Dartford 2-1 Eastbourne Borough - I've got to be happy with two wins out of two, says Tony Burman

DARTFORD  2-1  EASTBOURNE BOROUGH
Blue Square Bet South
Tuesday 16^th August 2011
Mike Green reports from Princes Park Stadium

A thoroughly dominating performance saw Dartford maintain their 100% start to the season as Eastbourne Borough were despatched back to the Sussex coast a well beaten side.

Charlie Sheringham's third goal of the season already on 20 minutes followed by Adam Green's first for the club from all of a yard out secured Tony Burman's side the three points as they brushed aside the Sussex side. 

In truth, the visitors were somewhat flattered by the score line which was closer than it really should have been following sub Ethan Strevett's looping header which deceived the Darts defence in stoppage time.
 
Boss Tony Burman was a happy man after the game despite the disappointing finale to the game. 

"I've got to be happy with two wins out of two as the guys have worked really hard in both games although if I'm honest we could have been a bit more clinical in our finishing tonight and won by more" he said. 

"We said in the dressing room at half time that we were playing some nice football, yet nice football doesn't always win games.  We needed to start putting balls in the right areas instead of trying to play too pretty and I thought that we did that particularly in the first 20 minutes of the second half. 

“Chances came our way and should have been buried and the game should have been over three or four nil but it wasn't to be!  We conceded one late on when no one knew how long we were playing as the referee didn't give any indication of how much stoppage time we were playing - he played nearly five minutes but there was no board shown. 

“Having said that we conceded a bad goal and the players are a little bit upset about in there (in the dressing room) which if I'm honest I'm pleased that they are as it was a poor goal that we let in."
 
As early as the second minute, the Darts took the game to their visitors as Tom Champion's volley from the edge of the box brought a great block from Simon Jackson, even if the ball did loop over scrambling Eastbourne keeper Rikki Barnes and drop agonisingly wide of the right post. 

On 15 minutes, Richard Graham and Green showed just what a fine combination they could become down the Darts left as Graham released the full back to the edge of the box.  Green's low drive was well blocked by Eddie Hutchinson, but the ball rebounded to Jon Wallis who's low first time shot was deflected just wide.
 
Eastbourne briefly threatened when following Banks' long punt down field, Ben Watson, who worked tirelessly unrewarded up front, got away Paul Goodacre and forced Darts keeper Andy Young into a smart low save. 

It seemed to be the spur the Darts into life, and within sixty seconds they were in front. 

Graham skipped past two challenges down the left and sent over a fine cross for skipper Elliot Bradbrook to cushion the ball down for Sheringham who coolly swept home his third goal of the season from six yards - it really was truly simple goal but so brilliantly executed!
 
The Darts then proceed to pepper the Eastbourne goal without getting the second goal that their domination deserved - Ryan Hayes saw a shot saved at his near post by Banks; Tom Bonner was only denied by a fine defensive header as Graham's free kick flew across the box, before Wallis was only inches away from opening his Darts account with a vicious free kick that beat everyone and the back post. 

Yet despite all their dominance the Darts still only just had the one goal lead and they were so very nearly pegged back on the stroke of half time when Eastbourne sub and former Whitstable Town striker Ian Pulman with the goal almost at his mercy was only denied a shooting chance by a tremendous Bonner sliding tackle.
 
After the break, the Darts again upped the tempo and on 49 minutes shocking defending saw Graham burst through into the box, only for the Darts winger to miss control the ball at the wrong time and the chance was gone. 

But only as it turned out for three minutes!  Graham again left the Eastbourne defence in his wake as he jinked to the goal line, and his brilliant cross deceived Banks and saw Green completely unmarked at the back post to head home from all of a yard. 

Bonner then fired over from a corner on 57 minutes, before Graham and Hayes led a 3-on-2 break from an Eastbourne corner only for Graham's brilliantly weighted ball into Green's path saw the left back tragically mass control on the edge of the box allowing Banks to fall on the ball.
 
The game seemed to be meandering towards the inevitable conclusion - sub Lee Noble did his best to increase the Darts lead with a 30-yard pile driver that swerved and dipped inches over the Eastbourne bar. 

Then totally out of the blue, from a corner deep into stoppage time, Ethan Strevett's looping header totally bemused the Darts defence as it almost apologetically dropped over the line. 

There was a stunned silence around Princes Park, broken only by sounds of frustration from the Darts bench as manager Burman was far from happy about conceding what appeared to be such a soft goal. 

The Darts boss explained, "OK, the balls are new and fly a bit more than the old ones, and will take some getting used but I'm not going to use it as an excuse.  At the end of the day we've won the game with a good performance but some of the gloss was taken off by the goal that we've let in."
 
Winger Graham deservedly was voted Man of the Match for his continual teasing of the Eastbourne defence and drew praise too from his boss. 

"Richard Graham's been excellent since he's been here," Burman said, "but then so have the other two guys (Green and Jon Wallis) as well.  They've come in and settled in really well and they've got that ability on the ball and they've brought in experience that has helped the other players which I'm really pleased about.  

“There's obviously a long way to go but having said that its two wins and six points which is a great start."
 
Some of the Darts faithful were surprised when their heroes lined up with Sheringham ploughing a lone furrow up front, though Burman admitted that some thought had gone into the new formation. 

He said, "Playing just one up at home wasn't really a difficult decision after Saturday's 4-0 win at Weston Super Mare as we've now got a good engine in midfield and as long as they get up to support Charlie, then its working at the moment at least. 

“We tinkered with it a bit at the end of last season and now we're enjoying the benefits after winning our first two game this season.
 
"You've got to win games and how you win them is irreverent some times – it’s been a good start for us and be in again on Thursday as the boys are still trying to reach their individual fitness levels. 

“Having said that, I think the guys have worked really hard in the two games so far and we're now focused to get three more points against Hampton and Richmond on Saturday – it’s a tough start with so many games early on in the first 16 days but we know that we've got to get as many points as we can in that time. 

“It was little bit of a disappointing note to finish on tonight but having said that I'm more than happy with the two performances.  We've got no injury problems to report at the moment, but even if we did we've got the bench now where we can change things if we have to and if we can keep injury free we really do have a decent squad."
 
 
Dartford: Andrew Young, Matt Jones, Adam Green, Tom Bonner, Paul Goodacre, Tom Champion, Ryan Hayes (Danny Harris 72), Jon Wallis (Lee Noble 85), Charlie Sheringham (Lee Burns 79), Elliot Bradbrook, Richard Graham.
Subs: Ryan Cooper, Deren Ibrahim
 
Goals: Charlie Sheringham 20, Adam Green 53

Eastbourne Borough:  Rikki Banks, Darren Baker, Sonny Cobbs (Ian Pulman 35), Eddie Hutchinson (Ethan Strevett 79), Ollie Rowe, Gary Elphick, Steve Brinkhurst, Simon Johnson (Matt Smart 65), Ben Watson, Sam Cole, Matt Crabb.
Subs: Billy Medlock, Mark Norris

Booked:  Darren Baker 35

Goal: Ethan Strevett 90+4

Attendance: 1,140 
Referee: Mr Mike George
Assistants: Mr John Taafe and Mr Andrew Roberts