Dial boss Steve Brown praised his side's aptitude and resilience after securing a 3-1 league win away to AFC Cubo on Saturday (14 Sept) at Quintin Hogg Memorial Sports Ground.

Despite having nine first team regulars unavailable for the trip to Chiswick, a new-look Dial put on a fine display to move up to second in the table.

Goals from CG, Charlie Marshall and Harry Rice gave Dial all three points on the road after the hosts had taken the lead.

Dial looked self-assured on the synthetic pitch, but the game plan initially fell on deaf ears when Callum Orris received a 50-yard pass, before picking his spot past Andy Rider to open the scoring in the fourth-minute.

In response, the hosts endured an onslaught of pressure, with Cubo 'keeper Sam Harrison forced to make several saves to deny Jordan Carter, Marshall and Dan Cenzano within a hectic 20-minute spell.

However, it was only a matter of time before Dial equalised, which they did through new signing CG in the 24th-minute to get the show back on the road.

With Cubo pinned back in their own half for large spells, the hosts were again grateful to Harrison for denying Marshall, CG and Finlay Rose-Davies.

But Marshall eventually got just-reward when Harrison failed to clear Carter’s corner kick, allowing Marshall to poke the ball home from three yards on the cusp of half-time.

Harrison was again called into action to deny Rice four minutes after the break, before Cubo captain James Yates fired a shot over at the other end.

Carter then hit the cross-post through a superb solo effort as the hosts notably struggled to get a foothold on the game.

And Carter had good reason to feel aggrieved when he was clearly pulled back by Charles Essam in the penalty box, with Dean Banks – the referee – waving play on midway through the second period.

It was perhaps inevitable though that Cubo’s fortune would run out when Rice slotted home Dial’s third-goal in the 74th-minute after Harrison had saved his initial effort.

Orris had a good opportunity to reduce the arrears five minutes from time, but the Cubo goalscorer was denied by Rider who had little to do for most of the game.

Speaking after the match, Brown said: “I was proud of the players’ performance. I thought we moved the ball around well and we played with real quality and no fear. The movement in the final third was much more fluid than in previous weeks.

"I think they [Cubo] had about three to four shots all game, whereas we probably had in the region of 15 goalscoring opportunities, including several one on ones.

"We still need to be more clinical in front of goal, but I don’t want to take anything away from the lads’ performance, especially away from home and with nine players out," added Brown.

DIAL SQUARE: Rider, Rose-Davies, Linturn, Phillips, Vass, Cenzano (Dembele), Lawrence, Goulter, Carter, Rice (Payne), Marshall, Unused subs: Brown, Bunyan

MotM: Charlie Marshall