SDFL Division Two

reserves 8,

Waldon Athletic

reserves 1

Dartmouth AFC reserves got off to a winning start in the league with a comfortable 8-1 victory over Waldon Athletic reserves at Longcross.

In heavy rain, and against a team who could only field nine players, a much-changed Dartmouth zipped the ball around nicely and scored the opening goal after only 10 minutes.

Owen Walker picked up the ball, worked space for himself on the edge of the box and lashed in to the net with a powerful right-footed strike to give his side the lead.

Ted Armitage and Rhys Morrallee were seeing a lot of the ball on the wings and the two combined to double the home side’s advantage.

Armitage collected the ball on the left before whipping in an excellent cross for Morrallee to flick into the net at the near post from close range.

Dartmouth made it three soon after when Walker picked up the ball and sweetly struck a shot with his laces past the Waldon ‘keeper.

It was all one-way traffic at this point, leaving Dartmouth’s back line with little to do.

Goal number four was soon followed by number five when Armi­tage completed a good half with a clever chip over the onrushing ‘keeper.

The visitors scored just before the break to reduce the arrears; the away winger picked up the ball and struck his effort into the very top corner of the net to leave goalie Dylan Wild with no chance.

Dartmouth returned from the break with the lion’s share of possession and scored once more with 20 minutes remaining.

Mark Sneap pounced on a short back pass before cleverly rounding the ‘keeper and slotting in from a tight angle.

To their credit, Wal­don kept battling hard and putting themselves about the pitch to en­sure the game remain­ed competitive but they found Dartmouth in no mood to settle for six when they scored their seventh with 10 minutes left on the clock.

The final action of the game saw Carl Woodgate complete the scoring with a well-taken penalty in front of the clubhouse end.

For a team containing a lot of young players playing some of their first games in senior football, including Brad Williams who had a solid game in centre midfield, this was an excellent result and good performance in Gary Lobb and Alex Buscombe’s first league game in charge.

This weekend they’ll be hoping to continue their winning start to the season with an away trip to Liverton United reserves, kick off at 2.30pm.