Dartford 2-2 Tonbridge Angels - We're confident of getting into play-off's - Sawyer

Dartford, who went into this enthralling Kent derby in seventh place in the table, five points adrift of the play-off’s, and Tonbridge Angels, cemented in third place, put in a display that sent the 1,380 fans home happy as they witnessed a game that was far better than this level.

And considering both Kent giants were missing key players, just imagine what this game would have been like with a fully strength squad!

Dartford were without striker Rob Haworth (calf) and midfielder Lee Noble (hamstring) and with Brendon Cass sent on loan to Ryman League Division One North leaders East Thurrock United to send his energy levels rising, you would have thought the Darts would struggle.

But Jay May, playing his second game upon his stints with Bromley and Ramsgate this season, and Bradley Woods-Garness, who is on loan from Ryman Premier League rivals Billericay Town, they both terrorised the Angels’ back four, with May winning the aerial challenge and Woods-Garness using his electrifying pace to great effect.

For Tonbridge Angels, meanwhile, they went into the game without suspended pair, striker Jamie Cade and big central defender Leon Legge - who have scored 21 goals between them - and winger John Westcott (pulled calf) and right-back Lewis Hamilton (thigh) were ruled out, although Dwain Clarke recovered from a hamstring strain to start, although he later pulled his calf and was withdrawn.

And striker Paul Booth, who scored his first goal for his home-town club, following his switch from Havant & Waterlooville, was withdrawn just before the break with a tightened hamstring.

The game was played in horrible mixed conditions on a bitterly cold day, on the day that the clocks spring forward, and Tonbridge Angels got off to a flying start, taking the lead from their first attack, inside the opening three minutes of a pulsating Kent derby.

A free-kick from the left was floated in by skipper Anthony Storey and this was met by a thumping header from defender Scott Gooding at the far post, which gave Andrew Young no chance to keep out.

Dartford midfielder Danny Dafter’s right-footed drive from 25-yards was hit straight at Lee Worgan, before the Darts levelled in the eleventh minute.

Dafter was the provider and Garness-Woods cracked an unstoppable right-footed drive from 30-yards, which appeared to take a deflection before beating the former Hastings United goalkeeper, flying into the far corner.

Storey was penalised to have bundled over Dartford’s goalscorer after the quick striker cut into the penalty area, but Dartford squandered the 15^th minute penalty.

The Tonbridge Angels manager must have done his homework on penalty taker Tommy Osborne as the right-back, who has passed 250 appearances for the club, struck a poor right-footed penalty to Worgan’s left, but the goalkeeper went the right way to make the save.

Dartford midfielder Jamie Day’s 25-yard free-kick went through the Angels’ wall, but bounced once into Worgan’s arms, after Simon Glover, the Angels’ left-back, fouled May.

Osborne’s penalty miss, meanwhile, proved crucial, as Tonbridge, backed by a passionate following throughout, took the lead in the 19^th minute, through Booth’s fine striker.

His strike partner Carl Rook did well and his low centre was struck by Booth at the near post and his right-footed poked shot bounced past Young into the bottom right-hand corner.

There was almost a fourth goal in the 25^th minute, but Booth’s follow up was ruled out for offside.

Clarke fierce curling drive from 30-yards was beaten out by the Dartford goalkeeper, but the flag had already been raised by the time that Booth drilled the shot past Young from penalty spot range.

Four minutes later, with both sets of fans amazed by the quality on the pitch, and Dartford almost drew level.

Dafter was fouled on the edge of the penalty area and Woods-Garness stepped up to unleash a right-footed free-kick, from eighteen and a half yards, which flew inches over the crossbar, via a deflection or a tip over from Worgan.

Tonbridge Angels went close to adding to their goal tally when Steve Ferguson’s angled free-kick from just outside the box was met by a glancing header by Tim Olorunda, which sailed narrowly past the far post.

But Dartford levelled inside the opening two minutes of the second half, before Tonbridge created three chances, before the Darts pressed for what would have been a deserved winner.

Central defender Adam Flanagan rose at the far post to meet Day’s free-kick from the left corner to loop his header past Young and into the far corner.

No more goals were scored, thanks to the brilliance of the two goalkeepers on show.

Clarke’s 35-yard curling free-kick was tipped over by Dartford goalkeeper Young and then the goalkeeper made a comfortable low save to prevent Gooding from scoring with a right-footed drive through a crowded penalty area, after Craig Carley sent the ball high up into the air from inside his own box.

And with 56 minutes on the clock, Rook was denied by a fine diving save from Young, who flung himself to his right to prevent the former Horsham hit-man scoring with a glancing header after Storey whipped in a cross towards the far post, following long-throw specialist Ferguson cut a short throw back to his captain.

Two minutes later, Tonbridge went close with a move that they must have worked on in training.

Storey cut a corner back to Phil Starkey, who rolled the ball into Ferguson’s feet, with his back to goal, and having flicked the ball up, his overhead kick flew across goal and substitute Ade Olorunda fired just wide.

Carley, meanwhile, sparked the Darts into life, and their attacking football, leaving the high-flying Angels on the back-foot for the remainder of the game, was enjoyable to watch.

Day’s 62^nd minute diagonal ball released the former Metropolitan Police striker, playing on the left wing today, and he burst forward and after cutting inside, cracked a fierce right-footed drive, which was destined to rocket into the top far corner, but Worgan dived to his right to tip the shot around his post.

Then, eight minutes later, Worgan made yet another fine save to prevent Day scoring with a right-footed drive from 30-yards.

But how Worgan prevented Woods-Garness from scoring the winner with thirteen minutes remaining, only the goalkeeper will know.

Steve Butterworth’s cross from the right was met by a powerful header from the striker from just six-yards out, but Worgan spread himself to prevent the ball rocketing into the net to hand the Darts a deserved winner.

Tonbridge midfielder, Tommy Tyne, who like fellow substitute Fraser Logan didn’t train on Thursday night, came off the bench and within three minutes, picked up his tenth booking of the season.

Dartford’s assistant manager Paul Sawyer, speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk afterwards, felt his side should have collected all three points, going by their rousing second half performance.

“It was a great game,” he said. “First half, I thought Tonbridge were on top, they got off to a great start, they scored within the first three minutes.

“We got back in it, then we’ve missed a penalty, which was disappointing and for the rest of the half, I thought Tonbridge were on top (going in) 2-1 up at the break.”

Speaking about the second half, Sawyer added, “The game changed round and we were on top and if anybody was going to win it second half, it was going to be ourselves.

“We were pleased with the point, it was a really good Kent derby and I think everybody’s gone away quite happy today.”

The point today leaves the Darts in seventh place, four points adrift of fifth-paced side Carshalton Athletic, and Sawyer is confident his players can clinch a play-off place, with their Kent rivals, as they play their last six league games.

“We’re still in there and the confidence is growing,” he said. “We came back from 1-0 down during the week at Harlow (to draw 1-1), we’ve come back from being 2-1 down and second half we played really well.

“Confidence is definitely coming back, we feel we’ll be in the mix in the end.

“Confidence is a great thing and if we can get into these last few games with a little bit of confidence behind us, we’ll give it a go.

“At the start of the season, eight games in, we would’ve bitten your hand if we were still in with a chance of the play-off’s.”

The long-serving Sawyer admits the club would like a pop at the play-off’s.

“The aim is still to get in there, we’re not going to give up until it’s mathematically impossible,” he said.

“We’ve had a little spell when things haven’t gone our way with injuries and suspensions, but we now feel we’re getting back to where we were, and heading into the last six games confidence is definitely growing and we’ll give it a good shot.”

For Tonbridge Angels boss Tommy Warrilow, also speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk, he admitted it was one point gained.

“I agree, we were poor second half,” he admitted. “Second half, they came out of the blocks, equalised straight away and to be fair we were under the cosh second half so I’ve got no complaints.

“There was only going to be one team that we’re going to win it and it wasn’t us today so I’d take the point.”

But Warrilow was pleased with his side’s performance during the first half.

He said, “We were the stronger side, we had a third goal disallowed, but the second half they’ve shown what they’ve got down here."

The former Horsham number two added, “To be honest, I wasn’t happy with the second half performance today and the boys know that, and we’ve got to do better or we’re going to come unstuck.”

But Warrilow admitted fans received value for money in what was an exciting clash.

“For a spectators point of view I thought it was a very entertaining game,” he said.

“First half fine, second half, I wasn’t happy. Some times you have to come off the pitch and give them credit, they got at us and caused us all sorts of problems.

“When they got the goal earlier (in the second half), as the game went on we seemed to panic, it all went out of the window.”

So was this a point gained for the Angels? “Definitely,” replied Warrilow. “Now it’s finished, definitely!

“I’m disappointed we didn’t get the third one in the first half - overall, on Dartford’s second half performance they deserved a draw at least.”

Hopefully, these two exciting teams will lock horns one more time this season - in the play-off’s - and one joins champions Dover Athletic in Blue Square South next season.

“I’ve got a lot of mates here (at Dartford) and I’ve known Tony for a long time, so I do hope they (get into) the play-off’s and an extra day out for the supporters,” said the Angels boss.

“Obviously, when it comes, only one can go up and my heart and my belief is obviously us.”

Dartford: Andrew Young, Tommy Osborne, Adam Gross, Adam Flanagan, Jamie Coyle, Danny Dafter, Craig Carley, Jamie Day, Jay May, Bradley Woods-Garness, Steve Butterworth.
Subs: John Guest, Hussein Isa, Rob Whitnell, Ryan Hayes, Deren Ibrahim.

Goals: Bradley Woods-Garness 11, Adam Flanagan 47

Booked: Danny Dafter 87

Tonbridge Angels: Lee Worgan, Phil Starkey, Simon Glover, Lee Minshull, Tim Olorunda, Scott Gooding, Steve Ferguson, Anthony Storey, Paul Booth (Ade Olorunda 45), Carl Rook (Tommy Tyne 87), Dwain Clarke (Fraser Logan 68).
Sub: Martin Grant.

Goals: Scott Gooding 3, Paul Booth 19

Booked: Tommy Tyne 90

Attendance: 1,380
Referee: Mr Warren Atkin (Crawley, West Sussex)
Assistants: Mr Paul Burton (Redhill, West Sussex) & Mr John Flynn (Crawley, West Sussex)