Dartford rescued a point in the 5^th minute off added time against a strong & disciplined Southport side who have kept their unbeaten record going under new manager Gary Brabin.

The game started with both sides taking time to get into their stride & it was Dartford who had the first half chance when in the 17^th minute Lee Noble’s long cross to the back post found Harry Crawford who headed back across goal but unfortunately it evaded everyone & was cleared.

Southport nearly took the lead in the 22^nd minute when a free kick into the area was headed goalwards by Danny Hattersley which forced Jason Brown to make a superb save & push the ball round the post.

In the very next minute Hattersley tried an overhead kick 10 yards out but it went wide. Dartford then came back with their half chance when in the 36^th minute Max Cornhill saw his shot from 25yards dramatically saved by David Raya, then two minutes later Ryan Hayes received the ball from a throw in on the right cut inside & from 20 yards his curling effort was palmed around the post by Raya.

In the 41^st minute Hayes again on the right saw his low cross miss everyone forcing Raya to touch it round the post. In the 45^th minute Southport took the lead probably against the run of play when a ball into the area was flicked on by Hattersley for John Marsden to volley home from 8 yards.

The second half started with Dartford on the front foot but Southport were dangerous on the counter attack,  as in the 49^th minute Danny Harris on the left eventually got his cross in forcing Raya to palm it away & his defenders cleared it, then four minutes later Peter Sweeney 30 yards out collected a clearance & shot but it went wide.

In the 57^th minute Harris & Harry Crawford combined on the edge of the area with Crawford’s shot saved by Raya.  Southport had their first chance of the half on the hour when Hattersley running forward saw his shot pushed out by Jason Brown.

Dartford were getting closer to an equaliser & in the 62^nd minute Lee Noble funning at the Southport defence let fly from 20 yards forcing Raya to push it over the bar for a corner.

In the 72^nd minute they could not have come any closer to equalising when first Harris saw shot deflect for a corner & from the resulting corner Elliott Bradbrook rose & headed goalwards only for Hattersley to head off the line.

Noble had another go in the 77^th minute but his curling effort went past the post, then in the 87^th minute Southport nearly got a second to win the game when Amadou Bakayoko in the area saw his low cross shot from an acute angle saved by Brown for a corner.

Time was running out for Dartford & in the 90^th minute Tom Bradbrook saw his overhead kick from 10 yards go past the post & with the  game going into time added on it looked like they would come up empty handed but football being like it is nothing surprises you & with Southport trying to run the time down they got their comeuppance when in the 5^th minute off added on time the ball was launched into the area where it was flicked on for Crawford in space & from 10yards he drilled the ball in & with no more time left as soon as Southport kicked off the final whistle went.

Tony Burman was a relieved man but proud of his players as in his words the players are now starting to believe in themselves & this week has seen two battling wins & a draw.

 

DARTFORD:

1. BROWN 2.T.BENDER   4. R.McAULEY  5. E.BRADBROOK   6. M.CORNHILL (86)  7. R.HAYES  8. L.NOBLE
2. D.HARRIS (59) 16. P.SWEENEY 17. H.CRAWFORD 19. C.DRIVER ( DEBUT )

SUBS USED:   23.  T.BRADBROOK   9. L.DALEY

UNUSED SUBS: 29. B. DEMBELE  21. D.IBRAHIM   28. R.VINT

 

SOUTHPORT:

9. D.RAYA 3. D.FITZPATRICK 3. S.KAY  5. D.COLLINS  6. L.FOSTER   8. L.GEORGE  9. D.HATTERSLEY  15. J.CONNOR
10. P.RUTHERFORD 18. J.MARSDEN (75) 25. M.AUSTIN (63)

SUBS USED:  2.M.CHALLONER  21. A.BAKAYOKO (75)

BOOKINGS: 4. S.KAY (17)

 

REFEREE: Mr J.AMEY

ASSISTANTS: Mr D.APPLEBY & Mr C.PEARCE

4^TH OFFICIAL :  Mr P.YATES

ATTENDANCE: 1,163