Perry Street league Division Two

Charmouth 3, Drimpton 5

THIS was definitely a game of two halves - a top-of-the-table clash which promised to be a great display of football and did not disappoint.

With Drimpton five points ahead of Charmouth in top spot and Charmouth with a game in hand,  the Robins needed to take three points to push for the top spot in the league.

It started well with both teams creating chances in the opening exchanges but Charmouth looked to be edging the opening exchanges. It took 30 minutes, however, before Charmouth broke the deadlock when Sam Dibling made a surging run into the box but was taken down in the process.  Up steps Adzy Whitehouse to slot past the Drimpton keeper from the spot to give Charmouth a 1-0 lead.

The game carried on with good football from both teams but in the 43rd min a deflected Drimpton free-kick fell to the feet of the Drimpton player who levelled the scores at 1-1.

Charmouth reacted straight away and caught Drimpton napping when Sam Dibling assisted Brin Seward a minute later to regain the lead at half-time.

The second half saw Drimpton change formation and pin Charmouth back. This pressure paid off when some sloppy defending from Charmouth allowed Drimpton to draw level at 2-2.

Unfortunately Charmouth did not have the same threat as in the first half and while battling hard another mistake at the back saw Drimpton take the lead on 70 minutes.

Knowing they had to get points for this game, Charmouth pushed forward in an attempt to regain the initiative but this left gaps at the back and soon enough Drimpton took the opportunity to make it 4-2 and then went on to seal the game at 5-2.

Charmouth did manage to claw one back in the dying minutes of the game to make it 5-3. The game lived up to its billing with some great football from both teams.

Charmouth's man-of-the-match award  went to Adzy Whitehouse for a battling performance in the centre of the park.

The return match on Saturday at Drimpton promises to be another great game and with a few games fixtures left to play the battle for top place is far from over.