Dartford suffered late heartbreak at home to Alfreton Town, going down to an 89th minute winner – The visitors winning at Princes Park for the first time in their history.
On a cold but sunny day in Kent, the pitch and swirling wind made for difficult conditions in the proverbial relegation six-pointer – As a consequence the game was far from a classic with many a displaced pass made throughout.
The Darts, needing a positive result in their fight against the drop, came out the blocks the better side against a lacklustre Alfreton. Elliott Bradbrook was the first to have a strike on goal in the early stages but his shot from range harmlessly went over the visitors’ crossbar.
The home side continued their early positive start with Andy Pugh linking up well with Danny Harris but Harris flashed his first time shot across goal and wide of the far post.
The Darts were certainly up for this, holding onto possession much better than their visitors, appearing the more composed.
Halfway through the first half, in a rare foray into Darts’ territory, Callum Howe managed to warm the hands of Deren Ibrahim – Although Howe’s shot was on target it was straight at the hosts’ ‘keeper causing little alarm.
The visiting supporters were then soon calling for a penalty when Daniel Bradley ran into covering defenders in the penalty area but the referee was quite rightly uninterested waving away any appeals.
In the best move of the half The Darts’ Pugh caused concern to their visitors – Picking up the ball on halfway he linked up well with Lee Noble playing a one-two on the edge of the box although his finish didn’t live up to the move as he shot low and straight at Jason Mooney who gathered easily.
The Darts continued to have the lion’s share of possession, dealing with the conditions much the better and ten minutes into the second half almost took the lead when Bradbrook stole a yard in front of goal but his header was deflected wide of the right hand post – The subsequent corner was easily gathered by the imperious figure of Mooney.
As the game wore on the game opened up – Both sides sensing a draw was a bad result for them both – Pugh bore down on Alfreton’s goal on a counter-attack but without any support and quickly outnumbered he chose to shoot from a good 30yds out which was easily taken by ‘keeper Mooney – Pugh looking to his colleagues suggesting he had little option.
Alfreton, looking for a maximum to get away from the drop-zone themselves, almost took a lead out of the blue with just over ten minutes remaining – A long wind assisted free kick by Mooney found Karl Hawley on the left side of The Darts’ penalty area – His shot across goal coming back off the woodwork and the Reds’ Bradley was soon bearing down on goal on the left hand side but his run was halted on the edge of the penalty area.
Then, with the game into its final furlong, the visitors snatched a goal and, with it, the three points. Another wind assisted free kick by Mooney was well won by substitute Anthony Howell on the right edge of the penalty area. Hawley held the ball up, laying it off to Howe whose low drive was too good for Ibrahim and settled into the bottom left hand corner right in front of the travelling support.
Desperate to get an all important goal back, The Darts were unable to test the visitors defence, but with their over exuberance and clear passion showing, frustration took over as rash tackles and a moment where several players came together resulted – The referee brandishing cautions in a game that was far from aggressive or bad-tempered.
With ten games and thirty points left to play for and games in hand on all those around and above them, The Darts do have plenty of opportunities to get out of the drop-zone – However they are now ten points behind today’s winners Alfreton and with only thirty-six goals from their thirty-six games played that will need addressing quickly in their fight for survival.
Dartford: Ibrahim, Richards, McAuley, Bradbrook ©, Noble (Doidge, 73), Pugh, Harris, Green (Hayes, 60), Sweeney, Dallison, Driver
Subs not used: Daley, Kessell, Collier
Alfreton Town: Mooney, Wood, Rowe-Turner, Graham ©, Bradley (Shaw, 82), Ironside (Howell, 83), Thanoj, Hawley, Lenighan, Johnston (Leesley, 63), Howe
Subs not used: Courtney, Heaton
Goals: Howe (89)
Referee: Nigel Lugg
Asst Referees: Tim Donnellen & Carl Pease
Fourth Official: Jim Paterson
Attendance: 913