Dunston FC played host to Colne FC at The UTS Stadium, with the East Lancashire outfit playing their first game of the season and leaving Tyneside with all three points, in a game lacking in any real clear cut chances for either side.

Chris Swailes had commented earlier in the week about not getting carried away and taking each game as it comes. Dunston were going into the game on the back of an impressive home win against Marine last weekend and certainly had a lot to be optimistic about heading into this fixture.

Colne started the game the brighter of the two sides, the first chance falling to Steve O’Halleron, following a quick break down the left, his shot was blocked by Dunston keeper Liam Connell.

After a lot of pressure, and with Djabi and O’Halleron looking  a threat up front for the Reds, the visitors eventually opened the scoring as Ursene Mouanda was adjudged to have brought down Djabi in the box on 19 minutes. Charlie Russell stepped up to take the resulting spot kick; his shot somehow squeezing under the arms of Connell and over the line. 

Colne were fortunate not to surrender their lead 3 minutes later as a Mark Winstanley over hit back pass glided over keeper Hakan Burton’s head and fell just past the far post.

Dunston Captain Craig Scott’s powerful defensive header sent Scott Heslop flying away down the left, the forward allowing the ball to run on before firing his effort wide of the top corner.

Colne took their slender lead into the break, but considering the second half turnaround by Dunston against Marine last week, having been in the same position, there was still plenty to play for.

Dunston’s opening to the second half was an improvement on the end of the first, Heslop glancing a headed effort just beyond the post, having connected well with a Luke Page cross. 

The hosts were controversially denied a penalty, Liam Thear pulled down in the box, with Winstanley booked as a result, only for the referee to incredulously award a free kick. The resulting free kick cannoning off the wall for a corner, only for it to come to nothing.

The referee’s performance will no doubt be the main talking point of the afternoon, unfathomably administering 8 yellow cards between the sides, 6 for dissent and 2 for fouls with Luke Page somehow cautioned for winning a ball in a tackle.

After the game Tony Cleugh was tasked with speaking to Dunston Manager Chris Swailes, who had this to say on the game:

“It was a game of few chances if I’m being honest, a competitive game, they got a penalty early doors and that was the deciding factor all game. We’ve huffed and puffed, but we haven’t created a lot of opportunities and neither have they. We’ve had a blatant penalty and the Referee has not given it and we’ve had a couple of chances from set pieces that have gone wide”

“What’s most disappointing is that we’ve not created enough, they’ve matched us in terms of physicality in the way of the system that they they’ve played. Don’t get me wrong, Colne on the day were a good side but what’s more disappointing is that we did not build on the Marine win, which is frustrating.” 

“The Referee was frustrating to say the least. We shouldn’t be talking about the referee, but we’ve been dying for football to come out of lock down, but some of the decisions today? Not letting advantage take place, every time there was contact he gave a free kick, then he gave a booking, so it was really frustrating for the lads on the pitch and the crowd. He never got the game going, there was no fluidity to the game, no momentum, it was just a stop start game”.

“Yes I’m disappointed that we lost the game, very disappointed, we’ve to look at the positives and there wasn’t many positives today if I’m totally honest, but we’ve got to look ahead to the game against Ossett Utd on Tuesday”.

Dunston UTS FC Supporters Club man of the match awarded to: Michael Hall

Michael Hall is kindly sponsored by: 

Home shirt - Penalty Box

Away shirt - Mr Brian Sellars

Training kit - Mr Brian Sellars

Images courtesy of Beauty Time Photography