A Real Battle of a Match

A ten man Dawlish team took the trip down to face Dart in Ivybridge on Saturday expecting tough match.
Dart made a strong start with a clear message that they were in it for a win and nothing less, but Dawlish, although missing some of the spark from last week’s battle against Ashmoor, were not going to let Dart control the game.
Neither side were giving anything away with strong defence and tight play in the midfield. The Dawlish back two of Mandy Lovell and Natasha Bailey fought off the strong runs from the Dart forwards, but Dawlish were missing the extra man and struggling to get out of their own half despite great work from the midfield particularly from Lizzie Reed who battled had all afternoon.
At half time score was still 0-0 but Dawlish Captain Sara Webster was determined that they could get something out of this match.
As Dawlish has expected this was a physical game and shortly into the second half a green card was shown to a Dart player following a second bad tackle, the younger Dawlish forwards were feeling the pressure of such an intense match. Dart finally took control of the game and went one nil up shortly doubling their lead with a second. Dawlish needed to turn it up a gear but were tiring with only 10 men.
The frustration was showing and after giving everything and controlling the midfield Lottie Young received a green card following a controversial umpire decision. But Dawlish found the strength to turn up the gears and get back in the game with some positive attacking play using their pace and skill to take on the Dart defence. Mel Barnes made a great run from the left to the back post, after some strong play from Gemma Wilkes, Barnes put the ball in the Dart goal and Dawlish back in the game with 10 minutes to go.
Dawlish continued to run at the Dart back line, with great pace on the right from Anne Darby and Jess Green, and with a few minutes left on the clock Helen Nicholson took the pass from Young and went through the Dart defence and around the keeper to put the scores level.
After a real battle of a match Dawlish were pleased to pull the game back from 2-0 down to level the scores at full time.