A plucky St. David's side fell victim to the classic counter-punch in a dramatic clash with Hotels International yesterday.

The young players turned in a sparkling performance, brimming with invention.

All that was missing was the killer touch -- and a heavy dose of luck.

Four times they peppered Hotels International's apparently charmed woodwork.

Dozens of goalmouth chances also went begging throughout the afternoon, cancelling out some impressive earlier one-twos.

The bungles were to prove costly against their more mature opponents.

For Hotels International were quick to pounce on any openings -- provided by a sometimes leaky St. David's defence.

The start of this First Division clash was marred by an injury to St. David's player Jerry Laws.

The midfielder was knocked unconscious after colliding with Hotels' Derek Scott in the first five minutes.

He was stretchered off, and taken to King Edward VII Memorial Hospital and later released.

Manager David Scraders replaced him with Sherwin (Dicky) Hollis, but the early blow seemed to have knocked St. David's off their stride.

Hotels made the early running, creating several opportunities in the first 20 minutes.

It was an amazing mix-up that gifted them the first goal after 39 minutes.

Goalkeeper George O'Brien left himself stranded after rushing out of his area.

He failed to gather the ball, which was trapped and looped over his head by a grateful Ricky Hill.

St. David's, too, carved open their own first-half chances.

But time and again they were thwarted by 'keeper Gladwin Edness, who had a cracking game.

The second half saw St. David's take the game to Hotels International, making repeated surges into their territory.

Player/coach Garrett (Punchy) Dill struck the bar after five minutes, and the equaliser soon followed.

Winger David Bascome put Del Hollis into striking range with a long pass. The marksman made no mistake, rifling the ball past Edness from 15 yards.

The euphoria was only short-lived, however. Four minutes later Hotels International counter-punched.

Full-back Scott whipped the ball across the goalmouth, and it was neatly headed home by midfielder Eugene Simmons, captain of Hotels.

Six minutes later they went 3-1 up, thanks to another defensive blunder.

St. David's appeared to be playing for offside, but the tactic backfired, leaving Coolridge Bell with the simple task of tucking the ball under a hapless O'Brien.

Defender Shea Pitcher was replaced by striker James Pace as St. David's continued to push forward.

Their effort was eventually rewarded when winger Bascome tapped in from about three yards following a corner.

It was no more than St. David's deserved, but their all-out push for the equaliser was killed by Ricky Hill.

The goal again left question marks about the defence.

O'Brien seemed to be in position to grasp the ball, but backed off, giving Hill a free header from a few yards out.

St. David's: G.O'Brien; S.Pitcher (J.Pace), E.Crockwell, C.Richardson, E.Smith, M.Dill, G.Dill, S.Smith, J.Laws (D.Hollis), D.Bascome, D.Hollis.

Hotels: G.Edness; D.Scott, F.Greaves (D.McGowan), D.Bell, P.Smith, M.Piper, E.Simmons, C.Sabir, V.Chaves (S.Lightbourne), R.Hill, C.Bell.

Referee: Esten Curtis.

Men of the match: Sean Smith (St. David's); Gladwin Edness (Hotels).

RICKY HILL -- Returned to scoring ways with Hotels after season away.