Dynamos Triumph in Season Opener
Steve Hickman’s Dynamos locked horns with new boys Eaton Town coached by Mark Shilcof in the opening game of the season at Glen Huon. Shilcof’s Eaton has everything to prove in the coming season with a squad of youngsters most of whom are testing themselves in the top flight of the Southwest for the very first time. The Premier League game kicked off at three in the afternoon and straight away the experience of Dynamos was there for all to see. Dynamos pressed hard at what appeared to be a nervous Eaton who were struggling to settle into their usual free flowing game. Dynamos won a corner which was cleared away by Dave Rodgers but fell to the feet of Ryan Pryce who had a shot deflected by Scott Jumeaux only to have a second bite of the cherry, this time slotting the ball into the far corner past Eaton keeper Jamie Oakey.
Dynamos went into the half time break with a slender 1-0 advantage and both teams came out in the second half with renewed intensity on what was a warm day for football. Dynamos were controlling the midfield again in the second half with Dynamo youngsters Jayden Prosser and Seb Bell also giving the Eaton defence headaches with their sublime control and entertaining trickery. The pressure was too much for an undermanned Eaton and midway through the second half, after Oakey and Owain Portman did well to keep out consecutive Dynamo shots, Pryce once again popped up in the box to double Dynamos advantage. The game ended in a 2-0 victory to Dynamos after an intense final 15 minutes.
Ryan Pryce was the standout player of the game competing with the likes of Rodgers and Gareth Johnston in the heart of the midfield and also arriving at the right place at the right time to score two goals. A job well done for Hickman’s side as Shilcof’s young guns will have to produce a bit more quality and composure in their upcoming games.
Earlier Eaton Reserves staged a last minute comeback but unfortunately could not find the equaliser. The game finished at 3 – 2 to Dynamos, but still an encouraging result for Eaton with several key players missing this week.
Match Report by Scott Jumeaux