Dandy Town 3 St. David's 0

Dandy Town began the defence of their Premier Division title with a comfortable victory over ten man St.David's at St.John's Field yesterday.

All three of Town's goals came during the second half through captain Damon Ming, an own goal by Tareek Webb-Caisey and a late strike from Ricky Saltus.

St.David's had midfielder Aaron Crockwell sent off midway through the second period for two bookable offences.

Hornets coach Joma Wilkinson praised St.David's for their gritty performance but believed his team had too much quality for the top-flight new-boys.

"It was important to start the new season with a win.

"It was certainly a hard fought victory because St.David's made life difficult for us especially during the first half. But we knew if we matched their intensity and effort we would be okay," said Wilkinson.

"We took a long time to get going but once we took the lead we settled down and started to dominate."

Ming put the Hornets up immediately after the interval when he rounded goalkeeper Corey Richardson before tapping home from an acute angle.

The hosts extended their lead when St.David's defender Webb-Caisey diverted the ball into his own net while attempting to clear Lashun Dill's right-wing cross.

Striker Saltus then scored on his Hornets league debut when he cut inside his marker on the edge of the area before driving a low shot past Richardson in the final few minutes.

Hornets also had a goal disallowed because Lynn Tucker had been in an offside position, although he was not interfering with play, when his team-mate Jamal Swan fired a shot past Richardson.

In the first half St.David's actually has the better of the goalscoring chances with Sean Boddington twice going close.

He first stabbed wide from Webb-Caisey's delivery from the right and then volleyed over from just outside the box after a weak punch from keeper Treadwell Gibbons fell invitingly into the striker's path.

Dandy Town: T.Gibbons, G.Dyer, K.Tucker, J.Butterfield (L.Dill, 78), S.Darrell, S.Brown (J.Peniston, 58), J.Swan, D.Ming, R.Saltus, W.Place (K.Hurdle, 37), L.Tucker

Substitutes not used: T.Saki, R.Wells

St.David's: C.Richardson, T.Webb-Caisey, K.Bean, D.Butterfield (O.Minors, 40), A.Lugo, D.Rogers, A.Crockwell, A.Burchall (D.Macallen, 65), D.Lambert, A.Cannonier, S.Boddington (F.Crockwell, 80)

Substitites not used: S.Robinson, F.Sewell, D.Albouy, M.Crawford

Red cards: A.Crockwell

Referee: S.Allen

Man-of-the-match: G.Dyer (Hornets)