Kempston entered into a very tough looking run of games over the Christmas/New Year period with a narrow defeat away at a very robust and industrial AFC Dunstable side, who remain firmly in the hunt for automatic promotion this season. Rovers started brightly, but could’ve been behind after five minutes when Martin Conway hit a clearance against his own man and had a race against Jermaine Hall to recover the loose ball. On the quarter hour mark of what had been a very stop start opening to the game, the referee called both Seb Simpson and Dunstable captain Olaleye together to spread the message that this is meant to be the season of goodwill and cheer to all men. Most of the players frustrations were stemming from the inconsistency of the referee’s descisions – as Michael Lyon will attest to after nearly having his shirt removed from his back, to then be penalised himself. Ben Shepherd had Rovers’ clearest chance of the first half, but his shot on the edge of the box was closed down and all the sting was taken off the ball before it reached Head in the home goal. Dunstable took the lead shortly before the half hour, a cleverly won free kick on the edge of the box was played in low. A Dunstable man on the edge of the wall broke away allowing the channel for Nathan Frater to shoot through. A run from outside the box, across the run of the ball left Conway un-sighted and with very little time to react to the effort, which rolled into the bottom corner for the opening goal. Josh Crawley had an effort go wide after neat build up play with Jake Newman. In first half stoppage time, Luke Heneghan nearly ended the goal of the season competition there and then. Taking in a pass and flicking over the head of his marker on the turn before unleashing a spectacular right foot volley from the edge of the box, flying only just wide. It would’ve been the kind of goal that, if caught on film, would’ve made him an internet hero. Those are the margins in football.

Five minutes in to the second half, Rovers found themselves two down. Frater’s busy run down the right and low cross into the six yard box was gleefully turned home by BJ Christie. Kempston weren’t going to lie down and almost immediately got themselves back into the game, Heneghan with a ball up the left hand channel saw the home defence standing off as Jake Newman raced through – the forward got a toe to the ball just ahead of the on rushing keeper who could only turn and watch as the ball trundled into his net. Crawley combined with Newman shortly afterwards, but Rovers’ top scorer couldn’t make the most of the half chance. The tackling had been robust throughout the game, but it was Dunstable sub Tavernier that was the first name taken in the book on the hour mark, for a needlessly aggressive foul on Ben Shepherd. With fifteen minutes to go, Jake Newman thought he had leveled the game with a flick off the outside of his left boot in the right hand channel of the box, only to see his effort kiss the far post and drop wide. Griffiths also found his name in the referee’s book for the hosts as the clock wound down, for a cynical hack down of Heneghan on the break, protesting his innocence as long as he could to wind the clock down further. Jordan Lee was the only Rovers player to earn a caution, in stoppage time for a trip in the corner as Dunstable further employed time wasting tactics. After six minutes of stoppage time, the referee called the game to a halt and a minor flash-point occurred in front of the dugouts as Rovers sub Nathan Tshikuna appeared to be shoved by an opponent, full credit to Kyal McNulty for stepping in and leading the winger away from the situation as the Dunstable bench closed in on the affair.

Being the only game on Friday night sees Rovers remain in seventh, despite the defeat, outside the play offs on goal difference – a scenario that will likely change come Saturday tea time. Rovers now have to key home games before Christmas starting with Thame United on Tuesday night before next Saturday sees the Walnut Boys host Moneyfields – which will be followed by a supporters club race night.