20th August - Bedford Town 1 AFC Dunstable 2 (FA Cup Prelim Round)

With the most famous cup competition starting up again, for the first time in the clubs history, they entered the draw at the Preliminary stage due to their step 4 status.

Waiting for them was Bedford Town. Making many impressive signings in the close season, they surely must be one of the favourites for promotion. They have stuttered in their opening league campaign so far but the comments coming out of their camp, they are confident they will be there or thereabouts.

With injuries still hampering AFC's managers Steve Heath's selections, he decided to give 3 players their debuts for the club in the shape of Danny Murphy, Adiel Mannion and 18 year old Kyran McGhan-George. His father, Junior George featured for AFC in the past.

AFC's custodian Ricky Perks was called into early action to make a low save. With the tie being played at a decent pace, it was the visitors who took the lead. From a Jermaine Hall corner, George rose the highest to head the ball home on 9 minutes.

With the visitors playing some neat football, they created another good chance with a fine move that resulted in Hall just shooting wide. Looking confident, the OD's defence coped with anything the home side could muster. With half time approaching, a great chance fell to BJ Christie. He seemed to be in two minds what to do as he broke clear and rushed his shot which went well wide.

Half time: Bedford Town 0 AFC Dunstable 1

With the hosts making all their three changes at the break, they obviously meant business as they went all out attack. They started to get a stranglehold on the game and should have drew level on the hour. A defence splitting pass put in ace striker Lee Roach but somehow he fired wide.

They finally did draw level when AFC failed to clear a corner and Bamford was on hand to head into an empty net. It now looked if Bedford would progress into the next round, as confidence grew and AFC started to look nervous. One thing though this AFC team have, is they do not give up. They were rewarded with 14 minutes left on the clock. Great hold up work by Christie, he set up Hall who struck a left footed 20 yard drive into the bottom corner.

So with time running out for the Eagles, they went all out to force a replay but the AFC defence held firm to set up an away tie v Heybridge Swifts from the Ryman League.

AFC Team: Perks. Massay. Murphy (Griffiths 85). Beck. Cashman. B.Carney (Silford 77). Mannion. Humbert (Cooper 75). Christie. Hall. McGhan-George. Subs not used. Darby. Byron. Hankins. Kissiedu

Scorers: McGhan-George (9). Hall (76). Yellow card: B.Carney

Attendance 152.