Dandy Town 3

North Village 1

Controversy surrounded two of their goals, but there was nothing questionable about Antwon Russell's finishing with the striker bagging a brace as Dandy Town beat North Village in the Martonmere Cup.

A predatory strike by Russell gave his side an early lead, before Hayes Wolfe's swirling free-kick was deemed to have crept over the line with keeper Zane Hendrickson only able to parry the ball onto the underside of the bar.

Despite the disputable nature of the strike, Devarr Boyles' boys were far more fluent in possession, and urgent in attack, with their half-time lead a just one in the Saturday night encounter at BAA Field.

But it was a reinvigorated Village that emerged after the break, and had it not been for the profligacy of Ralph Bean they could, and should, have clawed their way back into proceedings.

With the goal at his mercy following a low cross from Keith Jennings, last season's golden boot winner managed to scuff his close range effort allowing Dennis Zuill to complete an audacious last-gasp goal-line clearance. Moments later Bean missed a glorious one-on-one chance with keeper Jason Smith, who was quick off his line, pulling off a smart save to maintain his side's advantage.

Hopes of a Village revival were firmly put to bed when Russell tapped home after a terrific, bursting run by Lloyd Holder who found his strike partner unmarked at the back post.

Village's appeals that Holder was offside fell on deaf ears, but coach Elliott Jennings later claimed his side had been "unfortunate" with some of the official's decisions.

A subdued Sammy DeGraff, who never looked comfortable on the right flank of midfield, was then substituted, before Keith Jennings pulled one back for Village following an excellent through ball by Bean.

As the final few seconds ebbed away Lashun Dill was guilty of squandering a gilt-edged opportunity in a passage of play that encapsulated his enigmatic, mercurial nature.

The jet-heeled winger left two markers trailing in his wake before expertly rounding the keeper to leave himself in clear shooting range of an empty net. Inexplicably, Dill checked back inside in an attempt to go past the beaten the keeper again, gifting the recovering defenders precious time to snuffle out the danger.

Derision from the hordes of Town faithful gathered behind the goal ensued; no doubt frustrated Dill's natural ability had once again been betrayed by poor decision-making.

"Lashun Dill has all the tools to be a good player, but his decision making does let him down. That's something he's working hard to put right," said coach Boyles after Town's victory.

"He had one great chance and did everything right, but failed with his execution."

Boyles added he did not feel there was much between the teams and believed Town had been hanging on at times during the second-half.

"I'm pleased with our start of the season but I wasn't impressed with our overall performance. There were elements of our game that I wasn't happy with.

"Both ourselves and North Village are in a transitional phase and I didn't think there was much between us. But we took our chances whereas they didn't."

Boyles also revealed he very nearly stepped down from his coaching post after last season due to football differences with Town's previous hierarchy.

But with a new executive onboard Boyles believes the environment at the club is more conducive to success and is quietly confident this season.

"Last campaign we practically brought in a new team and understandably nothing happened for us. I thought unreasonable expectations had been put upon us and I nearly stood down.

"But we now have a new executive and a new philosophy and I think the environment and atmosphere at the club has changed for the better."

Dandy Town: J.Smith, E.Signor, T.Russell, D.Zuill, K.Simmons (V.Hill), S.Darrell, M.Parsons, L.Dill, A.Russell, L.Holder (N.Wells), H.Wolfe.

Goals: Russell 24, 51, Wolfe 30

North Village: Z.Hendrickson, R.Wilson, K.Dill, D.Edwards, J.Boyles (S.Goater), K.Dill (M.Dill), K.Jennings, V.Tankard, J.Jennings, R.Bean, S.DeGraff (J.Dill)

Goals: K.Jennings 79

Men of the match: Ernest Signor (Dandy Town); Vernon Tankard (North Village)

Referee: Lyndon Raynor