Dartford registered a first win of the pre-season, with a fine 3-1 success over Ashford United in front of 311 supporters at Bericote Powerhouse Princes Park.
The Isthmian League South East side made a good account of themselves though, and came agonisingly close to taking the lead as early as the fifth minute… An excellent free-kick beating Jacob Marsden, only to rattle the Dartford crossbar.
The hosts responded via Ben Allen, who eagerly spotted former Dartford shot-stopper Mitchell Beeney off his line. Unfortunately, his lobbed effort refused to drop down in time though (7).
The rebuilt Darts continued to press forward, and were rewarded for their efforts seven minutes later. Callum Jones was the provider, as his pass released Olly Box who duly edged his side ahead with a neat finish (14).
The visitors continued to stick to their game-plan, and they almost levelled ten minutes later after Trialist #9 committed a foul on the edge of the Dartford box. He received a yellow card for his trouble, before an Ashford player sent the set-piece straight into the path of a teammate, who smacked the crossbar with a powerful header (24)!
Dartford boss, Adrian Pennock was forced into an early substitution, as right wing-back Trialist #4 pulled up with an injury. He was duly replaced by Trialist #16… such is the nature of friendlies at this level (24).
For all their efforts though, Ashford found themselves two goals down eight minutes later when superb work by Ben Allen saw him win the ball back inside the visitors’ danger area. He then fed the ball to the excellent Jez Pinder, who then found Callum Jones with a delightful pass. And Jones? Well, he headed the ball home to double the Darts’ advanced (32).
Two almost became three in the 36th minute, when Pinder released Box with another lovely pass, but the latter couldn’t find the target on this occasion.
The start of the second-half saw Adrian Pennock swap Trialist #9 with George Whitefield. And as the half progressed, the boss would change his entire team with mostly Academy players and trialists. Notable names to come on included Denzelle Olopade, Ashdon Day, Dean Nayler, Ellis Procter, Joseph Kepka, and new signing Gabe Campbell… a 19-year-old winger who’d signed before the game.
Meanwhile, the visitors only had three substitutions available on their bench and, as information was limited this afternoon, only surnames were available unfortunately. First to come on was Adem, who replaced Stone in the 54th minute, before Collins made way for Carney (65).
As we return to the action, Sam Odaudu found Olly Box with a sweet cross, but Box couldn’t keep his header down (58). The lively forward was at it again for minutes later, where he danced through a few defenders in style before seeing his strike blocked and cleared (62).
George Whitefield then stepped up to thwart an Ashford attack, as they looked to get themselves back into the game. The resulting corner eventually ended up at the feet of Carney, who sent a curling drive narrowly wide of the upright (72).
Five minutes later saw Ashdon Day fire in a third goal for the hosts, after excellent work by Denzelle Olopade inside the Ashford box (77).
Yet, the visitors still ventured forward and came close in the 83rd minute when St Louis fired narrowly wide. They were rewarded for their efforts three minutes later, when the lively Carney slid in to reach a low cross and fire the ball into the back of the net (86).
However, try as they did, the goal proved to be no more than a consolation, as the young Dartford defence held firm until the end. In fact, Ashdon Day almost had the last laugh, only for him to see his fierce drive palmed away by a great save from Mitchell Beeney in the 90th minute.
TEAMS
DARTFORD: Jacob Marsden, Trialist #4, Sam Odaudu, Josh Hill (c), Callum Jones, Jez Pinder, Trialist #9, Ben Allen, Olly Box, Luther Williams, Tyler Christian-Law.
SUBSTITUTES: George Whitefield, Denzelle Olopade, Dean Nayler, Ashdon Day, Gabe Campbell, Trialist #16, Ellis Procter, Joseph Kepka, Blu Haithwae, Trialist #25.
ASHFORD UNITED: Beeney, Taylor, Dunne, Stone, Brefo, Berry, Saunders, Lockyer, Collins, St Louis, Martin.
SUBSTITUTES: Adem, Walsh, Carney.
Chris Palmer
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