Dunton FC

Saturday saw dunton travel to Ickwell Green to face local rivals Ickwell & Old Warden in the Quarter Finals of the Biggleswade Knockout Cup. Both teams had selection problems, Ickwell having Andrew Vallom, Nick Jones & former Greens Michael Dring & Dan Lloyd out. Dunton were without Laurence Bosher & Tom Burton, while Paul Mercer & Barry Emery had to be ruled out due to illness, something that also saw Tom Ray having to be withdrawn in the 1st half. Striker Paul Chamberlain was also ill but was deemed fit enough to play. Stevie Pugh came in at centre back to replace Emery alongside Barry Morris, with fellow 16 year olds Brogan Hill & Jamie Turner on the bench.

Ickwell, who featured former Dunton players Lee & Dan Threadgold, Steve Monks & the influential Paul Beith, made the brighter start, Monks & Dave Trundle many times from midfield coming forward to link up with strikers Matthew McCartney & Lee Threadgold. It was the hosts who deservedly took the lead their pressure deserved, Steve Monks getting to the byline down Ickwell's right & cutting back to Lee Threadgold whose mis hit shot fell to Trundle for a simple tap in.

Shortly after Dunton left back Tom Ray had to admit defeat against his illness & was replaced by young Brogan Hill for his 3rd 1st team appearance. Despite Ickwell still being very much on the front foot, The Greens turned the game around with 2 goals in 5 minutes against the run of play. First Tom McGhee played PAUL CHAMBERLAIN in behind the hosts back four to place the ball past Ickwell's impressive young keeper, then within minutes another McGhee assist saw JAMES COOPER find the space to put the visitors ahead after breaking from midfield.

Poor Dunton defending saw the hosts level before half time, a ball in from Ickwell's left this time failing to be cleared came to Lee Threadgold who engineered room for a shot & beat brother Nicky in goal to bring the half time score of 2-2.

The 2nd half must have been entertaining for the crowd at the Green as it proved to be end to end with both teams not shy in going forward. A foul on the edge of the Ickwell box saw TOM MCGHEE step up & curl a free kick & beat the home number 1 at the near post for his 4th free kick goal of pre season. However, Dunton threw the lead away after losing the ball from an attacking set piece. Ickwell countered quickly & McCartney produced a delicate flick to his strike partner Lee Threadgold, who raced in behind to level for the hosts.

Dunton managed to take the lead for a 3rd time when David Pugh received a pass in the area & after faking to shoot squared the ball for PAUL CHAMBERLAIN to slide home his 2nd of the afternoon. Yet again though Ickwell levelled, Matthew McCartney turning & hitting a 20 yard effort that went in top corner out of Nicky Threadgold's reach after the slightest of deflections of the boot of David Gill.

Despite manager Barry Morris pushing 3 up front by bringing on Jamie Turner for an impressive 1st team debut, the score remained 4-4 at the end of the 90 mins. Lee Threadgold almost won it for the hosts, but with a ball being whipped in from the Ickwell left, Morris had to perform a last ditch block to prevent his talented former striker completing his hat-trick.

Morris won the toss for the penalty shootout & chose for Dunton to go 1st. Veteran David Gill comfortably slotted home the opening penalty before Dunton keeper Nicky Threadgold gleefully saved his brother Lee's 1st Ickwell penalty with his feet to give the visitors an early advantage. Tom McGhee, Stevie Pugh & James Cooper netted for Dunton,& with no further errors for Ickwell it fell to Barry Morris to take the 5th penalty for the win. After blazing over the bar in last seasons league cup quarter final shootout against Leighton United, he elected for placement over power this time & slotted the ball home to end an entertaining game & put Dunton through to face the winnwer of Stotfold Reserves & Caldecote in the semi finals, who play at Stotfold's Roker Park on Wednesday night (31st August).

Dunton Team - Nicky Threadgold, Tom Ray ( Brogan Hill ), David Gill, Stevie Pugh, Barry Morris (c), Jon Ranson, James Cooper, Joe Lewis ( Jamie Turner ), Tom McGhee, David Pugh, Paul Chamberlain

Goals - Paul Chamberlain 2, James Cooper, Tom McGhee
Assists - Tom McGhee 2, David Pugh
Man of the Match - Paul Chamberlain