Premier division

Loddiswell Athletic 0,

Dartmouth AFC 6

Dartmouth AFC recorded an excellent 6-0 victory over Loddis­well Athletic to maintain their lead at the top of the league.

Despite the fact that Dartmouth were missing six regular first-team members and travelled with a squad of only 11, they started the better of the two sides on a boggy surface and were de­servedly in front after 15 minutes.

Charlie Smith broke free in midfield and cleverly rounded his marker before squaring the ball to 16-year-old Liam Wadeson, who had arrived at the back post to smash in from close range, giving him his first goal for the senior team.

The away side immediately looked to double their lead, and left midfielder Josh Webber came close to ex­tending their advantage of victory when he struck over from inside the penalty area after beating his man for pace.

Smith, Mark Forres­ter and Ben Greeno were pulling the strings in the heart of the Dartmouth midfield and their high energy play resulted in the away side forcing numerous free kicks in the Loddiswell half.

It was one of these that led to Dartmouth's second goal. Wadeson picked up the ball and picked out lone striker Karl Baker with an excellent delivery, and he composed himself before superbly volleying home on the turn.

The young Darts continued to force the issue in their search for a killer third goal, with Greeno, Smith and Baker going close after tidy build-up play.

The makeshift Dart­mouth defence of Richie Baker, Danny Mena, Daniel Drury and Freddie Smith marshalled the home strikers with some solid play throughout the half.

However, Drury was called into action just before the interval to clear a goal bound effort off the line after 'keeper Ryan Walton's initial intervention.

The message at the break was for the visitors to repeat their first half display, and within five minutes they were three to the good when Charlie Smith turned his man and scored at the 'keeper's near post after a creative corner routine involving Webber and Forrester.

Gaps soon began to appear in the Loddis­well defence as they pushed to get themselves back into the game.

Karl Baker took full advantage when he smashed into the roof of the net for his side's fourth goal after good link-up play between Freddie Smith and Webber.

It was Webber who grabbed Dartmouth's fifth with a delicate chipped finish over the onrushing goalkeeper for his third goal in two games, before Baker completed his hat-trick with a terrific finish after brother Richie Baker's brilliant through ball.

Walton in the Dart­mouth goal made sure of a second consecutive clean sheet when he reacted well to tip a long-range effort on to the crossbar in the remaining minutes, and managers Gary Lobb and Chick Havlin would have been delighted by their team's accomplished performance, which sees them top the division by 11 points.

Elsewhere in division three Dartmouth reserves' unbeaten run come to an end after they lost away at Har­bertonford reserves.

They were also short of players and were forced to call on 46-year-old Long­cross legend Paul Smith to play up front alongside Simon Holmes, and both got on the scoresheet in a 5-2 defeat.

This Saturday sees the first team play Kingskerswell and Chelston in the league at Longcross with the action getting underway at 2.30pm, while the seconds travel to Watcombe Wanderers re­serves in the Ronald Cup for a 2pm kick-off.

All supporters would be more than welcome to come along.