Dartford 2-1 Faversham Town - I was hoping to make a bit of history for the club, says Ray Turner

DARTFORD  2-1  FAVERSHAM TOWN
Kent Senior Cup Sponsored by Portablefloodlights.com First Round
Tuesday 18^th September 2012
Stephen McCartney reports from Princes Park Stadium

DARTFORD boss Tony Burman says he is once again treating the Kent Senior Cup with respect it deserves after fielding a strong side to maintain the club’s impressive 112-year unbeaten record over Faversham Town.



The Darts boss made seven changes to his side that thrashed relegated Hereford United 4-0 here at the weekend, a result that puts the club in the top six in the Blue Square Bet (Conference) Premier with 15 points from nine games.

Burman did, however, hand first-team debuts to third-year 18-year-old Academy prospects, goalkeeper Stevie Sutton and left-winger Jay Porter, while Lee Martin and George Monger  (both 18) came off the bench.

Faversham Town made half-a-dozen changes to their side that scraped past AFC Sudbury 1-0 in the FA Carlsberg Trophy Preliminary Round.

Dartford, who played at a low tempo throughout, had a comfortable 2-0 lead at the break courtesy of two goals from striker right-winger Nathan Collier, but Faversham Town threw away their shackles during an impressive second half display and were rewarded when much-travelled, 33-year-old striker Danny Hockton produced a quality finish nine minutes into the second half.

Burman who saw his side lose 1-0 to Hythe Town in last season’s final, got exactly what he wanted out of this first round tie and can now look forward to a trip to either Margate or Sittingbourne in the Second Round.

Burman, 54, said: “In all honesty, we were 2-0 up playing reasonably well in the first half.  We went to sleep a little bit in the second half but having said that it’s a game and it’s given people who have been on the bench 90 minutes and it’s given me an opportunity to look at one or two younger lads from the Academy.

“I was desperate to get some of the players that have been on the bench 90 minutes, which I was pleased about. 

“Second half we went to sleep a little bit and we should have probably increased the lead and we didn’t do so. It’s one of those things, but having said that it’s a decent game for us to have.”

Faversham Town boss Ray Turner, 38, added: “We’re not disappointed with the second half. What we are disappointed with is the nature of the goals that have gone in against us.   It seems this team at times waits to go a goal behind before we start reacting.

“I thought second half we were the better side. I think we were unlucky not to take it into extra-time because we created some great chances towards the end.

“We were a lot braver as a side. We got on the ball. We showed that we’ve got some good football players out there and I think we matched them second half.”

Faversham Town, who went into the game sitting in the bottom four in the Ryman League Division One South table with four points from as many games, created a couple of early chances, which striker Adrian Stone failed to take.

Ashley Brown played a ball out of defence for winger Antonia Gonnella to cut inside Dartford right-back Lee Burns before playing the ball inside to Stone, who lashed his right-footed shot high and wide from 25-yards.

Stone then nodded Dave Botterill’s right-wing corner towards the far post just wide, before Dartford created their first chance when Jon Wallis – who was pulling all the strings in the middle of the park – whipped in an inch-perfect cross towards the near post but former Southend United striker Harry Crawford powered his header over when left unmarked.

But Dartford took the lead in the 19^th minute when Lee Noble whipped in a corner from the right towards the far post and Collier rose to head over keeper Dan Ellis and into the roof of the net from six-yards.

Burman said: “Nathan is dangerous in those sort of areas. He’s a tall lad and he gets up well to get goals and he’s done that tonight. He’s scored two and I was pleased with him.

“He’s been patient waiting for his chance and he’s got a lot to offer.  I feel we can bring quite a bit out of him when he gets his chance, he’ll have to take it.”

Turner admitted he thought his keeper could have done better.

He said: “I think it looked like Dan could’ve tipped it over from where I was.  It’s always difficult to make an assessment from the half-way line but he’s a big goalkeeper and I would’ve expected him to tip it over.”

Stone failed to trouble Sutton in the Dartford goal after he latched onto a long ball over the top of the Dartford defence, helped by Dartford defender Tom Bonner slipping at a vital moment.

Dartford left-back Adam Green, who was later forced off with a reoccurrence of his calf-strain, cracked a left-footed drive, which deflected over, before the home side doubled their lead in the 28^th minute.

Porter did himself no harm at all as it was his whipped in cross from the left which caused panic in the Faversham defence and defender Brown failed to head the ball clear at the near post and Gonnella also failed to clear his lines as the ball bounced inside the six-yard box and Collier bundled the ball over the line from a couple of yards from goal.

Burman added: “That’s why he’s there. He’s got into the areas where you try and score goals and that’s what he’s done.  I think it’s a cross from the left hand side and he’s got in there.”

Turner felt his side had a couple of chances to clear the danger before Collier could convert his third goal for the Darts.

He said: “That’s the most disappointing goal tonight.  The cross has come in, Ashley hasn’t quite got to grips of it from the heading point of view but obviously the communication given at the far post was poor. Antonio’s tried to shepherd the ball clear a couple of yards from goal.  It just needs clearing!  I think if we clear the ball out you just end up defending the corner, that’s the preferable situation but it has to be urgent in those areas and you’ve got to clear your lines.”

Impressive Wallis cracked a speculative right-footed drive from 30-yards, which screamed wide of the far post, before Faversham Town finally had a shot on target on the half-hour mark when Botterill won the ball and fed Stone, who unleashed a right-footed drive from 30-yards which was comfortably held by Sutton.

Dartford defender Richard Rose then wanted to get in on the act, looping a chip into Dan Ellis’ gloves from 30-yards, before Botterill curled a left-footed shot over the Dartford crossbar from closer in, and that was followed by Noble’s volleyed screamer sailing wide of the near post after a good turn from Crawford.

Dartford linked up well down the right with slick triangle passing involving Burns, Noble and Collier and Burns over-lapped to reach the by-line before whipping in a fine cross but Crawford headed over from six-yards out.

Faversham big keeper Ellis prevented Dartford going into the interval with a comfortable 3-0 lead when he stuck out his left leg to block Bonner’s first time shot following Wallis’ low centre across the face of goal after Noble played a short corner to Green.

Turner admitted there was a three league gap during the first half.

“You could say that,” he said. “I think not necessarily in open play but I think where it counts is in both boxes.  It’s always been the case the difference in the leagues is the ability to defend one box very well and to be clinical in the other box.  That’s obviously what they did.”

Turner added: “It’s errors that are costing us dearly.  Obviously they’re a clinical side being at a level they are at and they’re going to take any chance they get.

“In open play I didn’t think there was a lot in it. To be, we should’ve come in at nil-nil and then given us a real chance and a real crack at it second half.

“Trying to come back from 2-0 down as we have been trying to do in other games gives us a big problem, because you leave yourselves a bit open at times.”

Despite his club’s lofty position Burman should take credit for respecting the Kent Senior Cup by fielding a strong side.

Burman said: “They came out and had a go and fair play to them.  We’ve shown them a little bit of respect because of the team that we played.

“I needed to get the lads 90 minutes and they’ve got it today in a competitive game so it’s always a competition we’ve taken seriously.  We’re not playing all the team but we’ll play some of them.”

Turner was expecting no favours from Burman, who has guided Dartford to the final two years’ running.

He said: “They’ve always taken this competition very seriously. I think they’ve got to the final the last couple of years. I didn’t expect anything different to be honest.  I certainly wasn’t looking for any favours and it was a good test for our lads. It’s something that they’ve got to take on board that we can match these sort of sides but it’s that mental side, the concentration and defending at the right times that’s cost us again.”

The introduction of Aaron Lacy – albeit 44 seconds into the second half as the former Hythe Town right-back was still in the dressing room as referee Nolan Wilde lost patience waiting for the substitute to emerge from the tunnel – added more steel to the Faversham Town backward line.

And Faversham Town started to play after player-coach Hockton scored his first goal of the season, in the 56^th minute.

The ball was played out wide to Gonnella who drove in a cross towards the near post and Hockton turned and curled a left-footed angled drive across Sutton and in off the far post to score from a quality strike from sixteen-yards.

Turner explained what kind of role Hockton has at Salters Lane this season.

“He’s a quality striker, we’re lucky to have him at the club,” said Turner.

“He wants to progress in the coaching side of it and he’s there in the role of player-coach. The more I look at him in training and the more I see him in a match scenario he’s movement and his ability to take goals is there for all to see.

“He’s still only 33 and he’s got an awful lot to give. He’s happy in terms of the coaching stuff and the management set-up but I think everyone can see he’s performed well again tonight. He got man-of-the-match on Saturday and unfortunately it looks like he’s pulled his groin towards the end of the game so we’ll have to asses that.”

Turner, who was also without defender Matt Bourne (ankle) revealed that Ellis (hamstring) and James Peacock (groin) also picked up injuries tonight.

Burman added: “We know Danny can do that sort of thing but I’m disappointed that he’s turned on the edge of the box with no pressure whatsoever and that’s where it got a bit sloppy.

“They put us under a bit of pressure but I’m just pleased some people got 90 minutes and I’ve been able to see some of the younger lads.”

The goal – and the introduction of midfield playmaker Wayne Wilson – lifted Faversham’s confidence levels and the men in yellow started to realise that they could live with a club that play three league’s higher.

Right-winger Dan Lawrence, who wasn’t given the time or space by Green to use his pace and talent, attempted a speculative right-footed chip from 40-yards, which was easily caught by Dartford keeper Sutton, who can be proud of his debut.

Burman said: “Stevie done well. I’ve watched him in the Academy games and I just wanted to play him to give him that little bit of experience.  The same with Jay Porter. He played 90 minutes, he’s got a bit of experience as well which is great.”

Dartford should have extinguished any hopes of a Faversham come back in the 65^th minute when Wallis swung in a free-kick from the left and an unmarked Crawford headed over from 12-yards.

Dartford went route-one in a bid to kill off their plucky Kent rivals.  Sutton pumped the ball up field and striker Danny Harris hooked a right-footed shot past the near post.

But you could sense that Faversham would create at least one more chance to force extra time, which they certainly deserved on their second half performance.

Australian Wilson swung in a corner from the left in the 77^th minute but Stone rose at the far post to plant his header over from six-yards.

Turner said: “The corner came over and he had a good chance, virtually a free-header at the far post.  Again it’s another opportunity. I think we’ve created numerous openings in the second half. The difference in the levels is taking those chances.”

However, Faversham’s best chance arrived four minutes later when substitute Luke Harvey played a one-two with Hockton, who released the former Herne Bay skipper through on goal but Harvey dragged his right-footed shot agonisingly across goal and past the far post.

Turner said: “It’s something we’ve nearly achieved in the end.  I think our big chance came possibly when Luke Harvey dragged his chance wide after good link up with Danny Hockton and that seemed to be our last big chance in the end there.

“He’s put relatively clean through on the angle and he could almost pass it into the net and he’s dragged it a little bit.  I can’t fault Luke.  I’ve given him a bit of a rest tonight, he’s worked hard over the last few games.  It’s one of those. He’s got in there and he’s missed the opportunity but he’s been great for us in the last few games.”

Dartford had a chance to wrap things up but substitute Martin replicated Harvey’s miss by dragging his left-footed shot agonisingly wide of the foot of the far post with only Ellis to beat.

Harvey was denied by Sutton after he cut inside and tried his luck with a right-footed angled drive from 20-yards, before Dartford defender Rose stroked his shot into the visiting keeper’s gloves at the end.

Turner wanted to end Faversham’s jinx against Dartford – their only win in eleven previous attempts (competitive matches) was a 2-0 home win on 5 April 1900.

Turner said: “Thanks for that! I did try to use that as an motivation. I was hoping I could put that one to bed.  112 years is a long time and it’s going to be at least another year.  I was hoping we could make a bit of history tonight but it wasn’t the case.  I’ve heard it’s a rare occurrence of us playing each other.

“There are plusses.  We have given a great account of ourselves second half but again I’m a little bit disappointed because I thought we could’ve got more out of the game.”

Dartford:  Stevie Sutton, Lee Burns (George Monger 46), Adam Green (Elliot Bradbrook 73), Lee Noble, Richard Rose, Tom Bonner, Nathan Collier, Jon Wallis, Danny Harris, Harry Crawford (Lee Martin 80), Jay Porter.
Subs: Ryan Hayes, Jacob Erskine

Goals: Nathan Collier 19, 28

Faversham Town: Dan Ellis, Toby Ashmore, Jamie Maxted, James Peacock (Aaron Lacy 46), Ashley Brown, Aiden Sherlock (Wayne Wilson 56), Dan Lawrence (Luke Harvey 65), Dave Botterill, Adrian Stone, Danny Hockton, Antonio Gonnella.
Sub: Simon Overland

Goal: Danny Hockton 56

Attendance: 271
Referee: Mr Nolan Wilde (Maidstone)
Assistants: Mr Elad Amir (Maidstone) & Mr Chris Myatt (Dartford)