Dartford played host to Sutton United looking to make it two wins in a week after their narrow victory at home to Eastbourne on Tuesday.
The visitors were also looking for back to back wins after their opening day defeat against Maidstone United was followed up by a good win on the road at Havant & Waterlooville.
Dartford started with the same eleven that dispatched Eastbourne on Tuesday whilst the visitors made two changes to their side with Jamie Collins and Stuart Fleetwood coming into the side.
After a sluggish start by both sides with little excitement, Dartford took the lead with their first attack. After Ryan Hayes was fouled by Dan Wishart by the corner flag, Hayes preceding free kick eluded everyone as Tom Bradbrook was to head home his second goal of the season at the far post to give the Darts a 14th minute lead.
The goal kicked the game into life and the visitors were unlucky not to equalize three minutes later. A corner from the right was headed out to Shaun Cooper whose shot was cleared off the line by Eliot Bradbrook. This was the first of a flurry of good chances for the visitors. Micky Spillane missing a header from 8 yards out from Dan Fitchett’s cross the closest they came to getting a quick equalizer.
In the 29th minute, the game kicked off for the wrong reasons. After a free kick had been given for a push on Sutton goalkeeper Ross Worner, Jack Simmons didn’t give the ball back quickly enough, causing a 10 man brawl which ended up with Tom Bradbrook and Stuart Fleetwood getting booked.
A minute later, The Darts should have gone two up, Jack Simmons’ cross eventually came across to Ryan Hayes in acres of space but Dan Wishart recovered to block just in time, the block fell to Lee Noble whose shot was saved well by Worner at his near post.
The visitors got their equalizer on 35 minutes, a melee of bodies in the penalty area, eventually ended up with Micky Spillane smashing home past Ibrahim. The goal made an already feisty game even feistier with Lee Noble the next going down under a heavy challenge. The referee gave the free kick to the shock of the away dug out who could clearly see the referee was looking the other way at the time.
With all the fighting going on and elbows flying everywhere, some good football appeared, the Bradbrook brothers linking up well for Eliot to shoot just over before Fleetwood shot over for the visitors seconds later. As we approached half time, Ryan Hayes clipped in from the right for Andy Pugh but on the stretch he dragged his shot wide of the target to ensure the sides went in level at half time.
Sutton started the second half the brighter of the two sides and Glen Southam should have done better from a free kick on 49, curling an effort comfortably over the bar before the home side began to get back into the game with Eliot Bradbrook flicking a header just wide from a Noble free kick as we reached 50 minutes.
Eliot Bradbrook forced Worner into the first save of the second half on 55 minutes, his speculative left footed shot from full on 35 yards, nicked a Sutton leg on the way through and was heading for the bottom corner until Worner palmed it away and away from danger.
A goal seemed to be coming for the home side as Jack Simmons headed a free kick onto the post before Noble caused a finger tip save from the edge of the area. In a flurry of attacks, Tom Bradbrook also had a back post header cleared off the line as we went past the hour mark.
Dartford took the lead in the 68th minute in very strange circumstances, a short back pass from Jamie Collins made Tom Bradbrook interested enough to chase it down. Ross Worner’s clearance flew directly into Tom Bradbrook’s face and ricocheted into the back of the net for one of the most bizarre goals seen at Princes Park. The goal led to Bradbrook having to leave the pitch with a suspected concussion as he was replaced by George Sykes.
The Darts really should have made it three with 15 minutes to go, Hayes’ free kick found Eliot Bradbrook around the back and he squared across the goalmouth for Jack Simmons to tap home. Somehow, Glen Southam dived full length to deflect it over the bar. Southam was suddenly in the thick of the action at the other end, forcing Ibrahim into a full length save from a left foot volley from the inside left channel.
Sub Sykes could have made it three for the hosts with 10 minutes remaining when Simmons pull back found him in space 12 yards out. Sykes shot was smothered at the second attempt by Worner. The Darts were made to pay for their wayward finishing with 4 minutes to go when Jamie Collins equalized with a flick header into the far corner after Hippolyte-Patrick, had beaten two players and crossed a delightful ball in with his first touches after coming on as a substitute.
The Darts should have had a penalty a minute later when George Sykes was smuggled to the floor by Dean Beckwith but the referee waved away any protests. Sykes should have scored with the next attack but his flick header flew inches wide of the left hand post. With the last kick of the game, Ross Worner made a wonderful save to deny Lee Noble a last minute winner, diving full length to tip the ball away from the top corner.
In the end, both sides had to settle for a point as both teams move onto 4 points for the season, This was a great advert for National League South football with entertainment aplenty.
Dartford: Ibrahim, Vint, Onyemah, Gardiner, Mcnaughton, Noble, Hayes, E Bradbrook ©, T Bradbrook (Sykes 70), Pugh, Simmons.
Subs not used: Cogan, Dembele, Adams, Hamilton
Bookings: T Bradbrook 29, Noble 49
Sutton utd: Worner, Spence (Hippolyte-Patrick 80), Wishart, Beckwith, Cooper, Collins, Spillane, Southam, Dundas( Bolarinwa 64), Fitchett ( Stearn 57), Fleetwood.
Subs not used: Anderson, Shaw
Bookings: Fleetwood 29, Stearn 76
Referee: Mr Leach
Attendance:910