Kentish Football 
Dartford 2-2 Bromley - We wanted to be the first side to beat Bromley, says Darts boss Tony Burman
Saturday 18th September 2010
DARTFORD 2-2 BROMLEY
Blue Square Bet South
Saturday 18th September 2010
Stephen McCartney reports from Princes Park Stadium
BROMLEY assistant manager Hayden Bird was a relieved man after his side grabbed a point as Dartford came very close to ending their unbeaten start to the season.
The Lilywhites arrived at Princes Park sitting five points clear of the Blue Square Bet South table with seven wins and a draw (at home to St Albans City last weekend), but fourteenth placed Dartford twice fought back to claim a point to maintain their unbeaten home record.
A higher-than-expected passionate crowd of 1,834 were treated to blue skies and warm temperatures and the football on the pitch was of high quality.
Around 300 Bromley supporters were celebrating when their side took the lead against the run of play after 36 minutes when the recalled Nic McDonnell nodded home at the far post from close range.
Bromley were harshly reduced to ten men when central defender Jerrome Sobers was red-carded for the second time this season and up stepped Ryan Hayes to smash home the penalty with just fifteen minutes remaining.
Dartford battered the league leaders from that point and it seemed that the home side would go on to score the winner - only for Bromley left-back Harrison Dunk to finish from 20-yards following a mazy run.
But Dartford swiftly levelled as skipper Elliot Bradbrook bundled the ball over the line from close range at the far post, although it was a case of two points dropped for the Darts, as they came so close to being the first side to defeat Bromley this season.
“I thought it was a good point,” Bird told www.kentishfootball.co.uk afterwards. “I think that in St Albans last week we would say that it’s two points lost, today I thought it was a point gained despite the fact that it was so close to being three points.
“The spirit of the players and the desire of the players to make sure we weren’t going to lose our unbeaten record, even in these circumstances, is to be commended. I think the players did a very good job today.”
Dartford boss Tony Burman, also speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk afterwards added: “It seemed a good game from the side. There was some fairly good football played by both sides. At the end of the day we’ve entertained a fantastic crowd.
“I was thinking we could get 1,500, but to get 1,800 was a credit to everybody involved and to be fair to Bromley, they brought some supporters over and they’ve made the atmosphere good on the day.
“I’m pleased because we’ve lost the game with about six or seven minutes to go, I think it was, for our guys to come back I thought we dropped two points like last week (at Thurrock), but I didn’t think we did that this week. I think it was a good game and a fair result.”
Both sides relished playing in front of two sets of passionate fans, but it was Dartford that looked to be the table-topping side as they dominated early on, with Bromley hitting them on the break and a six-to-two corner out in Bromley’s favour wasn’t a true reflection on just how well the Darts played.
Dartford created the game’s first chance within six minutes when Hayes’ left-footed free-kick from 30-yards arrowed just over the Bromley crossbar.
Bromley then allowed a cross from right-back Tom Bonner to bounce inside the penalty area, where Bradbrook spun and blasted a right-footed shot on the turn over.
Dartford really should have opened the scoring after 21 minutes when Lee Burns brought Adam Gross’s cross down well but from a tight angle he stroked a right-footed shot across goal and past the far post.
Just past-the-hour mark, Bromley striker Paul Vines picked up the ball on the half-way line and played an excellent diagonal pass towards the impressive right-winger Tony Finn, who cut inside but his left-footed drive from 25-yards sailed over.
Dartford fans were clearly enjoying their sides performance, chanting “Can we hear Bromley sing?” who swiftly responded “we are top of the league!” - and when you are at the summit lucky moments can go for you, as was the case with Bromley’s opening goal.
Finn was moaning to the Dorset based referee Mr Brett Huxtable following the decision to reward a 50-50 ball and when play resumed, Bradbrook allowed a square pass to flash past him to enable Bromley right-back David Graves to intercept before finding the lively Finn down the right.
Finn burst forward and cut into the penalty area and his left-footed driven cross deflected off Gross and looped high over Andrew Young in the Dartford goal and McDonnell claimed the goal by nodding in at the far post from close in.
In fact, the goal could have been claimed by any one of three players, but the Bromley management team insisted the goal went to McDonnell.
“Nic McDonnell’s claiming the goal,” said Bird. “He’s determined to have that one because he said he scored at Boreham Wood and he wasn’t rewarded the goal, so he’s definitely claiming that one.”
When asked whether the striker got the final touch to Finn’s deflected effort, Bird replied, “I couldn’t say, I really couldn’t say! You know strikers, they claim it even if they never get anywhere near the ball these days, but I think we’ll give that to Nic. He did a good job for us.”
Dartford’s responded and Charlie Sheringham’s only real contribution was to nod Bonner’s right-wing cross into Wes Foderingham’s grateful arms as Bromley went in at the break a goal up.
Bromley created a chance in the 53rd minute when Finn’s cross from the right was met by a glancing header by Vines, which sailed past the far post.
Hayes blasted over from 25-yards out and then rolled a shot into the Bromley’s keeper’s arms before manager Burman made a double substitution and replaced his two strikers Sheringham and Burns for Danny Harris and Carl Rook.
But Bromley did call Young into action after 65 minutes when McDonnell’s flick released Finn (who was told by Bird to “skin him” and with Gross backing off, the Bromley number seven cut inside and centred for Wes Daly to sweep a right-footed shot on the turn, which was comfortably saved by the Dartford keeper.
The game’s turning point arrived when the referee pointed to the spot after Bradbrook latched onto Michael Shinn’s dink through the heart of the Bromley defence and the former Maidstone player and Sobers and Graves all crashed to the ground.
The referee waited 36 seconds before brandishing a red card to Sobers - much to the delight of the Princes Park faithful.
A further 81 seconds had elapsed by the time Hayes smashed a left-footed penalty into the roof of the net - despite Foderingham diving to his left and getting a hand to the ball - as Dartford levelled with 75 minutes on the clock.
This signalled an increased level of tempo on the pitch and support around Princes Park as the Darts went in search of a deserved winner.
Harris released Rook down the inside left-channel and the former Tonbridge Angels striker cut the ball back for Bradbrook, but his left-footed shot from 20-yards ballooned over the crossbar.
Hayes then whipped in another cross from the right for Rook (who had peeled in front of his marker) to stroke a right-footed volley over.
And Bradbrook’s snap shot (after Rook brought the ball down with his chest and swept the ball out to Hayes) was off target.
So you can imagine the delight at the other end of the field when Bromley completed (at the time) a smash-and-grab raid to regain the lead with just three minutes left.
Substitute Salifou Ibrahima slipped the ball to Dunk, who burst forward and cut inside past two defenders and drove a right-footed shot past Young into the bottom corner of the net from 20-yards.
Dunk, who finished the game being led down the tunnel on a stretcher, was mobbed by team-mates as Bromley felt they had snatched three points - but Dartford had other ideas as agony turned to ecstasy just 67 seconds later.
Reflecting on the two goals, Bird said: “That was obviously the disappointing part in as much as when coming to Princes Park we know the way Dartford are going to play and I said to them at half-time we had to remain very concentrated and play for the moment.
“I think we would have won the game but we showed a lack of concentration really only for one occasion today and that’s prevented us from winning us three points, albeit it will be difficult to criticise the players too much.
“Wes Foderingham was disappointed with the goal. We don’t see many mistakes from him, he’s a real asset to this football club. I don’t think we defended it very well. It’s the old adage of being vulnerable having just scored.”
Hayes delivered an excellent cross from the right, which wasn’t dealt with by the Bromley keeper, and Bradbrook couldn’t miss when lurking at the far post, poking the ball to the keeper’s right, just inside the near corner.
Bird added: “I think when you come here you know what you’re going to come up against. They have a way of playing that is very efficient for them and it keeps them on the front foot because they hit the penalty box very early.
“On the first half, other than the first 20 minutes, we really weathered the storm and countered that very well.
“Second half, obviously they’re at home, their losing, it’s a big crowd, they’re gonna throw the kitchen sink at you.
“When we went to ten-men, they’re in the ascendancy, but to remain unbeaten is excellent. A really excellent job from the players.”
Bird praised the travelling fans for their support and said Dunk’s injury was not as bad as first feared, adding, “It’s more of an impact injury. I don’t think that’s going to be too serious. Hopefully he’ll be ok for next week.”
Bird added: “The atmosphere in the ground was fantastic today. Bromley fans were superb as they did a great job, they really got behind the team and particularly when our backs were against the wall, I thought the support from the Bromley fans was inspirational. We’ve got to really applaud them today with our thanks.”
Dartford’s fans thought Bromley’s performance today didn’t warrant a top-of-the-table side, but Bird said: “I think we showed why we’re top of the league today. We haven’t played with 11 men with a lot of the game, yet they haven’t beaten us.”
The Dartford boss admitted he wanted his side to inflict Bromley’s first defeat of the season, although they came very close too!
“Listen, at home we want to get all three points,” said Burman. “We’ve made a good effort to get three points today, without any shadow of a doubt. We’ve come away with one and so be it.
“We haven’t lost, Paul (Sawyer, my assistant manager) was just talking in the dressing room that we’ve just lost one in six (games) so if you look at it like that, it isn’t that bad!
“We’re unbeaten at home, which is another nice thing. We we’re saying someone’s going to beat Bromley and we wanted it to be us today, but it wasn’t to be, but we’ve taken a point of the league leaders.”
Reflecting on the game, Burman said: “I felt for 35 minutes we did have chances, I thought we were the better side to be fair first half.
“They’re top on merit, sometimes things might go for them, which with the deflection it probably has and we’ve gone 1-0 down, but we have to accept that but you need to get on top and keep going, keep plugging away.
“What we’ve learnt in this division if you go a goal down it doesn’t mean you’re going to lose the game and if you go a goal up it doesn’t mean you’re going to win it. It’s a 90 minute game, where as last year you probably would’ve gone 1-0 up and you thought it’s going to be won.”
But Burman feels his players need to start believing in themselves more - as today’s performance proves they are much better than a fourteenth placed outfit.
“I feel that we need to have a little bit more belief and that side of it is not going for us at the moment” he said.
“I feel sure that we’re going to improve a hell of a lot and I feel once we get the belief from within the side - it has taken a bit long time to gel - too long for my liking, I think we’ll be there or there abouts, that’s for sure.”
Burman agreed the decision to send Sobers off was harsh.
He said: “I think it was a penalty, I thought the first half we should’ve had a penalty with Burnsey going down, but it is harsh to get someone sent off, but we’ve had it (when Paul Goodacre was sent off away to Hampton & Richmond Borough) and it’s one of those things, you get on with it.
“This is what happens sometimes, things go slightly wrong for you when you’re not up the top and Bromley have picked up a couple of injuries unfortunately but they’re at the top of the league on merit and we’ve drawn with the team at the top of the league.”
Reflecting on the first goal, Burman said: “We lost the ball in midfield from the drop ball and the guys hit the ball and it’s deflected in. That happens, it happened to us last year many times when we had a bit of good fortune. They’ve had a bit of good fortune and fair play to them, but we’ve come back into the game. We battled hard in the second half and Bromley are the marker and with all due respect to Bromley I don’t think we’re too far behind them.”
And reflecting on the game’s last two goals, he added: “I just felt we’re going to get nothing from the game, that we deserved something from. The guys worked hard and they played reasonably well and we’re gradually building on the spirit, that’s for sure and when things like that happen we’ve been going a goal down and we’ve come back into the game. We’ll build on that and I’m sure we’ll get things right.”
Dartford: Andrew Young, Tom Bonner, Adam Gross, Joe Bruce, Paul Goodacre, Michael Shinn, Ryan Hayes (Lee Noble 89), Tom Champion, Charlie Sheringham (Danny Harris 66), Lee Burns (Carl Rook 66), Elliot Bradbrook.
Subs: James White, John Whitehouse.
Goals: Ryan Hayes 75 (pen), Elliot Bradbrook 88
Booked: Michael Shinn 51, Elliot Bradbrook 53
Bromley: Wes Foderingham, David Graves (Arron Fray 78), Harrison Dunk, Wes Daly, John Scarborough, Jerrome Sobers, Tony Finn, Tutu Henriques, Paul Vines (Salifou Ibrahima 76), Nic McDonnell, Ryan Dolby (Ben Davisson 71).
Subs: Nicky Greene, Warren McBean.
Goals: Nic McDonnell 36, Harrison Dunk 87
Sent Off: Jerrome Sobers 73
Attendance: 1,834
Referee: Mr Brett Huxtable (Torrington, Devon)
Assistants: Mr Grant Gray (Hatfield, Hertfordshire) & Mr Andreas Anastasiou (Hendon, London NW4)
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