Didcot 1-0 Kempston Rovers

It was a story of 2 penalty kicks on Saturday afternoon as Didcot Town picked up a much needed 3 points over fellow strugglers Kempston Rovers thanks to a successful George Reid spot kick and a saved one at the other end by Leigh Bedwell.

Didcot made 1 change from the side that were denied late on by Aylesbury Utd with new signing Jack Powell starting the game in place of Tom Stanley in the Didcot attack. The first real goal action came on 17 minutes when Powell combined with Reid to find Seth Humphries in the box but as the midfielder went to take aim on goal he was caught from behind by Gareth Hunt for a clear penalty for the Railwaymen. Reid converted the previous one against Aylesbury and it was again left to him this time and again he slotted the ball home to give Didcot the lead in a scrappy opening half.

The action really livened up in the 2nd half, Didcot now confidently pressing the game desperate for a second goal went desperately close on a number of occasions. Firstly Reid was brilliantly denied by visiting goalkeeper Michael Hudson with a point blank save with his feet after Reid had gotten across his defender superbly and diverted a good ball by Jack Dark towards goal but Hudson was equal to it.

On the hour mark Didcot were again left scratching their heads how it wasn't 2 nil when birthday boy George Gilmore rose highest to head towards goal, Hudson saved and while Gilmore turned and sprinted back to his defensive duties he hadn't realised Hudson had spilt the ball and would have left a tap in for the retreating Gilmore! Kempston only partially cleared it to Powell whose shot was again smartly turned over the bar by Hudson.

Almost typically from a very rare Kempston attack it looked like Didcot would be made to pay for their missed chances as Emmanuel Dahie nipped in behind the Didcot back line and Kieran Collins made a rash sliding challenge, Dahie hit the floor and the referee pointed at the spot again. Former Barnet and MK Dons striker Izale McLeod who scored hatfuls of spot kicks in his Football League days stepped up but his penalty lacked real conviction and Leigh Bedwell was able to dive to his right and push the ball away. it was the break that Didcot needed as they had been comfortable to that point but had the game gone 1-1 after such dominance it would have been a real kick in the teeth again for the Railwaymen.

Still the chances came for Didcot, Jack Dark who had been another positive spark for the home side managed to create a chance for himself but his low strike took a deflection that looked to wrong foot Hudson but somehow the Kempston keeper got down low to his left to keep the ball out of the bottom corner. Right at the death Reid who had been a constant menace seized on a poor clearance from the otherwise outstanding Hudson, Reid turned two defenders inside out but his left footed strike was saved yet again by the stubborn goalkeeper who had kept his side from taking a real hammering in the second half. Even so the final whistle went shortly after and Didcot had recorded a much needed a thoroughly deserved first 3 points of 2020.

Full Time. Didcot 1-0 Kempston Rovers