Dartford cemented their play-off place with a well earned win over opponents who earlier in the season beat them easily, so now it’s wondering who they will play.
Dartford won their 15th game at home & in the first half they dominated while in the second they lost control for 20 minutes but once they got the third the result & three points were won.
Dartford started the game fast as in the 7th minute they took the lead when Ryan Hayes Tackled Sam Gallagher went forward passed to Duane Ofori-Acheampong whose first time shot from 10 yards was pushed out by Sam Howes but only to Elliot Bradbrook whose first time shot deflected into the net.
Hampton had their first half chance in the 13th minute when Christian Jolley saw Deren Ibrahim off his line & tried to chip him but Ibrahim was able to catch it.
Six minutes later Hayes passed out wide for Andy Pugh whose low cross was flicked goal wards by Ofari-Acheampong but Howes saved it.
A minute later & Hampton had the chance to equalise when they were awarded a penalty & in the programme notes it stated that Michael Kamara often took a mean penalty but this time wasn’t the occasion as he blasted it well over the bar.
Two minutes later & they nearly doubled the score when Luke Wanadio on the left beat Kamara went into the area & saw his shot parried away by Howes but to Bradbrook who was just about to knock it into the net when the whistle went for offside.
In the 24th minute Hayes on the right ran forward teasing the defenders went inside & saw his curling effort from 20 yards just go past the post. In the 29th minute Dartford did double their lead when Pugh on the right wing received the ball then passed inside to Hayes who then squared it for Alex Brown who from 20 yards smashed the ball into the net leaving Howes grasping for air.
Hampton were now trying to keep the score down & relying on breaks & in the 40th minute Substitute Charlie Hippolyte-Patrick saw his curling effort from 20 yards beat Ibrahim but not the post.
On half time another chance came to increase their lead when Danny Harris crossed into the area which was punched clear by Howes but only to Brown who from 20 yards saw his shot just go past the post.
The second half started in reverse of the first as Hampton came out the quicker & in the 54th minute they got a goal back when Jolley on the right got to the by-line & his cross into the area was headed in from 10 yards by ex Dart Nathan Collier.
This startled Dartford but they got back into the game as in the 57th minute Hayes saw his cross shot pushed over the bar by Howes & two minutes later Bradbrook in the middle of the park passed to Pugh who turned quickly & shot just wide.
Hampton were winning the game on possession so far in this half but could not get the equaliser, in the 62nd minute a corner to the back post found Joe Hicks who on his own from 15 yards headed wide of the far post, this would be their last chance & in the 76th minute Dartford won the game when Hayes who had been a constant menace to Hampton saw his cross deflected into the path of Ronnie Vint who from 6 yards volleyed in.
Three minutes later a long ball down the right saw Pugh chase it down & his low cross found Wanadio but his flicked shot was cleared & in the 80th minute a cross into the area was chested goal wards by Keaton Woods 3 yards out but Howes saved it.
The final whistle went & Dartford new they had achieved what they had stated at the start of the season.
DARTFORD:
- IBRAHIM 2. D.HARRIS (67) 3. T.WYNTER 4. T.BONNER 5. R.VINT 6. A.BROWN 7. R.HAYES 8. E.BRADBROOK 9. D.OFARI-ACHEAMPONG (86) 10. A.PUGH (86) 11. L.WANADIO
SUBS USED: 16. K.WOOD (67) 12. L.NOBLE (86) 15. A.PAVEY (86)
SUBS NOT USED: 14. T.MURPHY 17. T.COXALL
BOOKINGS: NONE
HAMPTON & RICHMOND BOROUGH:
- HOWES 2. M.KAMARA 3. S.GALLAGHER (17) 4. J.GASSON 5. K.MURPHY 6. J.HICKS 7. J.OSEI (86) 8. C.JOLLEY 9. N.COLLIER 10. H.ODAMETEY (36) 11. S.HIPPOLYTE-PATRICK
SUBS USED: 15. S.RIVIC (17) 12. C.TEN-GROTRNHUIS (36) 16. H.LIVINGSTONE (86)
SUBS NOT USED: 13. R.BISHOP 14. Y.OLALADE
BOOKINGS: 8. C.JOLLEY (43) 6. J.HICKS (69
REFEREE: Mr L.WOOD
ASSISTANTS: Mr R.CLAUSSEN & Mr J.GRAY
ATTENDANCE: 1,101