Dartmouth AFC U16s 5,

KM United U16s 1

It was derby day at Long­cross as Dart­mouth welcomed local rivals KM United.

In a wonderful team performance, the young Darts out played and out battled their opponents to earn a comfortable three points.

The early stages saw Dartmouth settle straight into the game and they seemed to be first to every loose ball, pinning the visitors inside their half for long spells.

Jamie Burrows on the right wing saw a lot of the ball and had a couple of shots fly just wide of the target, while down the left, Brad Williams was coming in off the flank to get on the ball and constantly supplied through balls for his strikers.

With 19 minutes on the clock the deadlock was finally broken when Tom Matthews swivelled to hit a rocket from 25 yards out which flew beyond the KM 'keeper and into the far corner.

Five minutes later a rare attack from KM was dealt with brilliantly by Archie Irvine, who headed calmly back to his 'keeper Aaron Morrison for him to quickly launch the ball downfield.

Matthews headed the high ball into the path of his strike partner Cameron Webb, who raced in on goal un­challenged and coolly slotted the ball past the advancing 'keeper for 2-0.

Solley Metchette continued to boss the midfield and his pass allowed Charlie Blair to gallivant down the right wing and cross to Liam Wadeson, who drilled his shot inches over the crossbar.

The second half was a very similar story and within seven minutes Dart­mouth grabbed themselves another early goal to go 3-0 up.

A smart move down the right began with Matthews picking up possession and finding Cameron McClory with a clever pass. He in turn exchanged passes with Blair, whose cross was controlled in the six-yard box by Williams and struck on the volley.

The KM 'keeper did well to block the shot but Connor Elliott reacted quickest to fire the loose ball over the line from close range.

Midway through the half Elliott bagged his second goal of the match with a piece of individual magic.

The striker collected the ball on the right side, some 30 yards from goal, and with little options in front of him, chipped the 'keeper with a wonderful effort that dipped under the bar and into the top corner for 4-0.

To KM's credit, they continued to push for a consolation goal and with 15 minutes re­maining they managed one. A great tackle from Darts defender Zac Fells was pounced upon by Finley Watson, who was allowed to hit an unstoppable shot from 25 yards out beyond Morrison and low into the bottom corner.

As the visitors looked to get another they found Kieran Doyle, Ryan Bur­rows, Jake Lawrence and Irvine too difficult to breach, allowing their skipper Wadeson to have the final say.

His thunderbolt in the closing stages was a replica of Watson's strike, which rippled the net as it flew past the rooted 'keeper to make the final score 5-1 to the young Darts.

The final whistle was met by huge applause from the bumper crowd, for both sets of players who played their part in a highly entertaining game and the handshakes ex­changed between ev­eryone involved was a credit to both clubs.

The match ball was kindly sponsored by Joppy of Pillars news­agents, and this Sunday the young Darts are at home once again, this time to Stoke Gabriel with kick off at 11am.