Darch devastated

8:51am Thursday 4th September 2008

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Shaun Taylor Charity Shield DUKE OF ALBANY 7 BELVEDERE 0 A BITTERLY disappointed Bobby Darch admitted his side's humiliating seven-goal pounding by the newly-promoted Duke of Albany at the Wessex Stadium could serve as a big wake-up call to his players ahead of this weekend's big kick-off in the Weymouth Sunday League.

The Belvedere boss said: "I will be apologising to all our followers back at the pub who take time out to come and watch us.

"We didn't get to grips with the pace of the game and a few of us were a little heavy legged.

"Credit to the Duke though - they were truly superb and they clearly wanted it more. I can only hope this might serve as a kick up the backside for us."

The Park Street boys produced an awesome performance once they had hit the front after five minutes when Chris Sweetser-Hawkes netted following in a Russ North shot that keeper Paul Bosworth had failed to hold.

Then, on the half hour, Jason Pearce fed North down the left and the livewire swivelled his way past Adam Anstey before firing low inside the near post for 2-0.

Justin Crawford went close with a header just over and a speculative long-ranger that Anthony Luque gathered at the second attempt before the Belve fell further behind in the 35th minute.

A delightful chipped ball from Jamie Spivey sent North through and he was able to lob the advancing keeper with aplomb.

Before the break Paul Hayers' perfect centre found an out-of- sorts Rob Maxted who should have scored but Luque flung him- self to beat the ball out for a corner.

As expected the Belve started the second period with more urgency but another gilt-edged chance went begging when Hayers, cutting inside Spivey, fired on to the top of the bar on the hour.

A minute later the game was all over as a contest when Sean Zima combined with Luke Tomlin with the latter walking the ball home as the Belve rearguard hopefully looked for an offside flag.

The league champions responded again - Hayers' free-kick was pushed over by Luque and Anstey saw his header from a Dan McDonald corner hacked off the line by Spivey.

However, the Duke were still not satisfied as substitute Adam Linaker grabbed an easy fifth from Darren Samways' centre in the 70th minute, Zima dinked a chip over Bosworth a minute later before Linaker completed the rout when nudging home number seven in the fifth minute of added time.

Joint Duke boss Luke Tomlin said: "We were clinical today while they were wasteful. I think we put away seven of about ten decent chances and it sets us up nicely with our first trophy on the mantelpiece. It has no bearing on the league season though and we will be warning the players of that."

Duke of Albany: Luque, Spivey, Pearce, Miles (Ansell 62), Sharpe, Tomlin, Samways, Burton, Sweetser-Hawkes (Linaker 62), North (Andrews 72), Zima (Harris 74). Subs not used: Wellman Belvedere: Bosworth, Crawford, Paice (Holder 52), McBride, Anstey, Halloran (McDonald 52), Lee (Hanson 63), Chennitt (Shapcott 52), Maxted (Darch 63), Cole, Harvey.