Dartford broke a run of three successive League defeats in dramatic fashion as a delightful Ryan Hayes curler rescued a point against 10-man Hemel Hempstead Town.
For long periods Dartford struggled to cope with the movement of the Hemel players, and despite a promising opening, trailed 2-0 at the interval.
The Tudors’ were reduced to 10 men just 6 minutes after the interval, somewhat harshly as there seemed to be a covering defender, and when Danny Harris converted on 53, it looked as though the comeback could be on. However, it took until stoppage time for the equaliser, with Hayes’ trusty left foot delivering a crucial point.
An open first half saw chances aplenty at both ends, and possibly a more confident Dartford side may have troubled the scoreboard. As it was neither side looked comfortable defending and maybe the biggest surprise was that only two goals were scored.
Hemel came close in the 6th minute though Oliver Hawkins, who powered a header against Deren Ibrahim’s legs and by the 10th minute, Jack Smith had two freekicks from 30 yards skim over the Dartford goal.
The Darts had their best spell of the half, creating three chances in as many minutes. First Tom Bradbrook escaped the Tudors’ defence but his touch to round Jamie Butler was too heavy. Bradbrook was able to square the ball across the box to Ryan Hayes, whose sidefoot effort was skied over the stand.
Moments later, from the goalkick, Callum McNaughton’s header dropped behind the Hemel defence into the path of Danny Harris, but his shot flew over. Then Hayes skipped in to capitalise on Ben Herd’s loose touch to drive into the area, but Hayes’ cultured curling shot found the left hand post with no-one following up.
Hemel took the lead on 17 as Dartford’s defensive frailties were exposed. Jamal Lowe weaved through three weak challenges and cut a shot back past Ibrahim that rebounded from the left post, where late replacement Wilfried Gnahore was on hand to tap in before the defence could react.
The visitors then hit the angle of post & bar from a 35-yard Herd freekick and Tom Bradbrook headed over from a Hayes cross, but the Darts were getting increasingly frustrated with decisions from the officials leading to both Elliot Bradbrook and Lee Noble picking up cautions before the interval.
Hayes had a deflected shot pushed away by Tudors’ goalkeeper Butler, before the visitors doubled their lead on 41. The Darts defence seemed unwilling to put in a challenge inside their area as Lowe tricked his way to the byline. His pull back was touched into the path of Noor Husin, who drove a powerful shot past Ibrahim before the keeper could react.
Boos rang out around Princes Park at the interval, but it was the visitors who were showing their displeasure at the start of the second. A long punt forward saw a clash between Danny Harris and Ed Oshodi just outside the box, with the Tudors’ defender being dismissed as the last defender.
Dartford couldn’t take advantage from the freekick, but did get back into the game on 53. Tom Bradbrook picked up a crossfield ball on the left wing and squared for Harris to coolly slot his first time shot past Butler.
Even with ten men, Hemel Hempstead were able to frustrate, moving the ball around confidently. Both Hawkins and Herd fired shots at Ibrahim, with Dartford seemingly lacking composure and resorting more to the long ball to get upfield.
One such delivery did allow Harris to outmuscle Terrell Forbes, setting up Hayes whose deep cross found Tom Bradbrook, but once again the forward’s header was glanced off target. Bradbrook also had a shot blocked a point-blank range by Butler, which led to a second injury break in the half.
The visitors brought forward Hawkins into the back line to counter the long ball threat, and even with his presence, Tom Bradbrook finally managed a header on target as the Darts threw men forward. Barry Cogan was denied by the green wall that Hemel mounted across the 18-yard line – Hempstead’s change shirts being an unusual (shocking!) mixture of greens!
As the board went up to show 5 minutes of stoppage time, the Hemel back-line was finally breached by another long ball. George Sykes worked the ball free in midfield, releasing Harris on the left wing. Harris did well to pick out Hayes coming in off the right wing, and Hayes took a moment to measure a curling shot in off the left hand upright to send the home support wild.
In spite of the recent murmurings of discontent in the past couple of weeks, Tony Burman was quick to acknowledge the support for his side, saying “I know there’s been some criticism, but there’s nothing like a noisy crowd here. We need them. If there is criticism, I hope it can be constructive, but during the game, let’s just support the side and give 100%.”
“We’ve had the first three chances with one coming off the post, and then we’ve found ourselves 2-0 down. It’s daunting when you’re behind at half time and we gave ourselves a mountain to climb, but full credit to my players for coming back into it. I’m pleased that we earned the right to come back into the game because the supporters really got behind the team today.”
DARTFORD: Deren Ibrahim, Ronnie Vint, Mark Onyemah, Tom Wynter, Callum McNaughton, Lee Noble (Barry Cogan 59), Ryan Hayes, Elliot Bradbrook, Tom Bradbrook (George Sykes 84), Danny Harris, Jack Simmons (Andy Pugh 84).
Subs not used: Ebrima Adams, Becka-Kah Dembele.
Goals: Danny Harris 53, Ryan Hayes 90+1.
Bookings: Elliot Bradbrook 27, Lee Noble 29.
HEMEL HEMPSTEAD TOWN: Jamie Butler, Ben Herd, Kyle Connolly, Matty Harriott, Ed Oshodi, Wifried Gnahore (Josh Hill 54), James Potton (Terrell Forbes 64), Jack Smith, Oliver Hawkins, Noor Husin (Mo Swariff 81), Jamal Lowe.
Subs not used: Xavier Comas Leon, Dennis Oli.
Goals: Wilfried Gnahore 17, Noor Husin 41.
Booking: Oliver Hawkins 88.
Red Card: Ed Oshodi 51.
Attendance: 844
Referee: Mr Lee Venamore
Assistants: Mr Ricky Adams and Mr Matthew Goldsmith