The opening day of the league season was upon the Sunday side this weekend as they travelled to face fellow new side Shield Academy.

Despite not having secured a victory thus far against strong opposition in the friendlies played, spirits were high of securing an opening win - that was until we arrived at the ground.<=

Arriving at a ground with no changing rooms, a pitch that was almost square in shape offering no length whatsoever, goalposts that were either too short or bent plus a surface that resembled more of a minefield, the chance of a decent game of football was out of the picture!

Shield, a young side with plenty of aggression (some far too much), proved a good match for the more experienced Dales side and honours were even although Joe Peter's surging run and shot, an Iain 'Grandad' Fuller diving header and a Hilly effort saved despairingly inside the post gave the Dales the best chances of the half.

Poised at 0-0 the second half failed to deliver much entertainment although Shield started to get more of the game. The Dales should have been ahead with Jay, Hilly, Ryan and Ricky all having chances which could have created goals.

However, with not long left a whipped in cross took a deflection off a Dales defender to register a Shield goal, something which couldn't be equalled in the time remaining.