Dartford survived an early second half comeback to beat Havant & Waterlooville on Saturday afternoon.
Two goals from Dan Strugnell and Matt Paterson had cancelled out Elliot Bradbrook’s penalty and Danny Harris goals for the Darts before Dartford supremacy finally shone through with two superb second half strikes from Ebrima Adams and another from Elliot Bradbrook gave the home side the win they richly deserved.
Dartford hosted relegation threatened Havant at Princes Park on Saturday. The 14th placed home side looked to continue their recent good form after being unbeaten in their previous 5 league games, hopefully going one better than a draw last time out in the league.
The visitors however were looking to avoid a 3rd straight away defeat having conceded 3 times in defeats to Sutton United and Weston Super Mare.
The visitors started brightly within the opening minute, with Ben Swallow forcing his way through down the right to shoot which Ibrahim uncertainly pushed behind for an early corner.
Dartford responded well with the wind behind them with a Lee Noble corner nearly catching the keeper out. In an open first 5 minutes, Scott Donnelly rolled in Martin Paterson with a cute through ball which forced Ibrahim into another early save with the striker not doing as well as perhaps he should have done with the shot.
After 19 minutes, a slip when clearing from the Havant keeper Ryan Young meant his clearance only fell as far as Cogan in the centre circle , he fed the ball out wide to Ryan Hayes who ran at the full back before curling a left footed effort inches wide of the right hand post.
Dartford took the lead in the 25th minute from the penalty spot. Ryan Hayes was fed by Cogan out on the right and Hayes’ cross was blocked by Molyneaux with his hand in the box, leaving the referee little option but to point to the spot. After the wind prolonged the taking of the penalty, Elliot Bradbrook stepped up and fired home left footed low to the keeper’s left.
Dartford were now on top, Ryan Hayes and Tom Gardiner combining down the right for Gardiner’s low cross to eventually find Cogan 10 yards out who shot narrowly over the top 3 minutes after the goal as the hosts tried to extend the lead.
Cogan was to go close again after a sublime piece of individual skill, flicking the ball over the defender from Hayes quick throw in and having a left foot volley tipped over the bar from 12 yards out.
Havant were still posing a threat however with Matt Paterson shooting narrowly wide after Godfrey Poku slipped him through. Nic Ciardini also forcing Ibrahim to tip over from a left foot shot 25 yards out.
As we approached half time, Dartford should have extended their lead. Noble’s inswinging free kick from the left was met by the foot of Pugh at the near post 5 yards out. His volley somehow went straight into the gloves of the Havant keeper when it seemed easier to score.
Dartford did add a second before half time, Elliot Bradbrook header from Ryan Hayes corner causing all sorts of havoc and ricochet before it fell to Danny Harris to swivel home from inside the 6 yard box to give the Darts a healthy half time advantage.
Dartford started the second half sloppily and conceded after 49 minutes. A left wing free kick from Ben Swallow was bundled in from close to the line by the unmarked Dan Strugnell to give the visitors hope of a comeback.
A minute later, after more defensive vulnerability from the Darts, Ibrahim was forced into a superb save to prevent James Hayter from scoring. Havant took advantage 2 minutes later and equalized when Matt Paterson tapped home after Ibrahim could only parry Scott Donnelly’s rasping drive into his path.
In a remarkable opening 10 minutes of the half, Dartford went back in front on 55 minutes. Danny Harris laid the ball off to Elliot Bradbrook to drive a sumptuous left foot strike into the bottom left corner which left the keeper rooted to the spot.
The Dartford defence were static again 4 minutes later, Brian Stock being left alone in the box to head over from 8 yards out from another Ben Swallow free kick as the wind helped the away side once more.
Dartford restored their two goal lead on 66 minutes. Noble brought the ball down well before laying off to sub Ebrima Adams striding forward.
The defence seemed to part as Adams drove forward and toe poked into the bottom right corner from the edge of the box.
In a second half where defending was at a premium, Havant almost scored again from the kick off, Paterson shooting over before Donnelly forced Ibrahim into a comfortable save from a free kick 25 yards out.
With just over 15 minutes remaining, Dartford nearly made it five. Good play down the left from Harris and Bradbrook led to Lee Noble breaking through to shoot.
Noble tried to give the keeper the eyes and fire into the near post instead of far but the keeper did well to save low to his right and prevent the corner.
The Darts strolled through the rest of the game with ease keeping the away side pegged back or launching long balls into the Dartford half as the home side made it another game unbeaten.
Dartford: Ibrahim, Gardiner ( Burns 79), Onyemah, Vint, Mcnaughton, Noble, Hayes ( Wynter 85), E Bradbrook ©, Pugh, Cogan (Adams 54), Harris
Subs not used: T Bradbrook, Simmons,
Yellow card: E Bradbrook 78
Havant & Waterlooville: Young, Strugnell, Ciardini. Stock ©, Molyneaux ( Medway 70), Mccarthy, Swallow ( Mullings 81), Donnelly, Paterson, Hayter, Poku
Subs not used: Blanchett, Thomson, Morgan
Referee: Mr Da costa
Attendance: 738