Dartford bowed out of the F.A Trophy with defeat against fellow National League South rivals Chelmsford City, even though they had to play 45 minutes with 10 men as Alex Brown was sent off, but if you were watching you would have thought that Chelmsford were down to 10.
The game started very slowly with both teams giving the ball away & both defences were in charge, the first chance of the game came in the 15th minute when Luke Wanadio passed to Duane Ofari-Acheampong in the area & his quick Swivel & shot from 15 yards forced Ross Fitzsimmons to push it over the bar & from the resulting corner Elliot Bradbrook on the far post saw his header save by Fitzsimmons.
The game went into a lull with both teams trying to force the pace but giving the ball away. In the 31st minute a Lee Noble corner to the near post saw Andy Pugh’s flicked header saved by Fitzsimmons.
Three minutes later Chelmsford had their first half chance when Chris Dickson wide on the right saw his shot from 15 yards go fizzing across the area just going past the far post.
The game then went quiet until the first minute off added on time when Alex Brown trying to get to the ball before Anthony Church went in high & caught him on the shoulder as he tried to head it & then all hell let loose has both sets of players charged in & handbags entailed, the referee sent Brown off & then booked Christopher Bush, Matt Young & Keaton Wood for their part in the melee.
The second half saw Dartford take the game to Chelmsford but Chelmsford relied on breakaways to get that second goal that would definitely win it for them.
In the 62nd minute Wood challenged a defender in the area & the ball rebounded to Wanadio who from 6 yards saw his shot blocked for a corner.
Six minutes later a noble free kick into the area saw Acheampong send his header just past the post from 8 yards. Chelmsford finally made the breakthrough in the 71st minute when a corner to the back post was headed goalwards by Church & Dickson 2 yards out swung & shot into the net.
Dartford now had to really go for it but being one man down they would get tired & Chelmsford would try & pick them off, in the 86th minute Robbie Wilmott on the left saw his low cross find Max Cornwall & from 8 yards out on his own he blasted his shot over the bar.
Two minutes later Willmott again on the left passed to Dickson who passed to Cornwall in the area & his shot from 10 yards was saved by Deren Ibrahim.
The final whistle went & Chelmsford celebrated with their fans whilst Dartford trooped off knowing they had given their all but just lacked in the final part of the pitch but with 10 men they ran themselves ragged & had forced Chelmsford to scrap for this win but now it is back to the bread & butter of the League with Weston Super-Mare coming to Prices Park on Tuesday night.
DARTFORD:
- IBRAHIM 2. K.WOOD 3. T.WYNTER 4. T.BONNER 5. R.VINT (78) 6. A.BROWN 7. L.NOBLE 8. E.BRADBROOK 9. D.OFARI-ACHEAMPONG 10. A.PUGH (78) 11. L.WANADIO (88)
SUBS USED: 12. R.HAYES (78) 14. D.HARRIS (78) 15. BECKA-DAH DEMBELE (88)
SUBS NOT USED: 16. M.HABTE 17. T.COXALL
BOOKINGS: 2. K.WOOD (45+1) 5. R.VINT (75)
SENT OFF: 6. A.BROWN (45+1)
CHELMSFORD CITY:
- FITZSIMMONS 2. A.MILLER 3. M.YOUNG 4. M.CORNHILL 5. C.BUSH 6. M.HAINES 7. R.WILLMOTT 8. A.CHURCH 9. S.JEFFERS (61) 10. C.DICKSON (90) 11. B.GRAHAM (69)
SUBS USED: 14. P.ROBERTS (61) 16. L.DALEY (69) 12. J.REES (90)
SUBS NOT USED: 15. M.PORTER 18. D.BLANCHETT
BOOKINGS: 3. M.YOUNG (45+1) 5. C.BUSH (45+1)
REFEREE: Mr C.HICKS
ASSISTANTS: Mr P.LISTER & Mr C.WICKS
4TH OFFICIAL: Mr I.SEARLE
ATTENDANCE: 918
