Rogan snatches a point for Ardley

Conal Rogan celebrates his dramatic late equaliser. Photo: James Rees.

Ardley United 1-1 Dunstable Town

A 97th-minute equaliser from Conal Rogan earned Ardley United a point against ten-man Dunstable Town.

Joe Sellers-West had opened the scoring for the visitors just after half time, but they were soon down to ten when Liam McCrohan was sent off.

Ardley pushed for an equaliser but had until the dying embers of what had been an ill-tempered game.

They had started the night in 13th in the Spartan South Midlands Premier Division but were on a three-game winning streak in all competitions.

This was a tough test for them though against a Dunstable team that came into the game third but may well have been top if not for games in hand.

Dunstable looked the better of the two teams early on without too many clear cut chances. The closest was perhaps when Liam Faulkner forced Ben Hox off his line, rounding him but unable to keep his shot down.

Midway through the half Liam Talboys was sin binned after complaining that the referee hadn’t stopped played when he went down with a head injury. Perversely though, that was the trigger for the hosts to take control.

Declan Benjamin had a couple of chances wide, whilst in between James Casbieri’s header was saved.

Dunstable could have been reduced to ten even earlier than they were when skipper Alfie Osborne fouled counterpart Lewis Gabbidon, but got away with a warning despite already being booked.

The visitors would take the lead just after the break. Soon after heading a corner over, Sellers-West found the back of the net.

The pendulum swung back towards Ardley though after that when McCrohan saw red for a badly-timed challenges on Casbieri. On other day it could have been yellow though.

Julian McCalmon’s side piled on the pressure after that, with Morgan Williams seeing an attempt saved and Darius Browne having an effort clear off the line, both after some good attacking play, but the equaliser refused to come.

The momentum fell away, and it looked like even a late surge in stoppage time wouldn’t be enough, until Rogan struck, scoring on the rebound after Coulson saved an initial shot.

A more than satisfying point in the end for Ardley, who are away next at Crawley Green on Saturday.

Ardley United: Hox, Durrant (McConnell 81’) Gabbidon (Osbourne-Ricketts 81’), Talboys, Tooke, Gabbidon (c), Ngathe (Williams 61’), Benjamin, Casbieri, Browne (Rogan 69’), Willoughby (Courtney 61’).

Dunstable Town: Coulson, Creary, Baker (Mills 14’), McCrohan, J. Stirling, Osborne, Beaumont, Dunstan, Sellers-West, Faulkner (Osei-Addo 76’), Ikuyinminu (R. Stirling 90+2’).

Goals: Rogan 90+7’; Sellers-West 49’.

Sent Off: McCrohan 53’.

Sin Bin: Talboys 27’.

Attendance: 105.