Match Information
-
AFC Dunstable Ladies 1-3 Luton Town Ladies
-
When: Sunday 19th March 2023
-
Kick-off: 2pm
-
Where: ATP2, Creasey Park Community Football Centre, Creasey Park Drive, Dunstable, Bedfordshire LU6 1BB
-
Competition: Bedfordshire Football Association Women’s Cup Semi-Final
-
Attendance: 112
The Creasey Park Community Football Centre is a location which keeps attracting me back! I first went to the main stadium there nearly 40 years ago for a friendly between the now defunct Dunstable FC and Arsenal Reserves on 2nd November 1983.
Before a crowd of 530, the Gunners won by a ludicrous scoreline of 8-5. Still one of the highest scoring matches I have ever seen! I can recall their majestic elevated wooden grandstand in those days but it has been replaced by a more modest structure since then.
The overall site was revamped and re-opened in November 2011 becoming a £3.2 million community project. I returned on 24th January 2017 to watch a match upon an artificial 3G pitch (ATP1) outside the main arena.
Amidst chillingly cold conditions, I witnessed a hard fought Under-18’s fixture where Luton Town drew 0-0 against Stevenage (attendance 26). I subsequently heard quite recently that a second synthetic playing surface (ATP2) costing £1.1 million had been unveiled at Creasey Park.
Therefore I earmarked another visit as it is now a separate football ground according to my personal groundhopping rules. Then I spotted this season’s Beds FA Women’s Cup Semi-Final - originally due to be played on the main Creasey Park grass pitch but accordingly postponed due to waterlogging.
It was consequently switched to ATP2 for Mothers’ Day afternoon so I set off on a relatively short 55 mile round trip to Dunstable - a Bedfordshire market town housing 36,000 residents adjacent to the M1 motorway.
Ground Description
I parked up in the spacious car park before walking around the side of the enclosed stadium and up a gentle slope past ATP1 to reach ATP2. Match admission was £3 via a pay table by the gate.
There is a spectator viewing area running the entire length of one touchline inside the floodlit 3G cage. I also counted seven external grass pitches, embracing mini-size (including very cute tiny goal frames) to full-size.
A youth match was taking place on one of these when I arrived featuring vociferous support from highly animated parents. The whole complex is served by a dressing room block comprising of six changing areas and a match officials’ room.
An unusual touch within this football setting is the popular BMX bike track. Socialising and catering facilities are housed in ‘The Venue’ at Creasey Park incorporating the appropriately named ‘CrossBar’ licensed bar and ‘Keeper’s Kitchen’.
Programme Details
A teamsheet was available on the excellent FA Full-Time web site so I printed it out for a matchday record and souvenir in my groundhopping collection.
The Match
On a mild and sunny day, I thoroughly enjoyed an attractive local derby offering much-coveted progression into the county cup final.
Luton Town Ladies seemed favourites as they held fifth place in the Eastern Region Women’s Football League Premier Division. But hosts AFC Dunstable Ladies are having a great campaign at the level below topping Division One North of the same league.
Result of my @BedsFA Women's Cup Semi-Final today at ATP2 3G Creasey Park@AFCLadies1st 1@LTLFC_Official 3
— Tony Incenzo - my 50th football season (@TonyIncenzo) March 19, 2023
Attendance 112 (my headcount), teamsheet printed from FA Full-Time. Football grounds visited - 2,498@NonLeagueCrowd @ERWFLe @CreaseyPark @afcdunstable @WF_East pic.twitter.com/b8aHpctzvX
Ultimately though, Luton were too strong racking up goals by Elizabeth Sanders (13 minutes), Leyah Maddix (56 mins) and Andie Dickens (90+6 mins). The well-struck Dickens volley was our most eye-catching moment on show.
However, AFC Dunstable played their part in a decent contest and deserved their dipping free-kick strike from Mollie Burgess on 62 minutes.
The People
AFC Dunstable’s accomplished media and kit manager James Smith was really helpful in confirming details of this fixture which was reshuffled on to ATP2 at extremely short notice.
I also had a long chat with the club’s match day secretary Sam Giddings. I have known Sam for many years courtesy of my radio and TV work because he was previously press room steward at Luton Town FC’s Kenilworth Road home.
Sam’s love of football at all levels certainly shines through. In addition, a word of praise for match referee Dean Carney who did a fine job in enthusiastically keeping proceedings flowing.
*Credit for photos in this article belongs to @TonyIncenzo*
