Dandy Town 0

Flanagan’s Onions 1

Flanagan’s Onions brought Dandy Town crashing back to earth with their surprise win at St John’s Field yesterday.

Keston Lewis’ ninth minute goal was enough to get the win for the underdogs, and the first shock result of the season.

“This is a massive result for us, we had a few weeks to think about our last game against Wolves that we lost and wanted to come out here and try and get something out of it,” said Lewis.

“We had a commitment to get better from that game and put in the extra training to get us in the mindset of being hungry.”

Lewis’ goal was the only meaningful opportunity in what was a dull affair, with the Trinidadian rising highest in the area to nod home a free kick past Treadwell Gibbons in the Town goal.

While the match left much to be desired in terms of entertainment, it was the ability of the Onions players to stick to the task at hand and grind the result that was the crucial point of the game.

For long periods in the second half they were camped out in their own half, but dealt with every Town attack with assured composure.

Knowing the onus was on the hosts to go after the points, they relied on counterattacking through Lewis and Peter Robey, with the former almost grabbing his second of the game, but couldn’t hit the empty net from 40 yards with Gibbons out of his goal.

Tempers flared with 18 minutes left when right back Sam Butler and Damon Ming came together as Ming was trying to make his way down the flank.

A fracas ensued after the foul, resulting in the pair engaging in a shoving match, leaving referee Lyndon Raynor to sort out the melee.

Players from both sides got involved, with both Butler, who already had a booking, and Ming being given their marching orders for an early shower. A handful of yellow cards were handed out to players from both either sides.

Hornets couldn’t break down a resolute Onions defence, leaving both themselves and their fans scratching their heads on how they managed to let these vital points slip out of their hands.

“The league table is so close right now that any sort of run you can get is vital, but also the way you go about things away from home.

“That’s the key to obtaining your goals and getting the required results, you must put your head down and get on with the games as they come.”

Dandy Town: T Gibbons, C Maybury (K Wade, 81) B Minors, T Goater (R Tyrell, 61), S Furbert(S Tuzo, 34), J Stowe, A Lowe, R Trott, D Ming, A Simmons, S Darrell

Subs not used: E Outerbridge, K Smith

Yellow cards: S Tuzo, T Gibbons, R Tyrell

Red card: D Ming

Flanagan’s Onions: S Gould, D Doolin, G Muir, J Fox(S Upton, 90), N Peskett (J Knight, 83), P Robey, P Mathews, S Butler, S Lister, M Laws, K Lewis

Subs not used: B Amaro, D O’Sullivan, L Osborne, N Parker, S O’Shaugnessy

Goals: K Lewis, 9

Yellow: S Butler, S Lister, S Gould

Red card: S Butler

Referee: Lyndon Raynor

Man of the Match: N Peskett (Onions)