In a game that saw much excitement on the afternoon, it was unfortunate that someone had to lose.

However, for St. David's, they came up on the short end against home team Dandy Town, losing by the odd goal in five at St. John's field.

Scorers for Town were Walter Musson, Paul Cann and Dennis Robinson.

Replying for St. David's were Jerry Laws and Patrick White.

From the opening whistle, St. David's took it right at Town as they controlled play. Town conceded two corners in the first two minutes of play and were very lucky to escape without giving up a goal.

In the sixth minute, St. David's were awarded a free kick from just outside the penalty box. The kick was taken by Shea Pitcher whose shot found the head of Albert Steede who saw his effort tipped over for a corner.

Even though the east-enders continued to dominate play, it was Town who drew first blood as they received a penalty kick after St. David's Albert Steede pushed Gladwyn Johnson from behind. Walter Musson took the penalty and drilled the ball past goalkeeper Dale Fox.

However, St. David's were not discouraged by the setback and continued to pressure the Town defence. They were rewarded for their perseverance as they tallied their first goal in the 30th minute.

Garrett Dill fed a long through-ball to a streaking Kanhai Fray. Some indecision between Town defender Wayne Campbell and 'keeper Anthony Manders saw Manders' desperate attempt to punch the ball clear of Fray. However, it only landed in the path of a waiting Jerry Laws who shot from 15 yards out into an empty net.

Both sides traded attacks the next five minutes with neither team able to penetrate smothering defensive coverage. In the 37th minute, Town's Paul Cann floated a free kick into the penalty box. Cann had his pass neatly back-heeled by Robinson to Kurt Martin who shot weakly at the 'keeper from 10 yards out.

Two minutes later, Martin again had an opportunity to score. This time he gave a much better effort only to see his low, curling shot pushed around the upright for a Town corner. The ensuing corner saw Cann's high arching inswinger drop between a maze of players and after a failure to clear by the St. David's defence, Robinson tapped the ball over from the line.

With a second score, Town seemed to sense a kill and went for St. David's jugular as they assaulted the goal repeatedly with crisp passing, relentless off-the-ball running and shooting.

In the second half, Town came out with a vengeance and were rewarded with their third goal when Cann outpaced his defender after receiving a fine through-ball from Johnson and shot past outstretched Fox. The goal came in the 52nd minute.

Eight minutes later, a second yellow card was issued to a St. David's player.

Albert Steede received the first, in the first half, for disputing too vehemently referee Peter Sousa's penalty call. This time, the guilty offender was Sean Smith on a tackle from behind.

Things began to heat up over the next 15 minutes as both sides made numerous substitutions to try to gain the upper hand. In the 62nd minute, St. David's brought on Patrick White for Kanhai Fray. Town replied less than a minute later when they replaced Kurt Martin with Carlos Smith.

White offered immediate dividends for St. David's when his through pass split the Town defence. Laws rushed in on goal only to have Manders smother the ball at his feet.

The game saw its third yellow card. This time the culprit was Town's Lionel Cann for a foul on his cricket team-mate Fox while the 'keeper was exposed in the air.

Both sides again made substitutions in an effort to pick up the attack. In the 78th minute Town brought on Ross Parsons for Johnson. Two minutes later, St.

David's replaced Sean Smith with Reginald Pitcher. The changes were beginning to pay off for St. David's as they received their second goal courtesy of White's low blast.

White pounced on a loose ball and deposited his fierce first-time strike into the back of the net when Manders muffed an opportunity to clear the ball adequately from his penalty area.

Dandy Town: A.Manders, P.Douglas, W.Campbell, W.Rudo, L.Christopher, K.Martin (C.Smith, 63 mins) P.Cann, W.Musson, D.Robinson, G.Johnson (R.Parsons, 78 mins), L.Cann.

St. David's: D.Fox, C.Richardson, A.Steede, S.Pitcher, W.Smith, D.Hollis, G.Dill, E.Crockwell, K.Fray (P.White, 62 mins), J.Laws, S.Smith (R.Pitcher, 80 mins).

Referee: Peter Sousa.

Men of the match: Paul Cann (Dandy Town); Jerry Laws (St. David's).

CANN-OPENER -- Lionel Cann of Dandy Town, left, looks to find a way past St.

David's defender Albert Steede in action at St. John's field.