PETER MANLEY 4-3 DENNIS SMITH
(1-3, 1-3, 3-1, 3-1, 2-3, 3-2, 3-0)
PETER MANLEY needed a change to his lucky shirt before overhauling Dennis Smith to move into the quarter-finals of the Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship.
The world number six, from Carlisle, trailed Smith 2-0 before returning from the break wearing his 'Pink Flamingo' shirt - which he wore to win the 2003 Las Vegas Desert Classic.
Manley saw his fortunes turn for the better, levelling at 2-2 before winning the game in a decider.
"I wore the red and black shirt provided by my sponsor early on, and their logos show better on that," admitted Manley.
"But it was pulling a little on my arms, and I had to win the match so I changed. It's my lucky shirt and I feel comfortable in it."
The 43-year-old certainly needed a change of luck, with Smith having the better of things early on and winning six of the first eight legs.
He included a 121 finish and hit 75% of his shots at the double to move into a comfortable lead.
Manley's change of shirt was followed by a change of form as he began to live up to his 'One Dart' nickname, landing a 123 checkout on the way to winning the third set.
He also levelled the match by taking the fourth 3-1 before Smith stepped in to take the fifth after Manley spurned his chance.
Hungerford star Smith, who has been resurgent in the latter half of 2005, gave himself a chance to win the match at 2-2 in the sixth set.
However, he missed darts at double 16 and double eight, with Manley stepping in to take the game into a decider and then winning the final set 3-0 - landing double top in three successive legs.
"Dennis is going to be upset because he had chances to win, but I've got to stop playing from behind," said Manley.
"I'm in the last eight now and that is my final. If I win that game it opens up for me and I've got chances of at least reaching the final."
Match Stats
|
Peter Manley |
4-3 |
Dennis Smith |
|
39 |
100+ |
36 |
|
25 |
140+ |
27 |
|
3 |
180 |
2 |
|
29.58 |
Ave1 |
28.89 |
|
88.75 |
Ave3 |
86.68 |