WITH a 6-2 crushing of Dunstable Town away on Saturday, November 3, London Colney have now comprehensively beaten three of their main title rivals in the last few weeks and retained their regal position at the top of the league.

The opening goal after ten minutes was an exercise in elegance and encapsulates the sophisticated style of football that Mickey Wright has developed. The ball was spread through the midfield and when it arrived at the front pairing of Lee Talbot and Gary Sippetts, the movement exploded into life with two quick one-twos that had Town's defence in knots before Talbot fired home his first of the afternoon.

A second came shortly afterwards but at 2-0 Wright believes a hint of showboating crept into his team and the home side quickly made the most of this. They earned a penalty which was expertly saved by Blue Boys keeper Phil Franklin, before finally breaking through with two quick goals in the 44th minute.

However, Dunstable's audacity to draw level clearly annoyed London Colney, who returned after the break in a far more clinical mood.

In the remaining 45 minutes, they smashed in four without reply. Talbot completed his hat-trick he now has 12 in nine for the Blue Boys Sippetts also hit the mark and he was joined on the scoresheet by Scott Dunn and Gary Doolan.

Apart from the three points, London Colney have another reason to be pleased with their afternoon as the game marked the return of play-maker Dave Townsend, who was back after injuring his knee on the opening day of the season.

With Townsend back challenging for a shirt, Wright has a squad not disrupted by the loss of the influential pairing of Paul Jones and Dave Ross, and suggests his team have the durability to last the pace.

London Colney will be on the road again this weekend, they travel to Great Wakering in the FA Vase on Saturday.

For the rest of the weekend's Spartan League action, see the St Albans Observer of Thursday, November 8.

November 8, 2001 15:30