Bowditch Nets Four As Reserves Defeat Luton
Tuesday, 29th Apr 2008 16:21

Dean Bowditch netted four goals on what could be his final appearance in a Town shirt as the reserves defeated Luton Town 4-3 at Kenilworth Road on Tuesday afternoon. The 21-year-old's contract is up at the end of the season and he looks unlikely to be offered a new deal.

The former England U19 international opened the scoring on 20, tapping in after skipper Chris Casement had flicked on a corner.

Bowditch made it 2-0 three minutes before the break with a low shot, which gave keeper Marlon Beresford no chance.

After the break, the home side pulled a goal back on 68, but Bowditch restored Town's two-goal lead two minutes later, rounding the keeper after being sent through one-on-one by Ed Upson.

Richard Langley made it 3-2 on 72 and with five minutes remaining the Hatters pulled level. Parity was short-lived, however, with Bowditch, who scored a hat-trick in his previous league reserve game, a 4-0 victory over Stevenage Borough back in March, going straight up the other end to ram home his fourth to wrap up the win.

Town's four-goal striker was undoubtedly the man of the match and might have scored even more had Beresford not pulled off one fine save and had a defender not cleared a goalbound effort off the line in the closing moments.

Midfielder Jai Reason, who signed a professional contract with the Blues earlier in the season, was amongst Town's other top performers. Also impressive was young Scottish central defender Paul Watson alongside Tommy Smith, who returned from his loan spell with Stevenage earlier in the week.

Overall, it was a decent display from a young team with only Bowditch and Casement having first team experience. In goal, Woodbridge Town keeper Marcus Garnham did well and wasn't at fault with any of the goals.

The victory completes Town's second successive Pontin's Holidays Combination East Division championship-winning season, although they will play a one-off game with Bristol City, who won the West Division, to find the overall Combination champions for 2007/08. That match is expected to be played early in August due to the lack of time this season.

Reserves: Garnham, Casement, Watson, Smith, Synnott, Reason, Upson, Daniels, Robinson, Bowditch, Ainsley (Lambe 70). Unused: Clemo, Clark, Dunbar.

Photo: Action Images

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