Dawlish forced to share points
DAWLISH TOWN let two points slip away following a 2-2 draw at Sherborne Town after taking a two goal first half lead, writes Bruce Cann.
The Seasiders went ahead through Gary Fisher and Radley Veale and looked in total control until Kris Davis was injured midway through the first-half.
Manager Jeff Evans believes the injury was costly.
"Until Davis went off we were good for all three points," he said. "We were in total control and there was only one side in it. When he went off we lost our shape and it was a different game."
Davis needed eight stitches to his head following a clash with Sherborne captain Andy Martin but should be back for Tuesday's game against Welton.
Dawlish were quick out of the blocks and took the lead in the sixth minute. Sherborne couldn't clear and Fisher was on hand to slot the ball into the corner of the net to make it 1-0.
Sherborne looked to equalise quickly and Marc Caines saw his shot cleared off the line by Aaron Harper-Penman. From the clearance Dawlish went straight to the other end and doubled the lead. Sean Adderley played an inch- perfect cross for Veale to nod home from three yards.
Shortly after, Davis went off injured but Dawlish still pushed forward. Coppard was a constant menace down Sherborne's right side and his run and pull-back resulted in Fisher shooting narrowly over.
On 34 minutes Sherborne's top-scorer Caines halved the deficit with his first of the game. He chested down Nathan Glen's cross and buried his shot in the corner from the edge of the box.
It was almost level moments later when Town keeper Luke Purnell could only parry Caines' shot but Steve Burton's follow up effort crashed off the post. Before the break Fisher saw a 25 yard attempt beat the keeper but that also hit the goal frame.
After a one-sided first half, the momentum shifted after the interval and Sherborne were the more attacking side. Three minutes into the second period the home side won a free-kick just outside the box. Caines fired a rocket past Purnell to make it 2-2.
Sherborne were in total control in the second half and Caines continued his menace throughout the period. Purnell did well to save another free-kick, then punched away a swerving effort.
Josh Pearson made his Dawlish debut after being promoted from the U16s and Evans was delighted with his performance: "For such a young lad he stepped up well."
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