Early setback paves way for home defeat

UCL DIVISION ONE INGLES 1 DUNKIRK 2

TWO goals for Dunkirk in the first 20 minutes gave Ingles too much to do despite a second half fight back on Saturday at the Dovecote.

The game started in blustery conditions, with the wind blowing straight down the pitch with Ingles defending the wind in the first half. Dunkirk took control of the game right from the first whistle and began to pen Ingles back with a series of crosses and corners into the Ingles area.

The inevitable first goal came after the ball found the Dunkirk forward on the edge of the area and his strike found the bottom corner. A second goal seemed only a matter of time such was Dunkirk’s dominance in the first 20 minutes. This came in fortuitous circumstances as Webb slipped while clearing the ball and only found the Dunkirk forward who slotted the ball past Webb and Kone on the line.

To Ingles credit the second goal seemed to spark them into life and they began to get further up field. A cross from Wheeler found Fowkes but his shot went just past the post. Fowkes also went close from a header after good work from Rawson and Copson down the left. The rest of the half was fairly even with Dunkirik looking dangerous but Inlges offering more of a challenge.

Harry Smith reduced the arrears with his first goal for Ingles at the start of the second half and this sparked an Ingles resurgance but Smith unfortunately had to leave the game 10 minutes after his goal due to a muscle injury and was replaced by Ryan Hardy.

For the rest of the half Ingles huffed and puffed but couldn’t find the final pass they were looking for. A series of crosses and long throws went into the box but the ball was dealt with by the Dunkirk defenders and Ingles when they got into good positions were guilty of being offside on a number of occasions and Dunkirk held on to claim all three points.

Next up is a visit to the form team Hinckley AFC who have won eight games on the trot and look the team to beat in the league. It will be a first visit to Barwell’s ground for the club and become the second match on the new 3G pitch.