SDFL Division Three

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Third in the table Dartmouth looked to make it seven wins on the bounce in the league and maintain pressure on the two teams above them.

The hosts simply couldn’t handle their opponents as the Darts scored twice in each half to record a comfortable win which could have been by a much bigger margin.

In the very first minute, a break down the right wing resulted in Teddy Armitage slipping a clever cross to Scott McRoy, who was unmarked inside the Chudleigh box, but he could only fire straight at the onrushing ‘keeper.

Liam Wadeson then picked up possession on the edge of the area, beat two defenders with a super piece of skill, but was again denied by the stubborn ‘keeper.

With 27 minutes on the clock a by now frustrated Dartmouth were finally rewarded with the opening goal, and it was McRoy who made up for his earlier miss with an absolute screamer. The forward played a short corner with Rhys Morrallee before curling his shot over the outstretched ‘keeper from 25 yards out.

It turned out to be a very quiet afternoon for the Darts defence and ‘keeper Aaron Morri­son, although the young shot stopper needed to be alert to prevent an instant equaliser when an under-hit back pass allowed a Chudleigh striker to race in on goal.

Morrison stood tall and made a brilliant save to make it four consecutive clean sheets.

Following the scare, Dartmouth went in search of a second goal to give them some breathing space and it arrived seven minutes before the break.

An inviting corner from the left side was fizzed into the front post and met by a glancing header from midfielder Joe Kirby, who timed his run to perfection to double his side’s advantage.

The second period was all one-way traffic as a tiring Chudleigh team struggled to get out of their own half, which allowed Dartmouth to create numerous chances in front of goal.

James Lee went close with an early volley that flew inches over the crossbar, before substitute Cameron Webb, who was again brought on to liven things up for the Darts, chased down a back pass and dispossessed the Chudleigh ‘keeper only to be denied by a last-ditch tackle with the goal at his mercy.

The youngster wasn’t to be disappointed for too long, as he scored two goals in quick succession to put the result beyond any doubt.

The first arrived when a corner was cleared to Kev Causley, who picked out Webb with a smart pass and the striker outpaced his marker before bending his shot round the ‘keeper from the edge of the box.

Causley was again the provider when he received the ball down the left side and clipped the ball over the Chud­leigh defence, allowing Webb to spring the offside trap, round the onrushing ‘keeper and coolly roll the ball into the empty net from the angle.

The final whistle meant a satisfactory three points on the road and another welcome clean sheet for Dart­mouth, who moved into second place in the table, with four games in hand on leaders Salcombe Town.

Dartmouth AFC man of the match was Jack Berry.

It’s a short trip to­morrow for the Darts when they travel across the river to Churston, to take on Torbay Police in a 2.30pm kick off.