A tricky first match away to start the season to a side that finished last season strongly to earn a top 6 finish.
We didn't get off to the best of starts, in the 2nd minute Mark Ling failed to clear allowing Kofi Schults clear to score off the post. Town began to impose themselves on the game & had chances to equalise from Rankin & Brown. But it was Kempston on 33 minutes who scored their second after Town failed to deal with a through ball leaving Aaron Baldwin 1 on 1 with Town keeper Beeny. The remainder of the half saw more missed chances by Town & Kempston going in at half time with a 2-0 advantage.
Town needed an early goal in the 2nd half & on 49 minutes Gary Marheineke received a pass from Jason Attoe some 40 yards out,, seeing the Kempston keeper off his line hit a high looping shoot into the top corner of the net. This renewed Towns belief with Daly & Fovargue starting to control the midfield, a through ball from Daly on 62 minutes found Rankin in the box, he turned but was fouled. Ian Fovargue stepped up to send the keeper the wrong way to level things for Town. With Town now stepping up the pressue for the win on 66 minutes Chris Brown beat 2 defenders before calmly curling the ball round Dan Green in the Kempston goal.
With the game looking won & Town pushing for more goals on 80 minutes Aaron Baldwin broke away & got the wrong side of the Town defence, with Chris Lenton chasing he tripped Baldwin & being the last defender received his marching orders.
A quick substitution was made to bring on a defender in 17 year old David Lenihan for striker Brown. Town soaked up the Kempston pressure in the last 10 minutes with Dave Beeny in fine form pulling off 2 saves to see Town through for all 3 points.
On reflection Manager Al Lenihan said I was please with the way we conducted ourselves in the second half & thought we deserved to win the game. With top striker Jamie Graham out till late September & 5 players missing due to work & holidays it was fantastic to score 3 goals against a very good Kempston side.