Kentish Football 
Dartford 2-1 Lowestoft Town - I don't want Danny Harris blown out by Christmas, says Tony Burman
Saturday 25th September 2010
DARTFORD 2-1 LOWESTOFT TOWN
FA Cup (Sponsored by E.ON) Second Qualifying Round
Saturday 25th September 2010
Mike Green reports from Princes Park Stadium
TWO second half goals – the second an absolute stunner from substitute Danny Harris - saw Dartford into the Third Qualifying Round of the FA Cup, but Ryman Premier high fliers Lowestoft Town will feel aggrieved to have left Kent out of the competition as Darts keeper Andy Young produced two incredible late saves to keep his side in front.
But to be fair, the result was just about right at the end of the day, but as Darts boss Tony Burman admitted after the game to www.kentishfootball.co.uk, his side made hard work of progress.
“Absolutely,” Burman said. “Take nothing away from Lowestoft – they’re a decent side. I went and saw them on Tuesday night, they’re full of confidence, and they work really hard.
“We knew that they were going to give it their all and fair play to them I thought that they did. We were 2-0 up and we should have finished off the game really, but they got one back with nothing to lose – we’ve been a bit like that with that games we’ve played at Bromley and Dover in the past couple of years – we played really, really well on those day but weren’t in the hat on Monday morning; we’re in the hat now!”
After a first half that was extremely cagey and had just a couple of clear chances – Carl Rook firing over for the Darts whilst Jamie Forshaw (who was lively throughout for the visitors) tested Young from distance, the second half exploded into life as within 15 minutes of the restart, the home side were two in front.
Rook opened the scoring with a typical predatory goal – heading home past a rooted Lowestoft keeper Andy Reynolds after Harris had nodded down Michael Shinn’s corner before Harris produced a real moment of class for what in the end proved to be the winning goal.
Skipper Elliott Bradbrook (who later was to limp off with a dead leg) hurled a huge throw in the bow where Harris, with his back to goal and the ball coming across him from the right, managed to control with his thigh and make room for the shot on the turn which flew past a startled Reynolds.
If the goal had been scored in front of TV cameras, it surely would have been contender for goal of the day at the very least.
But to their credit as the Darts relaxed, the visitors got back into the game and were indebted to Young’s finger tips as sub Lee McGlone raced clear, only to see the darts keeper deflect his shot onto the foot of the right post.
Young then bettered that save with a stunning two handed save to deny Dale Cockerill’s 30 yard drive which swerved viciously on the gusting wind – it was one of those saves that words cannot do justice to. It even “impressed” his manager.
Burman said: “Youngy has made two really good saves in the second half but that’s Cup games isn’t it? I just said to the boys in the dressing room that a big part of me isn’t interested in the way we played today – I just wanted to be in the hat on Monday, and that’s what we’ve got.
“Last year we were in a similar position to Lowestoft when we went to Dover and whilst we played really well that day and people said we should have got something out of the game we didn’t. But we did today and that’s what I’ve got to stress – maybe we could have been a bit more intelligent in the last 15 minutes, but we’ll learn from that.”
Burman than spoke about his goal scorers, and he began with Rook. “We felt that we needed to give Charlie (Sheringham) time to get over his knock, and besides Rooky has been knocking on the door for a while now – coming off of the bench and playing really well; he’s got the bit between his teeth and he’s won some good flicks today, and I didn’t want to take a chance on Charlie before the League game next week.
“Dan’s done well today when he’s come on for Lee Burns – Lee’s pulled his back; they’ll have a look at him and we hope for next week! I know I left Danny’s out but we felt that some of the games have been really tight and close for the first 60 to 70 minutes and Danny’s pace obviously hurts people. I know he works hard, but if he works as hard he has done in the first seven or eight games he’ll be blown out by Christmas.
“He’s a great asset to us and he’s done ever so well, but when we’ve got 17 good players – not squad players – good players who can all get into the eleven, I’m delighted!”
It was clear in Burman’s face after the game that the “magic of the FA Cup” is most certainly alive in this part of Kent.
“We didn’t want to go to a replay but it was close,” he confessed. “Teams in higher Leagues don’t always win in Cup football as was proved in the Carling Cup in the week – people have had shocks and there will be some today.
“But whether people go away thinking we’ve played well or not, there hasn’t been a shock here – we’ve got through and I’m delighted. Lets have the home draw on Monday and worry about them after that!”
Dartford: Andrew Young, Tom Bonner, Adam Gross, Joe Bruce, Paul Goodacre, Michael Shinn, Ryan Hayes (James White 80), Tom Champion, Carl Rook, Lee Burns (Danny Harris 42), Elliott Bradbrook (Lee Noble 62).
Subs: Charlie Sheringham, Luke Medlen, Jake Burman, John Whitehouse.
Goals: Carl Rook 48, Danny Harris 56
Booked: Ryan Hayes 76
Lowestoft Town: Andy Reynolds, Andrew Cave Brown, Dave Cockrill, Sam Gaughran, Curtis Haynes Brown, Jamie Godbold (Lee McGlone 55), Andrew Fisk, Jamie Forshaw (Greg Cane 84), Daniel Bloomfield (Joe Francis 55), Scott Mitchell.
Subs: Craig Bussens, Matt Halliday, Stuart Ainsley
Goal: Dave Cockrill 83
Booked: Curtis Haynes Brown 44, Adam Smith 59, Andrew Fisk 75
Attendance: 1,024
Referee:- Mr Anthony Serrano (Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire)
Assistants: Mr John Ryan (Worcester Park, Surrey) & Mr Greg Read (Addlestone, Surrey)
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