Kentish Football

Ashford Town (Middx) 0-1 Dartford - We've dug in and got a result after criticism, says Tony Burman

Saturday 15th January 2011
ASHFORD TOWN (MIDDLESEX)  0-1  DARTFORD
FA Carlsberg Trophy Second Round
Saturday 15th January 2011 
Mike Green reports from Short Lane

A solitary strike just before the hour from on-loan George Purcell was enough to fire Dartford into the last 16 of the FA Carlsberg Trophy for the first time in more than two decades.

To be fair though to Tony Burman's Blue Square Bet South strugglers, on a day when league results well and truly went against them, the Darts set about making Trophy progress and in the end were more than a match for their Zamaretto Central Division One hosts, and in truth had Charlie Sheringham (in the first half) and then substitute Ryan Hayes (in injury time at the end of the game) the result would have shown the degree of comfort by which Burman's side move into the last sixteen.

Naturally enough the Darts boss was a happy man after the game. “Yes I’m pleased as it was a win as we’re having a bit of a struggle as of late, and its not an easy place to come – indeed I’m sure a lot of people may have had us down as losing today,” Burman said. 

“Fair play though to my players – they’ve dug in and got a result! The team today was basically the eleven or twelve that we knew we could call on what with the suspensions and injuries. We’ve brought Jack Clark in on Thursday night who’s had a spell at Charlton and Braintree before signing for Cray a couple of weeks ago. And I’d like to thank Jenko (Ian Jenkins, the Cray boss) for helping us out. 

“Jack wasn’t cup tied and he’s been sitting on Cray’s bench and he’s come in and done a great job for us today. We’ve signed Jack on our forms but he’ll probably be with Cray tomorrow (home game vs. AFC Hornchurch) on their bench. 

“But I can’t thank Cray enough as at the last minute they’ve helped me out and helped us balance out at the back! To come in and not know anybody and be that good on the ball - he’s done all right!”

Whilst the manager obviously didn’t want to go too far with the praise for his young left back, allow us too – Clark was outstanding, and when you consider that for long periods of the game he was facing Isaiah Rankin (10 different professional clubs before his venture into Non League) and he hardly gave the old professional a kick added to the understanding that he’s already developed with the out of position Purcell down the left, the future is certainly bright for the young man and for the Darts if Burman can keep him. 

It will be interesting to see what the Darts boss does when his suspended players return in midweek for their home league game against Staines Town.

But whilst that signals the start of the Darts real battle to stay in Blue Square Bet South, this game was all about progress in the Trophy, and that was achieved you have to say with a fair degree of comfort. 

Indeed apart from one fizzing drive from Rankin just before half time and one fine block to deny Jones Anwah late on, Darts keeper Andy Young didn’t really have a shot to save. 

That said though the keeper and his make shift back line are to be hugely commended for the way that they stifled anything that the home side had to offer.

The Darts could have been in front on 13 minutes when Purcell crossed from the left only for home keeper Andray Baptiste to claw the ball away from Sheringham, and as the ball dropped Noble crashed in a shot that flew just over. 

The Darts then had two glorious opportunities to open the scoring – with both chances coming from Purcell free kicks and falling to the luckless Sheringham. First on 20 minutes Purcell’s vicious ball in from the right fell to Sheringham but the ball got stuck underneath the former Welling man’s feet and the chance was gone. 

Six minutes later he went even closer. Again its was Purcell’s free kick from the right and the ball bounced the box to Sheringham as with the goal at his mercy just as he was about to side foot the Darts into the lead, the ball took a horrid bounce and the shot clipped the bar instead of hitting the net.

Then came Rankin’s low drive which Young did very well to keep out at the other end as the home side came to life – Rankin made room for himself and fired in a low skidding shot which the Darts stopper did really well to keep the shot out.

On the stroke of half time, Darts went route one and came within inches of taking the lead. 

Young’s huge kick found Carl Rook (who lead the Darts line magnificently again) and his lay off fell to Sheringham who’s snap shot whistled inches past the right post.

The second half began in a similar fashion and finally the deadlock was broken on 58 minutes. Ryan Hayes, who had just been introduced to replace the hard working Adam Burchell, laid a great ball into Billy Burgess who’s first time lay back was left by Lee Noble and Purcell drove the ball beyond the reach of Baptiste and into the bottom corner.

Burman explained why he had left crowd hero Hayes out of his starting line up. “We left Ryan out because he’s been too inconsistent recently – he’ll be brilliant and set a goal up like today and then give the ball away 20 times,” the Darts boss explained, “but today he’s done great to set the goal up and then put two brilliant corners in the box that we should be absolutely murdering but he still gave the ball away too much for my liking.”

Asked about his match winner, Burman was naturally glowing. “George has hit with the swinger and we’ve just said to him, lets get the radar working – but he’s had a few strikes at goal that haven’t hit the target, but he’s done a hell of a job for me today on the left hand side. He’s had to play out there despite him being a front runner, but fair play to him, he’s done a fantastic job for us.”

Noble then saw a drive palmed away with the rebound headed clear of the onrushing Rook, whilst Hayes missed a golden opportunity to seal the game in stoppage time as he side footed wide after a fabulous interchange from Burns and Rook.

Not that it mattered in the end as the Darts are in the last 16 as Kent’s only representatives (following Ebbsfleet United’s defeat at Droylesden) and it left their manager a very happy and proud man. 

“We knew it would be a difficult place to come and we’ve come here and got a 1-0, but with no disrespect to Ashford we were ripe to be beat today, but we’ve come here and the players attitude has been first rate, and I’m pleased for them after what we’ve been through in the past few weeks,” said a beaming Burman. 

“They’ve taken a lot of criticism – from me included – and whilst this hasn’t papered over the cracks – we know that we’ve got things to do – it’s got us through to the last sixteen of the Trophy. So we must be doing something right this season!”

Ashford Town (Middlesex): Andray Baptiste, Martmas Butkus (Oscar Lubwana 76), Akwasi Edusei, Russ Canderton, Billy Jeffreys, Alain Behi, Jordan Kiffin, Luke Hickie, Jamie Lawrence, Isaiah Rankin, Jones Anwah.
Subs: Mark Bitmead, Spence Taffurrelli, Tom Kanen, Paul Burgess

Booked: Isaiah Rankin 57, Akwasi Edusei 77

Dartford: Andrew Young, Billy Burgess, Jack Clark, Paul Goodacre, Tom Bonner, Lee Noble, Adam Burchell (Ryan Hayes 57), Charlie Sheringham, Carl Rook, Lee Burns, George Purcell (Danny Harris 82).
Subs: Billy Eves, Jake Burman, Deren Ibrahim

Goal:  George Purcell 58

Booked: Tom Bonner 8

Attendance:  474
Referee: Mr Alun Davies (London N1)
Assistants: Mr Iain Parsons (Salisbury, Wiltshire) and Mr JW Scott (Buckingham, Buckinghamshire)








 

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