TOOLSTATION WESTERN LEAGUE – PREMIER DIVISION
MELKSHAM TOWN 2 DAWLISH TOWN 6
After recording their best ever win at Bideford in midweek with victory by 3 goals to nil, Dawlish Town produced another scintilating away performance to overwhelm a Melksham side who were also in a decent run of form. The whole Dawlish side were on top of their game but it was the pace and power of strike partners Antony Lynch and Jamie Mudge that provided the cutting edge to score five of the six Dawlish goals.
Manager Chris Myers was able to name an unchanged starting eleven and introduced Danny Burwood onto the bench for his first appearance following his move from Willand.
Dawlish were in confident mood from the kick off and took the lead on seven minutes when Lynch fed the ball to Mudge who struck a first time right foot shot home from 12 yards. Dawlish were rocked back as Melksham equalised from their first attack. Ryan Draper parried a firm drive but a Melksham player was quickest to the loose ball to score.
Dawlish were soon back in control and Lynch broke clear down the right and crossed to the far post for Mudge to plant a downward header across the keeper and inside the far post to restore the lead. Within minutes it was three as Darren VIckery played a clever ball into the path of Mudge who was tripped as he tried to wriggle past his marker. Lynch stepped up to drive an unstoppable penalty low past the keeper’s right hand. The goal of the game made the half time score 4-1. Dean Stevens picked up the ball deep in his own half and produced a 40 yard pass into the path of Mudge who carried the ball forward and steadied himself at the right hand edge of the area before striking a powerful drive into the far corner of the net.
To their credit Melksham opened the second half in spirited fashion but the defensive trio of Craig Fenner, Simon Laughton and Arran Pugh were able to contain the attacking threat.
Eventually Dawlish regained the initiative and won a corner on the left. Adam Shearer placed an inswinging corner into the box and Lynch rose to place a neat header just inside the unguarded post.
With the Melksham defence now in disarray skipper Derek Fields joined the party to add goal number six as he broke forward to join a neat passing move and calmly place his right foot shot past the advancing keeper.
Melksham did gain a late consolation when Draper pushed out a shot and the ball bounced off the unlucky Gary Head and rolled into the net but this failed to dampen the christmas cheer of the Dawlish players and supporters on the long drive back from a memorable afternoon in Wiltshire.