SDFL Division Three

seconds 4,

Upton Athletic

seconds 1

Just three days after their midweek victory over Buckfastleigh, Dartmouth played host to Upton Athletic, who they beat 6-0 in the semi final of the league cup three weeks ago.

To be fair to Upton, they put up much more of a fight in this game but still found themselves comfortably beat­en.

Dartmouth eventually took the lead in the 18th minute when Robbie Chalk got to the byline before being tripped by a defender and a penalty awarded.

In the absence of Kev Causley, who was rested for this match, James Lee stepped up to calmly dispatch the spot-kick with ease.

Seven minutes later Chalk was at it again as he dribbled beyond his marker down the right side and unselfishly squared the ball to the far post, where Teddy Armitage arrived to rifle home.

The Darts’ were now in full flow and five minutes from half-time they grabbed a third goal when Armitage returned the favour by crossing to the back post for Chalk to thump the ball home.

In the second half Dartmouth rang the changes to give a few players some rest in this busy build-up of fixtures.

Scott McRoy went close just moments after coming on with a strike from distance which just cleared the top corner.

He then played Nick Rushe in on goal but the striker was thwarted as he looked to round the onrushing ‘keeper.

Cameron Webb thought he’d scored a fourth goal but was denied by a brilliant save from the overworked Upton goalie.

Darts defender Jack Berry then went close with a header from a James Lee corner which scraped the crossbar on its way over.

Upton were given an unlikely lifeline 15 minutes from time when Dan Drury was judged to have fouled his man inside the box and the resulting penalty crept agonisingly past Aaron Morrison’s glove.

Dartmouth had the last say in the game, however, scoring a fourth goal in the last few minutes, and again it came from the penalty spot.

Teddy Armitage was cruelly upended by the Upton ‘keeper and James Lee slotted home his second spot-kick of the game to make the final score 4-1. The win keeps Dartmouth second in the table, six points behind Salcombe Town with six games in hand on the leaders.

Dartmouth AFC man-of-the-match Teddy Armitage.

SDFL Division Three

Dartmouth AFC

reserves 5,

Buckfastleigh

seconds 0

On Wednesday even­ing Dartmouth faced Buckfastleigh under the bright lights at Longcross, looking to make it 12 consecutive league wins on a run that puts them in a good position for the title run-in.

The Darts were at their opponents from the off, and following some earlier efforts took the lead in the 19th minute through a Josh Webber rocket.

The winger received a knock down from a corner on the edge of the box and thumped his shot past the rooted ‘keeper.

Kev Causley went close to doubling the advantage minutes later with a shot from a tight angle which cannoned back off the post.

With 33 minutes on the clock the skipper had the chance to chance to score from the penalty spot after Cameron Webb’s mazy run inside the box was ended by a defender’s foul as he looked to score.

Causley did the business with the penalty and Dartmouth led 2-0 at the interval.

The second half was one-way traffic again as Dartmouth looked to build a comfortable lead.

Nick Rushe scored the third goal with a sublime free-kick from 20 yards out. The striker fizzed his shot low and in off the left-hand post for his 28th goal of the season.

The fourth goal 10 minutes later was another contender for goal of the season, as Webb picked up possession on the left side, cut in and chipped a pass to Scott McRoy, who bamboozled both defender and ‘keeper with an audacious scissor flick which looped over everyone for Webb to smash home on the half volley.

Joe Kirby then went close with a shot from distance that again cannoned back off the upright.

The scoring was completed late on when Robbie Chalk coolly curled his shot into the bottom corner after a bit of ping pong inside the Bucks area.

Dartmouth AFC man-of-the-match was Cam­eron Webb.