SDFL

Premier Division

Waldon Athletic 2,

Dartmouth AFC 2

Dartmouth AFC were under the new management team of Simon Webb and Daniel Lumley for the first time for their trip to Windmill Hill to face Waldon Athletic.

It’s proven to be a tough place to go for many teams during recent seasons and this was no different, especially in the adverse weather conditions.

The away side began the brighter of the two sides and moved the ball well for the opening 15 minutes.

In the 21st minute a wonderful piece of individual skill from local favourite Dan Griffiths saw the midfielder race down the right wing, evading three vicious tackles before slipping the ball past the onrushing ‘keeper, allowing goal-poacher Nick Rushe to slot the ball into an empty net.

The home side slowly began to get a foot­hold in the match and grabbed a deserved equaliser in the 34th minute.

A good run through the middle of the park allowed the centre forward to slot his shot beyond the out-stretched glove of Darts ‘keeper Sam Davies.

Chances were few and far between for the remainder of the half, meaning the teams went in at half time all square.

Waldon started the second period extremely well and had the visitors pegged back for long spells, limiting the Darts to a few counter attacks.

One of these saw Kev Causley link up well with Scott McRoy down the left side and feed Rushe, whose cheeky back heel sent Cameron Webb in behind the full back.

The striker jinked inside a defender but could only curl his shot wide of the far post.

The Dartmouth back four seemed to have all the answers to the Waldon strikers but, with only 17 minutes to go, a ball in from the left side was allowed to go across the edge of the box before being thumped beyond Davies and into the bottom corner.

Much to Dart­mouth’s credit, their team spirit and togetherness saw them fight to the very end and with just two minutes to go, they got the equaliser their work-rate thoroughly deserved.

Some sustained pressure earned them a corner which was whip­ped in from the right side by the left foot of Rushe, who was glad to see it evade the crowded goalmouth and land in the far top corner of the net.

The away side now looked the most likely to nick all three points and when Griffiths pounced to win back possession deep inside the Waldon half, he drove at the defence and beat one man before slipping his pass through to Rushe, who was in for a hat-trick.

With just the ‘keeper to beat, the referee had to stop play for what Dartmouth supporters felt was a very dubious offside decision from the home linesman.

The final whistle meant a share of the spoils in a game which saw both sides pick up a well-earned point apiece.

The draw keeps Dart­mouth’s unbeaten start to the campaign going as they sit third in the table after three games. Dart­mouth AFC man of the match was Daniel Grif­fiths. The Devon Premier Cup preliminary round draw has put paid to Darts’ fixture this weekend meaning a week off for the players tomorrow.