SDFL premier division

Dartmouth AFC 4,

Kingskerswell and Chelston 3

Dartmouth AFC left it late to edge a seven-goal thriller against a well-organised Kings­kerswell and Chelston at Longcross to extend their unbeaten start to the new season.

Dartmouth remained unchanged from last week’s win over Ivy­bridge reserves and stuck to a 4-2-3-1 formation that has served them well so far this season.

The home side sensed another emphatic victory against a team languishing at the bottom of the division, but this wasn’t to be the case as the visitors more than held their own throughout the match.

The game started as expected, with Dart­mouth asking most of the questions, but they struggled to find a breakthrough despite some good passages of play in the Kerswell half.

Winger Josh Webber provided the biggest threat for the home side as he continuously beat his man for pace before playing some dangerous balls into the box, but on a number of occasions Dartmouth couldn’t quite gather the loose ball in the penalty area.

Kingskerswell began to grow into the game and played the ball around the pitch with confidence, forcing Dartmouth on to the back foot with some good pressing high up the field.

The first goal of the afternoon arrived after half an hour, and it was the visitors who made Dartmouth pay for not taking their chances when the Kerswell striker headed in unopposed from a corner.

Just before half time Dartmouth’s stand out players Charlie Smith and Webber combined well on the half way line, with the former playing the ball well to Webber who burst down field before smashing the ball bey­ond the ‘keeper to bring the scores level.

Dartmouth were finding it difficult to contain the lively Kingskerswell strikers as they continued to put the home defence under pressure at the start of the second half.

A shock was most definitely on the cards as the game approach­ed the hour mark when the away side regained the lead.

Another corner into the box was met by a Kerswell head and although Steve Leaman saved well low down, the second ball drop­ped to a man in blue to smash into the roof of the net from close range.

Knowing they could not afford to drop points, Dartmouth looked for an instant response as they attacked down the right through brothers Char­lie and Freddie Smith.

Having had an appeal for a penalty turned down just minutes before, right-back Freddie Smith was this time adjudged to have been tripped in the area.

McAuley returned to spot kick duties and just about tucked his effort away to the ‘keeper’s left to bring the scores level at 2-2.

The momentum was now firmly with the home side and they went ahead for the first time in the match with 15 minutes left in the match.

Baker found space on the right-hand side of the penalty area and he slotted in from an acute angle.

However, the away side refused to give in and they pegged Dartmouth back with only seven minutes to go when a long-range strike looped over the despondent Leaman.

Both sides were soon reduced to 10 men when two separate incidents resulted in Ben Greeno and the away defender receiving their second yellow cards and their marching orders.

Being roared on by the vocal Longcross faithful, the home side pushed for a late winner and came within inches of scoring when right-back Smith’s long-range effort was excellently tipped over the bar.

Dartmouth created one more chance right at the death when Bak­er fashioned an opening and he showed excellent composure to slot in to the net through the ‘keeper’s legs to hand his team a dramatic win in front of the jubilant home supporters.

The man of the match award was given to Charlie Smith.

This was an important victory for Dart­mouth and they will be looking for another three points away at Upton Athletic tomorrow, kick off is at 2.30pm.

Both sides were treated to some excellent food by Joyce Wadeson in the clubhouse after the game, and the team would like to thank her and Roger Causley for all their hard work in the kitchen.