Two weeks after Southampton Rangers took their first points of the season off Dandy Town, bottom team St. David's did the same thing, holding on with 10 men for the entire second half to frustrate their opponents.

The home team, with five straight losses and conceding an average of more than three goals a game, were not given much of a chance against the Martonmere Cup champions.

But a shock result looked very much on the cards when St. David's took the lead on the half hour from a Worrell Bean penalty. And though Town managed to equalise right on half-time, with St. David's already a man short, they failed to turn that advantage to their favour in the second half.

Right from the outset it was obvious St. David's were determined not to be pushovers as they mounted a couple of promising raids in the first five minutes.

With late transfers Earlwin Wolffe and Otis Minors boosting the St. David's midfield in their first match of the season, St. David's were full of confidence in the opening minutes.

Town had two quick chances themselves at the other end when Lionel Furbert saw a header blocked by goalkeeper Sidney Minors and then connected with an overhead kick on the rebound which was cleared off the line.

Shane Weeks put a good effort inches wide for St. David's who continued to press forward with a strong cross-field wind giving them some assistance.

Then, after Chae Simmons curled a shot just past the near post, St. David's took a surprise lead when Daron Steede was penalised for blocking Weeks inside the box.

Bean made no mistake from the penalty spot, tucking the ball low to the 'keeper's left.

However, St. David's suffered a setback five minutes before the break when full back Wayne Hollis was ejected for a second yellow card after he pulled back Darron Simons. He had been booked only 13 minutes earlier for a late sliding tackle on Wylie Rudo.

St. David's reorganised but they could not prevent Town from equalising down that same side, though the shot from midfielder Devarr Boyles should have been saved by Minors who allowed the ball to get between him and the near post.

The anticipated second half onslaught by Town never materialised, even though they piled on the pressure.

Just 55 seconds after the restart they almost took the lead when Lionel Furbert challenged inside the six-yard box and the ball hit the underside of the crossbar before coming back out.

St. David's were starting to buckle under the pressure but Town players continued to put shots either high or wide. They hit the crossbar a second time in the 57th minute, this time through a Simons effort, before Otis Minors cleared the rebound off the line.

Town brought on Carlos Smith to replace Kwame Steede and within minutes he too went close, scooping over the bar from close range as St. David's continued to ride their luck.

A slice of luck kept Town from falling behind again in the 81st minute when the ball flew off the boot of a Town player near the edge of the box and caught Lightbourne off his line. Fortunately for them the ball hit the crossbar before a quick break upfield saw Town put it in the net, only to have the effort ruled offside.

St. David's: S.Minors; W.Hollis, S.Pitcher, C.Waldron, A.Lugo, E.Wolffe, C.Simmons, O.Minors, W.Bean, L.Cann, S.Weeks (K.Lambe 86 mins).

Dandy Town: A.Lightbourne; D.Bailey, D.Steede, W.Rudo, G.Gibbons, P.Douglas, L.Furbert, D.Boyles, K.Steede (C.Smith 55 mins), D.Simons, R.Tucker.

Referee: Lyndon Raynor Men of the match: Shea Pitcher (St. David's), Devarr Boyles (Town).

Yellow cards: Chae Simmons, Wayne Hollis (St. David's); Dean Bailey, Devarr Boyles, Darron Simons, Lionel Furbert, Gershon Gibbons (Town).

Red card: Wayne Hollis