Click here for DAFC Reserves report.

Danson Albion 2 Belford Town 2
Sunday 13th April, Meridian

Danson Albion surrendered a two goal lead on Sunday to get their Invitation Cup aspirations off to a whimper. Diversions due to the London Marathon meant a long delay in KO with the game getting under way gone mid day, Danson’s preparation time elongated as Belford players arrived in dribs and drabs.

Manager Gary Preston was without a number of attacking options as Nas Harris and Justin Holloway (holiday) as well as AWOL pair Kenny Weed and Ed Pearce. Nirmalananthan was still missing so Danson called in Rob, who has impressed in training in the past two weeks to the squad, and he was joined on the bench by Ben Hawkes with Preston giving Lilley the nod at left back. In attack Josh Waddell and Jon Wayment were given the nod as Brad Hunt moved inside to centre back and Dave Kersey started his first game in months at right back.

The re-shuffle looked positive in the opening half, Hunt making a number of interceptions and tackles in defence and Waddell and Wayment causing problems for the Belford backline. Playing on the pitch in which Belford hammered Danson in a friendly last season, Albion were confident of notching three points in the Invitation opener.

That looked likely as continued pressure eventually saw a breakthrough. A Jamie Robinson in swinging corner was flicked on by captain Bill Standen and Wayment swung out his boot to guide the ball home. It wasn’t long before that lead was doubled.

Standen chipped the ball through two defenders to Waddell who turned and squared to Neill, coming in from the wing for the simplest of goals. Danson were in cruise control and may have had one or two more with Wayment going close. Ref Ronald Albert blew time in what seemed way short of the 36 minutes he said had been played. At half time Preston was happy with his troops first half showing but the next goal would prove crucial.

Twenty minutes into the second half and with chances at either end, Albion ‘stopper Dean Cairns collided with an onrushing Belford forward and was forced off with Gary Preston replacing him in the Danson goal.

Danson created chances but paid the price for not taking them, as a cross from the right was ineffectively dealt with and Belford pulled one back to make it game on. Within five minutes the visitors were level after a fine finish from the Belford attacker.

Danson had chances to re-take the lead but Wayment, Neill and Standen all failed to test the Belford ‘keeper and the hosts had to settle for a point. That means a win over Centaurs next Sunday will be a must and Danson will have to do it without a number of players as Wayment, Cairns and Hawkes (holiday) join Lilley and Kersey in being unavailable.

After 7 weeks without a game perhaps Danson’s fall in the second half was inevitable but a win was more then a possibility here and Danson will have to learn how to hold a lead and become a more compact and resilient unit if they are to get there hands on the silverware they long for.

Player Ratings
Cairns 7 (Preston 6) Kersey 7 Hunt 8 Pike 7 Lilley 7 Robinson 6 Standen 7 Longville 7 Neill 7  Waddell 7 Wayment 7