Dartford 2-2 Tooting & Mitcham United

DARTFORD 2-2 TOOTING & MITCHAM UNITED
Ryman League Division One South
Tuesday 27^th February 2007
Stephen McCartney reports from Princes Park

Two exciting sides shared the points in a thrilling clash at Princes Park tonight - a venue for such occasions.

An expectant crowd of 1,117 were entertained throughout as Tooting & Mitcham United clawed themselves back from conceding two goals in the first eighteen minutes to earn themselves a point.

The Terrors, managed by former Bromley trio Billy Smith, George Wakeling and Frank Coles, went into this game having won their last eight league and cup games and unbeaten in their last eleven outings.

But they found themselves two goals down courtesy of Brendon Cass’ 25^th goal of the season and Eddie McClements' strike.

The Surrey side, however, fought back to preserve their magnificent run, courtesy of Vernon Francis’ brace, which took his tally to fifteen for the season.

This was one of three games to have been completed in the Ryman League Division One South programme tonight as wet weather put paid to many games throughout the Ryman League.

Hastings United moved into second place with a 2-1 win over Chatham Town, which leaves Phil Miles’ side in a precarious position in the bottom four.

And Dover Athletic maintained pressure on the Darts in fifth place following their 2-1 win over Leatherhead.

But fourth placed Darts go into Saturday’s Bourne Park showdown with league leaders Maidstone United five points behind after dropping two points at home tonight.

And it was Eighth placed Tooting & Mitcham United who went inches from taking the lead from their first corner of the game inside the opening two minutes.

Midfield playmaker and captain Matt York sent over a right-footed corner and former Folkestone Invicta goalkeeper Tony Kessell was relieved to see the ball bounce off the top of the far post to safety.

But Dartford responded and took the lead with eleven minutes and eight seconds on the clock.

Right-winger Ryan Hayes cut in from the right and his low shot from fifteen yards was turned around the near post by former Thamesmead Town shot-stopper, Dave King.

Hayes sent over Darts’ first corner of the game and Cass bundled the ball into the net at the far post from just two yards out to the delight of another excellent passionate home following.

Francis issued the Kent side a warning when is left-footed shot from 22-yards was blasted over Kessell’s bar almost immediately after the opening goal.

Dartford doubled their lead just six minutes later as the home faithful thought their side were going to end Tooting & Mitcham’s long unbeaten run and climb up into second place.

McClements latched onto Hayes’ through ball and after dancing through the visitors’ defence his initial shot was blocked by King.

But the star midfielder was on hand to drive the ball into the back of the net from the rebound.

Fans, players and managers of other clubs were in attendance tonight, including former Dart, Dave Martin, whose already featured in Crystal Palace’s first team.

And Jay May had a golden opportunity to put the game beyond the visitors reach but he shot straight at King after 27 minutes.

But Dartford were pegged back as Tooting & Mitcham United scored twice in the space of three first half minutes through Francis.

Striker Paul “Charlie” Vines, whose played for Kent sides Cray Wanderers, Bromley and Beckenham Town and has scored 28-goals for the men from Imperial Fields, caused havoc inside the Darts penalty area.

Despite the ball bouncing up and striking his hand, the prolific striker turned to shoot and his left-footed shot trickled towards the foot of the far post.

Kessell couldn’t reach the shot on goal and the ball skimmed the post and Francis reacted the quickest to stab the ball into the net to the delight of the travelling contingent after 35 minutes.

Both sides created chances when Jason Pinnock shot straight at Kessell after bursting forward and Mark Green, making his Darts home debut after scoring in their 2-2 draw at Dover Athletic on Saturday, tested King, who plucked his shot out of the air at the near post.

But a freak goal from Francis within three minutes of his opener gifted the visitors the leveller.

Francis didn’t know too much when a clearance from central defender John Guest struck him and left Kessell flat-footed as the ball bounced into the back of the net.

Adam Broomfield escaped with just a yellow card when he scathed down Cass as the striker burst past him on the right-hand side.

But Hayes wasted the cross as King made a comfortable save at the near post.

Hayes’ fifth corner of the game presented Dartford with another glorious chance to regain the lead.

Richard Avery came up from his defensive duties and the visiting defence didn’t track his movements inside the box and the blonde haired player headed just wide of the near post.

Tooting & Mitcham made a double substitution at the interval, bringing on defender Joe Vines, formerly of Cray Wanderers, Bromley and Welling United, and former Bromley midfielder Danny Carroll.

And after striking the top of the far post from his first corner, York hit the woodwork for the second time from his side’s second corner after 51 minutes.

York’s 20-yard drive took a deflection past the right upright from twenty-yards and from the resulting corner his delivery clipped the top of the near upright.

Dartford launched attack-after-attack at their visitors, who were also a threat on the break.

Left-sided midfielder Green drilled a cross from the by-line, which struck Cass’ chest in the six-yard box but the visitors escaped punishment.

McClements then cut in from the left but his 30-yard right-footed drive curled high over the far post.

And Avery wasn’t too far away from Hayes’ eighth corner of the game with nineteen minutes remaining.

York was never going to beat Kessell with a long-range effort before good link up play from May and Hayes presented the former Tonbridge Angels’ striker with another excellent chance but his weak shot was too comfortable for King.

Dartford’s leading striker Cass squandered an excellent chance to hand his side a vital victory with seven minutes remaining.

Cass latched onto a defence splitting through ball from strike partner May and left the Surrey side’s defence in his wake and with only King to beat his shot was agonisingly straight at the goalkeeper who spread himself well.

And Dartford almost ended up pointless late on when Mark Green cleared York’s downward header off the line following Ronnie Green’s far-post corner.

We shall bring you an interview with Dartford boss Tony Burman later.