FALMOUTH TOWN 1

A Cusack

DARTMOUTH 2

C Hooper, J Charlesworth

Town: N. Murphy; R. Francis, F. Nevin, N. Bettis, B. Nute, A. Cusack, J. Morrison-Hill, D. Rivans (L. Beer 78m), A. Carter, G. Squires, M. Cusack (B. Goldring 66m). Sub unused: C. Peck.

Falmouth Town slipped to fourth place in the Carlsberg SW Peninsula League premier division table following this poor display. I was their fourth consecutive defeat making it the worst run of results for four years.

Whether Town's players were still recovering from the rigours of the previous Wednesday's Cornwall Senior Cup defeat against Truro City or not is questionable, but many more performances like this and even finishing in the top six will not be realistic.

Dartmouth started the game on the offensive and forced two corners in the first ten minutes, the first of which was caught by Nathan Murphy and the second was cleared away upfield but there was no accuracy in the clearance and the ball, as it so often did during the game, went straight to a Dartmouth player.

The Darts should have taken the lead after 12 minutes when Chris Hooper, standing totally unmarked on the edge of the box, somehow scooped the ball over the bar when faced with an open goal.

Town made an all-too-rare break into the Dartmouth area after 15 minutes and Adam Carter tried a shot at goal from an acute angle but the ball flew just wide of the far post.

Andy Widdicombe was instrumental in most of Dartmouth's attacks, finding his team-mates well with a series of fine runs and passes along the right side of midfield. From one of these through balls, Simon Lewcock hit a low angled drive which Murphy did well to push around the post for a corner.

Play switched to the other end and Dartmouth's solid, physical defence conceded one of several free kicks near the area, but when it came in Neil Bettis put his header straight at goalkeeper Gavin Alston and a few minutes later, from another free kick, Brinton Nute headed over the bar from close in.

Dartmouth took the lead after 40 minutes. A long ball into the middle from wide on the right found Chris Hooper unmarked on the opposite side of the area and he shot home from close in.

Three minutes later, however Town drew level. A long throw from the right was flicked across the area and Aaron Cusack rose unchallenged at the far post to head home from two yards.

Dartmouth started the second half as they had ended the first and it only took them five minutes to go back into the lead. Veteran substitute Jason Charlesworth, who had come on five minutes before the interval to replace the injured Hooper, somehow managed to elude Town's defence and scored with a free header from close in.

Town fought back and Bettis ran on to a good ball from the hardworking Jamie Morrison-Hill, but his long shot went wide and then following a free kick, Nute put his header wide of the far post.

Matt Cusack ran down the left but his cross was intercepted and put out for a corner. It was played in low to Rob Francis at the near post where he flicked it across the face of the goal but no one could get to it and it was cleared away by Richie Hammett.

A minute later Fergus Nevin was lucky to escape with a yellow card when after losing possession he brought down a visiting player as he was about to break clear through.

Town had a good chance to equalise a couple of minutes later when Francis headed on a free kick to Adam Carter, who had managed to evade his shadow for the afternoon, Richie Hammett, but he put his header agonisingly wide of the far post.

Dartmouth had the perfect chance to increase their lead five minutes from the end when they were awarded a penalty following a foul by Murphy, for which he too, was fortunate to receive just a yellow card. He made amends by saving the spot kick and the follow up attempt by Sam Churchill was hit over the bar.

With title aspirations fading fast, Town will be hoping to stop their alarming slide when they visit Elburton Villa (2.45 pm) on Saturday.