Superb goals by Darron Simons and Devarr Boyles earned Dandy Town a deserved victory in their opening Martonmere Cup match last night at Devonshire Rec.

But long after they should have sealed a comfortable victory, Town found themselves hanging on in the latter stages after their defender Bruce Burton was sent off.

Referee Lyndon Raynor dismissed Burton for a second bookable offence in the 83rd minute and 60 seconds later Wolves striker Nathan Webb fired in off the underside of the crossbar to pull his side back into the game at 2-1.

Ten-man Town then survived the last five minutes under constant pressure from a spirited Wolves side, Mark Ray coming the closest to an equaliser with a low shot which hit the side netting.

The game started off at a furious pace and Town's Boyles and Seyoum Tuzo both fluffed their shots after being given clear runs on goal early on.

Simons broke the deadlock in the 32nd minute, cracking a glorious left-footed volley from the edge of the penalty area high into the net from a cross by Tuzo, which left stunned Wolves 'keeper Cymande Davis motionless.

Six minutes later, Sean Smith lashed another magnificent 18-yard volley into the net, but as the Town players, including goalkeeper Antoine Lightbourne, celebrated near the halfway line, they failed to realise the goal had been disallowed.

Wolves tried to catch them unawares and swept forward from the free-kick but Webb's shot on the turn flashed inches wide of the left-hand post, as Lightbourne scrambled to get back to his line.

Wolves best move of the first half came when Torry Davis sent Nakia Smith clear, only for the classy Earl Richardson, a summer signing from Vasco who looks an excellent acquisition, to make a rescuing slide tackle for Town.

Town seized the initiative early in the second period and doubled their lead in the 52nd minute. Heys Wolfe's raking pass fell right into the stride of midfielder Boyles, who rifled an accurate drive into the bottom left-hand corner of the net.

Davis made a fine save at the feet of Tuzo before Burton's dismissal and Webb's goal set up a grand finale for the large crowd.

Dandy Town: A.Lightbourne, S.Smith, B.Burton, W.Rudo, E.Richardson, P.Douglas (K.Steede 82 mins), H.Wolfe (R.Swan 63 mins), S.Tuzo, D.Boyles, P.Cann (R.Tucker 45 mins), D.Simons.

Wolves: C.Davis, T.Trott, C.Smith (C.Lopes 60 mins), A.Thomas, L.Hypolite, K.Smith (J.Eve 60 mins), M.Ray, J.Peniston (S.Laws 67 mins), T.Davis, N.Webb, N.Smith.

Men of the match: Devarr Boyles (Town); Nakia Smith (Wolves) Referee: Lyndon Raynor