Dial returned to winning ways in the Surrey FA Saturday Intermediate Cup after a resounding 5-1 win away to Shottermill & Haslemere last Saturday (8 Feb).

It was a high-spirited and resolute performance from Steve Brown’s side, who got their mojo back after coming up short in their last two league games.

With several key players unavailable for the trip to Haslemere Recreation Ground, including Adam Aziz, who was ineligible under competition rules, Dial was forced to travel light with Brown and experienced assistant Matt Bunyan named in the starting eleven.

On a pitch that was more suitable to swamp football, Dan Cenzano help put the travelling contingent’s minds at ease when his fierce 22nd-yard drive gave Dial a 17th-minute lead.

With Dial maintaining a high press, Bunyan’s persistence presented a golden opportunity for Harry Rice to turn in the box, before picking his spot past David Platt to make it 2-0 on the half-hour mark.

Platt then made a fine save to tip over Bunyan’s header; and Rice side-stepped his marker in the box only to shot wide of the target five minutes before the break.

However, The Shotts managed to pull a goal back on the cusp of half-time when Kieran Lyall latched onto the end of a low freekick to beat Andy Rider from close range.

It was business as usual seven minutes after the restart when makeshift striker James Vass reacted first to a loose ball to net Dial’s third goal.

The introduction of Jordan Carter bolstered Dial’s attacking options, as it proved when Louie Rogers’ shot was blocked and dropped just over the bar.

Although, a fourth-goal was never in doubt when Vass got in-between defenders, before picking his spot past Platt from eight yards in the 61st-minute.

Dial’s relentless press continued when Carter struck the ball past the onrushing Platt to make it 5-1 five minutes from time, after a great through ball from Rice.

With the tie already out of reach, Carter was inches away from adding a sixth in stoppage time, but his shot was brilliantly cleared of the line.

Speaking after the match, Brown said: "Shottermill (& Haslemere) was a potential banana skin fixture on an uneven and very boggy pitch. Despite the conditions, and with several players missing, I thought we executed the game-plan really well.

The players’ work-rate and determination told; we were never chasing the game and, on reflection, we probably should have scored one or two more goals. All in all, though, it was a solid team performance; it was difficult to pick one man of the match,” he added.

DIAL SQUARE: Rider, Rogers, Vassell, Brown (Jordan), Vass, Neville, Averiss, Phillips, Rice, Bunyan (Rose-Davies), Cenzano.
MotM: Dylan Averiss and Dan Cenzano

• Dial's win has awarded them with an away tie at Kingston & District Saturday League Premier Division side Parkside in the quarter-finals of the county cup. The fixture is scheduled for 22 February at Goals (Tolworth). 2pm k.o.