SDFL division four

Paignton Saints 1,

Dittisham United 6

On Saturday the Mighty Plums returned to league action against struggling Paignton Saints.

The Plums were buoyed by the return of Dean Nettleton, but were without both their goalkeepers Paul Mytton and Colin Rowden, meaning a return between the sticks for Nettleton on his return to the side. 

Dittisham did not start the game well, with Paignton Saints applying the early pressure. They should have taken the lead within  45 seconds after a good move that cut through the Plums, however the Saints forward cracked his shot a long way wide of the post.

This sparked Ditts into life and they started to apply some pressure on their opposition.

It didn't take long to break the deadlock when in-form forward Fisher went on a mazy run and was cynically brought down in the box. Man-of-the-match Bruckner stepped up confidently and sent the impressive Saints 'keeper the wrong way for the first of his hat-trick. 

Ditts found it hard to build on their advantage and within 10 minutes Saints were level when a forward broke free and finished past Nettleton. Similar to the previous week against Roselands, the equaliser seemed to anger the Plums and they straight away hit back with an excellent goal from Tommy Rowdon.

After a quick one two between Blamey and captain Martyn, Blamey picked out an inch-perfect 30-yard cross field pass which was excellently controlled by Rowdon.

Rowdon then ran at the Saints backline, beating three men as he cut in from the right wing and hit a superb 20-yard effort passed the helpless Saints 'keeper.

This set the tone for the rest of the match as Ditts continued to pile on the pressure and asserted themselves on the game. Daniel Bastin was yet again impervious at the back with captain Martyn marshalling the back four and keeping the slender lead intact.

Soon after the second goal, Ditts further extended their lead when Fisher found Bruckner and he finished from close range.

Fisher notched his name on the scoreboard when after a quick counter-attack he found Bruckner, whose first time ball across the face of goal was finished excellently by Fisher. 

Marcus Copeman further extended the away side's lead and made it five goals for the season when he met a Joe Kirby flick on from a Ditts corner and guided his bullet header past the goalkeeper.

Ditts completed the rout when Tommy Rowdon broke free in the second half and found himself one-on-one with the 'keeper with the chance to make it 10 for the season, from midfield, after only eight games.

Rowdon unselfishly squared the ball to Bruckner, who finished into an empty net to complete his hat-trick. 

A good result for the Plums and the first time they have been able to put together back-to-back wins the season.

Tomorrow Dittisham United are at home to bottom of the table Meadowbrook, 2.30pm kick-off.