Dartford’s final pre-season game ended with a defeat, as a stubborn and organised Boreham Wood side scored two late goals courtesy of substitute Charles Clayden.
As 477 supporters braved the humid and hot weather at Bericote Powerhouse Princes Park, both teams put on a spirited effort in what seemed to be heading towards a 0-0 stalemate.
But despite the hosts’ sterling efforts, it was Ross Jenkins’ Boreham Wood side that looked the more likely to score.
The visitors created the first meaningful opportunity in the 7th minute, when the lively and quick Erico Sousa danced his way into the Dartford box. With a little bit of fortune going his way following an initial challenge, Sousa found Lee Ndlovu in a good position, only for the excellent Luther Williams deny the striker with a superb block.
Dartford skipper, Josh Hill, then stood strong to thwart Gus Mafuta from testing Jacob Marsden (10), before the hosts created a good opportunity themselves after fifteen minutes… Callum Jones and Ben Allen combined well, before the latter fired narrowly wide of Nathan Ashmore’s upright.
Ady Pennock’s game-plan took a hit when Jacob Marsden pulled up with an injury in the 31st minute. The Dartford number one was unable to continue, so young Academy goalkeeper Josh Atkinson entered the field to replace him, and what a good job he did between the sticks too.
Despite the visitors dominating for long periods of the half, the organised Dartford defence held firm to prevent any real threat. In fact, it was the hosts who had the best opportunity of the half when Ben Allen was brought down inside the Wood box.
Callum Jones stepped up to take the spot-kick, but Nathan Ashmore was equal to it (45) and the deadlock remained firmly intact.
The start of the second-half saw Ady swap Trialist #16 with George Whitefield (46), and the Dartford boss would go on to make use of all his available substitutions this afternoon. A triple swap took place in the 72nd minute when Josh Hill, Callum Jones, and Jeremiah Pinder made way for Dean Nayler, Ashdon Day, and Joseph Kpaka. And the final changes saw Gabe Campbell and Blu Husthwaite come on for Sam Odaudu and Tyler Christian-Law with nine minutes remaining.
Returning to the action, the state of play was similar to the first forty-five. However, the Darts did venture forward with intent more often, and they had a glorious opportunity to take the lead in the 62nd minute…
Jeremiah Pinder intercepted Nathan Ashmore’s clearance, before racing into the Boreham Wood box and unleashing a pyledriver towards goal. But, Ashmore somehow got a palm to it to push the ball behind for a corner!
At the other end, Erico Sousa was denied by excellent blocks by George Whitefield (65) and Luther Williams (79), before the deadlock was finally broken in the 88th minute via substitute Charles Clayden, who smashed the ball home following a corner.
One became two literally seconds later, when Clayden netted again. The Wood pounced to steal the ball from their hosts straight from the restart to secure the victory (89), after having finally broken Dartford’s resilience.
TEAMS
DARTFORD: Jacob Marsden, Sam Odaudu, Josh Hill (c), Callum Jones, Denzelle Olopade, Ben Allen, Trialist #16, Luther Williams, Trialist #18, Tyler Christian-Law, Jeremiah Pinder.
SUBSTITUTES: George Whitefield, Dean Nayler, Ashdon Day, Josh Atkinson, Joseph Kpaka, Blu Husthwaite, Gabe Campbell.
BOREHAM WOOD: Nathan Ashmore, Jack Payne (c), Chris Bush, David Agbontohoma, Lee Ndlovu, Tyrone Marsh, Johnny Goddard, Josh Hare, Charlie O’Connell, Erico Sousa, Gus Mafuta.
SUBSTITUTES: Femi Ilesanmi, Tom Whelan, Mo Sagaf, Adam Morley, Charles Clayden, Junior Dixon, Abdul Abdulmalik, Daniel Isaac.
Chris Palmer
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