Dandy Town stretched their unbeaten run in the early season to five league and cup matches, but they had to come from behind to beat St. George's who threatened to spring an upset.

The last time St. George's played at St. John's field they came away with a 1-0 victory in December, 1993.

And when Clay Smith scored his third goal of the season from a freekick late in the first half, one got the feeling that another away victory over the champions might be on the cards.

However, Town came charging back and totally deserved the two points after an own goal by Darrin Walker levelled the score late in the first half and then Joey Weeks snatched the winner late in the second.

Despite the blustery conditions the two teams quickly settled into their games, stringing together a number of passes. Town had the best of the early chances as Darron Simons side-stepped a defender on the right and put his shot wide of the near post in the eighth minute.

Town looked the more likely to score during the opening period as they tested the St. George's defence with some fluent buildups involving Walter Musson, Gladwin Johnston and Antoine Cannonier in midfield and Weeks, Carlos Smith and Simons up front.

One of the best chances for St. George's came in the 17th minute when goalkeeper Troy Hall collected a Town corner and threw the ball out to Clay Smith who quickly laid on a pass for Dean Minors on the right. Minors' shot from an angle was inches over the bar.

During their best period in the match St. George's took the lead in the 28th minute with a smartly taken goal from Smith. The opening came when Smith was shoved from behind by Cannonier as he tried to chest down a pass just outside the Town penalty area.

Smith took the freekick himself and goalkeeper Cymande Davis could only watch as Smith deftly chipped the ball over the defensive wall with his left foot and inside Davis' top left corner.

St. George's grew in confidence after that goal and just two minutes later went desperately close to adding a second when Melvin (Chinky) Simmons put his effort against the crossbar.

Town became more determined after that as they picked up their game with Carlos Smith putting a freekick just over the bar from 20 yards in the 35th minute.

Five minutes later Troy Durham put a header just wide as Town kept on the pressure. The goal they threatened to score finally came three minutes before the break when Carlos Smith drove a cross from the right low and hard and Walker, in front of goal, could only manage to steer it past his own 'keeper.

In the second half the home team picked up where they left off though a good chance came at the other end where Carlos Greaves put a header over the bar from a good position in the 53rd minute after Dwayne Richardson, who came on in the first half for the injured Gregg Foggo, flighted in a freekick from the right.

Town were forced to make their first substitution in the 61st minute because of an injury when Ross Parsons came on to replace Johnston who got the worst of a collision with Phillip Bailey and was carried off.

Walker nearly scored a second own goal in the 62nd minute when he deflected Simons' shot past the near post as St. George's were forced to absorb a lot of pressure.

The eagerly awaited debut for St. George's of Ricky Hill came in the 69th minute when he replaced the limping Simmons.

Before and after Town's 75th minute winner both teams had the ball in the net only to be denied because of offside.

Town thought they had scored in the 72nd minute when Simons found the net and it was through that incident and the one in which they did score that they were reduced to 10 men. Troy Durham had something to say to linesman Lawrence DeShields after Simons' effort was ruled out and was spoken to by referee Stuart Crockwell.

Preferring not to remain tongue in cheek he let his feelings be known to the linesman again three minutes later after Weeks blasted the ball home from close range following a corner by Musson. This time the red card came out as Durham tried to argue his case before leaving the field.

Hill threatened with a couple of headers, the first which he put in the net only to be denied for offside and again in the closing minutes when he put his effort wide after connecting with a Walker cross.

Dandy Town: C.Davis; L.Christopher, W.Rudo, W.Campbell, T.Durham, W.Musson, G.Johnston (R.Parsons 61min), E.Cannonier, J.Weeks (K.Sharieff 77min), Carlos Smith, D.Simons.

St.George's: T.Hall; D.Bailey, A.Todd, P.Bailey, F.Greaves; C.Greaves, D.Walker, Clay Smith, G.Foggo (D.Richardson 22min), M.Simmons (R.Hill 69min), D.Minors.

Referee: Stuart Crockwell Men of match: Carlos Smith (Town), Franklyn Greaves (St. George's).