SDFL Division Five

Dittisham United 7,

Newton Rovers 1

 

On Saturday the Mighty Plums completed a hectic week of fixtures with a mixed bag of indifferent results.

On the previous Tuesday, the Plums had a good away result against Newton United with a 3-0 victory, Fisher (two) and Bruckner the scorers.

However, two days later they suffered an extremely disappointing 5-1 away defeat to fellow promotion contenders Watcombe Wanderers, the consolation goal scored by Redford Hogbin.

Saturday was the first of a double-header against Newton Rovers, with the second match at Bakers Park on Wednesday. 

From the outset Ditts started the brighter as they put their opponents under pressure.

It took the home team less than 10 minutes to make the breakthrough when, after a bursting run, Fisher found Bruckner and he finished coolly past the onrushing 'keeper.

Not long after Tommy Rowdon doubled their lead when he broke away and scored the first of his brace. 

Moments later Bruckner latched on to a through ball from Rowdon and finished past the 'keeper. 

Dittisham were making all the early play and Chris Fisher continued his rich vein of scoring this season with yet another high-quality brace.

The first of his double came midway through the first half when he was on hand to finish a good Dittisham move.

They continued to press and next it was Marcus Copeman who got involved in the scoring.

After some neat build-up play that started with Dan Bastin in the defence, a low cross into the box found Copeman, who made no mistake from just inside the area. 

After the interval Tommy Rowdon maintained his fantastic scoring form this season with a rasping 25-yard effort after a solo run that started from the middle of midfield. This gave him his second goal in his last three games.

 For large parts of the second half, the Plums did not maintain their performance levels of the first half.

They allowed their opposition to build momentum and thus begin cause problems for the so far untroubled back line of the returning Collett, Bastin, Soper, Passmore and 'keeper Darch.

Rovers turned their pressure into a consolation when their forward broke through the home side's defence and finished past 'keeper Darch.

Fisher completed his brace when, after a good Dittisham move, he was on hand to finish confidently to conclude the scoring.  

This was a crucial win for the Plums and was their game in hand over the league's third-placed club, Watcombe Wanderers.

The Plums went into the game equal on points with Waldon but with a superior goal difference.

The result means they are three points clear with only two games of the season left to play.