Dartford returned to winning ways, after a fourteen minute blitz during the first-half obliterated a lacklustre Torquay United. With recent results putting additional pressure on manager Alan Dowson, the recent loan signings of George Alexander (from Bromley) and Richard Chin (from Charlton Athletic) lifted the mood inside Bericote Powerhouse Princes Park. Yet, even the 1,101 […]
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Dartford returned to winning ways, after a fourteen minute blitz during the first-half obliterated a lacklustre Torquay United.
With recent results putting additional pressure on manager Alan Dowson, the recent loan signings of George Alexander (from Bromley) and Richard Chin (from Charlton Athletic) lifted the mood inside Bericote Powerhouse Princes Park. Yet, even the 1,101 supporters who’d braved the cold temperatures surely wouldn’t have expected what was to come.
And, the fast-starting Darts looked rejuvenated out on the pitch, as they played with a lovely combination of pace and fluidity. New signing, George Alexander, made his intentions clear when his 7th minute header was saved by Torquay goalkeeper Rhys Lovett.
The hosts looked dominant, but the Torquay pair of Bradley Ash and Theo Williams looked rather lively at the other end as well. However, they failed to offer any serious threat to Ryan Sandford, as the shot-stopper collected his first clean sheet for Dartford. Theo Williams, in particular, was guilty of missing a golden opportunity when one-on-one with the goalkeeper in the 22nd minute.
When the opening goal did arrive, it was one of exceptional quality too, as Richard Chin received the ball just inside the Torquay box, before sending a delightful curling drive into the top corner (32).
If that didn’t shock the visitors, then the second goal certainly did! George Alexander rattling in an unstoppable piledriver, after some excellent foot-work took two defenders out of the game (31).
The Darts still weren’t finished, though and, as Luke Coulson found Moussa Diarra inside the Torquay box with a sweet free-kick, the tall defender struck it on the volley to send the ball into the bottom corner with a minute of the half remaining.
The Gulls had an opportunity to pull one back before the break, after great work by Dillon De Silva. But, Theo Williams was guilty of an embarrassing miss once again, firing over the crossbar from close-range (45).
The visitors responded at the start of the second-half, by throwing on Lewis Collins and Jack Stubbs to replace Dylan Crowe and Dillon De Silva (46), before Ethon Archer came on for Theo Williams after 74 minutes.
Meanwhile, in the home dugout, Alan Dowson must have been delighted with the way his players were responding after Tuesday night’s defeat. He didn’t make his first swap in personnel until the 80th minute, when Brandon Barzey replaced the superb Richard Chin. That would be followed by Baris Altintop coming on for Sam Odaudu (85) and Luke Allen replacing Harvey Bradbury with two minutes remaining.
As we return to the action, the visitors were trying to make a game of this contest and Ryan Sandford was soon called into action after 51 minutes to save from Theo Williams.
But the Darts were in no mood for any generosity this afternoon, and came close to adding a fourth soon afterwards. George Alexander was unlucky to not add to his goal, as Rhys Lovett made the save (54), before another effort from the striker (after being set-up by Richard Chin) was somehow cleared off the Torquay goal-line (55)!
The visitors tried to rally, but a solid Dartford display meant that this result was never going to be in any doubt. In fact, it was the hosts that looked the more likely to add to their scoreline, as they well and truly clipped the Gulls’ wings.
Richard Chin’s performance saw him given the honour of a debut Man of The Match award, whilst Ryan Sandford will be delighted with his clean sheet. The result sees the Darts return to the top ten of the National League South table, just two points outside of the play-off places.
TEAMS
DARTFORD: Ryan Sandford, Jordan Wynter, Sam Odaudu, Tyrell Miller-Rodney, Luke Coulson (c), Maxwell Statham, George Alexander, Joash Nembhard, Harvey Bradbury, Richard Chin, Moussa Diarra.
SUBSTITUTES: Baris Altintop, Luke Allen, Alex Wall, Archie Woods, Brandon Barzey.
TORQUAY UNITED: Rhys Lovett, Dylan Crowe, Asa Hall (c), Brad Ash, Brett McGavin, Dillon De Silva, Theo Williams, Callum Dolan, Dean Moxey, Ollie Tomlinson, Ross Marshall.
SUBSTITUTES: Lewis Collins, Mark Halstead, Archie Harris, Jack Stubbs, Ethon Archer.
Chris Palmer
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