 54/66mins, Reis Stanislaus 90+2
Man of the Match: Luke Keen
In the book: Red: Scott Cross (Two yellows 85/86mins)
Attendance: 112

Jim Davis

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