General Discussion

From the Herald Express. I would post this as News, but don't seem able to.

Manager Jeff Evans can see his Dawlish Town squad coming together quite nicely ahead of tomorrow's pre-season friendly away to South West Peninsula League side Cullompton Rangers.

It's a getting-to-know-you process in every sense with Evans among the newcomers at Sandy Lane after his close season appointment in succession to player-manager Adam Shearer (still with the club, though only as a player).

However, there's still a couple of weeks left to fine-tune and work on patterns and shapes ahead of the first game of the season in the Premier Division of the Toolstation Western League when Dawlish entertain Brislington.

And Evans reports that he's been encouraged with what he's seen so far, first in a 2-1 defeat against Belgian Division Three side R R Montegnee last Friday, followed by Tuesday's 3-1 victory at home to Southern League Bridgwater Town.

"I still had five players out with 'flu symptoms for the Bridgwater game, but I was still pleased with the trialists and youngsters brought in to take their place," said Evans.

"There are obviously things we still need to work on, but I've been encouraged by what I've see up to now."

Tuesday's win against Bridgwater was certainly a feather in the pre-season cap after the Dawlish defence was breached for Steve Orchard to head home an early goal from Steve Pepperell's cross.

Orchard was to play no further part after injuring himself in the process of scoring, and was replaced by veteran midfielder Lee Groves.

Despite Groves' imposing presence in the Bridgwater engine room, it was Dawlish midfielder Dean Stevens who had the greater impact, scoring a 22nd minute penalty after Robins goalkeeper Pete Burridge had clattered into Dawlish striker and last season's leading marksman, Joe Bushin.

Bushin was next on target to fire Dawlish ahead for the first time midway through the second-half, chasing a through ball and carefully placing his shot past the advancing Burridge.

And it was Stevens who grabbed his second and Dawlish's third goal a quarter-of-an-hour from time with a fantastic effort from 25 yards.

Senior players Craig Fenner, Radley Veale and Cameroon-born Jules Emattio-Matti were among the absentees against Bridgwater, but the trio are all included in tomorrow's squad (3pm).

""We have 18 players fighting it out for a place in next month's starting line-up, so it's looking good up to now," said Evans.