SDFL division one

Kingskerswell and Chelston reserves 3

Dartmouth faced a difficult challenge from third-placed Kingskerswell and Chelston reserves, but managed to walk away with the three points after a clinical first half display.

Dartmouth welcomed back Liam McAuley, who deputised at the heart of the defence, and Josh Webber started his first match on the right-hand side of midfield after recentlycompleting a move from Buckland Athletic.

The hosts began the game well with central midfielders Mark Forrester and Carl Cliff-Brown dictating the early tempo.

The first real chance of the game produced the opening goal; Webber fed the ball to Dan Broadway, who swivelled and released Karl Baker. He rounded the 'keeper before striking in from close range to give the hosts a deserved lead.

Dartmouth soon doubled their lead when uncertainty in the Kingskerswell defence was capitalised upon by Broadway, who smashed the ball home through a crowd of defenders.

Full-back Ryan Frost continued to torment the K and C defence with his quick feet, and his clever link-up play with Broadway gave Webber the chance to increase the winning margin, but his shot only found the side netting.

The hosts were playing some great football, and soon after a pinpoint Webber cross saw Mark Sneap head agonisingly wide.

The next goal arrived on the half-hour mark when Baker latched on to a through ball to convert across the 'keeper and into the far corner of the net.

Within minutes Baker completed his hat-trick after a somewhat route one ball forward from Sam Davies in the Dartmouth goal resulted in Broadway flicking on to his strike partner, giving Baker the simplest of tasks to slot home.

Despite Dartmouth's dominance, Kingskerswell refused to be on the wrong end of a hammering, and just before the half-time whistle a curling effort looped over Davies and landed in the back of the net.

As has happened in the last few games, the hosts returned from the break a little sluggish, but they managed to grab their fifth goal when an inswinging corner from Forrester saw Cliff-Brown react quickest to poke home for his second goal in as many games.

Some sloppy defending resulted in the visitors clawing the scores back to 5-3, and a period of prolonged pressure on the Dartmouth defence ensured the hosts were in for a nervy last ten minutes.

The all-important final goal came the way of the hosts when right-back Freddie Smith crossed for Cliff-Brown to powerfully dispatch a header into the roof of the net.

This result keeps Dartmouth in contention for the division one title, and they will be hoping to build on this performance when they travel to Abbotskerswell for a 2.30pm kick-off.

Dartmouth reserves picked up a much needed three points against lowly Paignton Saints reserves, walking away with a 5-1 victory.

Ed Armitage grabbed himself a double with Lee Prestage, Rhys Morrallee and James Lee completing the scoring.

This week they host Dittisham United in the quarter-finals of the league cup after they were reinstated back into the competition.

Kick-off at the Longcross ground is at 2pm.