Dartford avoided a Halloween Weston-super-Nightmare when claiming the three points that moved them into the top half of the table.
However, it was not as straightforward as the scoreline suggested. Had Weston converted their penalty when one-nil up, there might have been a different outcome. Football is full of ‘what ifs’ though, and the Darts made the most of their opportunity.
After a bright start in which Paul Rooney shot wide and Maxwell Statham fired over, the Darts struggled with Weston’s slick passing. Rueben Reid shot just wide from just inside the Dartford half with goalkeeper Mitchell Beeney struggling. Robbie Wilmott was then found unmarked on the edge of the area but Beeney made himself big to block.
Harvey Bradbury drew a good save out of Weston goalkeeper Harrisson Lee before a quick Weston passing movement sent Opanin Edwards away. He fired across Beeney but also beyond the far post.
Midway through the first half, Weston drew first blood. Having zipped their passes around it was a long ball that caused Dartford problems. Reid lost his marker and went past Beeney before finishing from a tight angle with two defenders on the line.
Then came the big moment as Weston went for the jugular. Reid got goal-side of Joash Nembhard in the area and the Dartford centre back brought him down. Reid took the spot kick himself but Beeney went the right way and made a good low save.
Rooney thought that he had levelled soon after when firing home from Lewis Manor’s knockdown but the referee had spotted an infringement and ruled it out. However, Dartford did level six minutes before the break. A Weston corner was cleared and Luke Coulson went on a lung busting run down the left. He remained composed and laid it into the path of Rooney who made no mistake from the edge of the area,
One more chance went Weston’s way before the break when Lloyd Humphries headed over from Robbie Wilmott’s free kick.
Just as they had in the first half, Dartford started the second period brightly and they went ahead two minutes in. Lewis Manor was tripped by Kieran Thomas in the box and Coulsdon converted via the underside of the bar.
Dayle Grubb hit a grubber that Beeney saved comfortable as Weston continued to probe. James Morton and Luke Pearce both had shots deflected wide before the same two Weston players combined but Pearce shot just beyond the far post.
On the break, Dartford extended their lead. Coulsden sent Harvey Bradbury through and he chipped towards the far post. Although it looked as if it might have gone in on its own, Substitute Alex Wall made sure by bundling it home.
Morton shot over and Rex Mannings fired wide but it was Dartford who scored again with five minutes remaining. Baris Altintop crossed and Wall’s clever flick beat Lee.
Humphries headed over before Weston scored a consolation through a good finish by Pearce.
There was still time for Wall to be dismissed for a second innocuous looking offence but it was far too late to make a difference.
Goalscorers: Rooney (39), Coulson pen (47), Wall (69), (85).
Yellow cards: Bradbury, Wall, Nembhard, Beeney
Red card: Wall (90+5)
Weston-super-Mare: Lee, Bastin, Thomas, Cane, Humphries, Pope, Willmott, Morton, Reid (Pearce 53), Grubb, Edwards (Mannings 52). Subs not used: Purnell, Avery, Roddy.
Goalscorers: Reid (23), Pearce (90+4)
Yellow cards: None
Referee: Robert Claussen
Assistants: Fabio Roque and Samuel Everitt
Attendance: 658