Dartford 2-3 Leyton Orient - It's a massive big test for us, says Dartford boss Tony Burman

DARTFORD  2-3  LEYTON ORIENT
Pre-Season Friendly
Friday 18^th July 2014
Stephen McCartney reports from Princes Park Stadium

DARTFORD manager Tony Burman says he wants to add two or three more players to his fourteen-man squad for the coming Conference Premier campaign.

The Darts were relegated from the top flight of non-league football last season but were given a reprieve after Hereford United and Salisbury City were thrown out of the division through financial matters.

Dartford opened pre-season with a 1-0 win at Thurrock, but went down to a 1-0 defeat to Championship side Millwall on Tuesday night, before Leyton Orient came away from Princes Park with a 3-2 win tonight.

The hottest day of the year so far brought blue skies for the first half, but pink and grey clouds started forming during the half-time interval. As expected, thunder and lightning struck halfway through the second half and referee Mike Bull sensibly finished the game three minutes early for safety reasons.

Leyton Orient, who utilised 22 players, stormed into a 2-0 lead inside the opening 23 minutes through two strikes from central midfielder Lloyd James, 26, a former Welsh youth international.

Dartford pulled a goal back after 31 minutes and Burman confirmed that Lee Noble scored direct from an in-swinging free-kick.

The O’s – who were denied promotion after losing a penalty shoot-out to Rotherham United in the League One play-off final at Wembley in May - increased their lead through Scott Kashket’s penalty, before former Gillingham and Eastbourne Borough striker Tom Derry, 19, pulled a goal back for the hosts.

“It’s a good work-out for us in our strides to get the fitness and a little bit of sharpness.  It’s not perfect by a long way,” said Burman afterwards, with the storm still raging.

“To be fair to Orient they’ve brought their entire squad again and we’ve played against two different sides in each half and it’s tough for us. We’ve worked hard.  We’re getting things sorted and it’s an improvement on a difficult week.  We’ve had two of the games out the way and we look forward to the Gillingham game on Tuesday.”

Dartford called Leyton Orient keeper Adam Legzdins into making a near post save inside the opening minute.

Ryan Hayes’ outswinging corner from the right was met by Danny Harris’ downward header at the far post and the bearded keeper gathered low down.

Dartford’s former Welsh international goalkeeper, Jason Brown, 32, was then called into action.

Dean Cox drilled a right-footed free-kick from 25-yards, which forced the former Sutton United stopper to stick up his right hand to push the ball over the bar.

But Leyton Orient opened the scoring inside eleven minutes.

Sam Ling clipped the ball forward from the halfway line and Marvin Bartley noticed James’ run into the penalty area and the midfielder sent his right-footed chip looping over Brown into the back of the net.

“From our point of view it wasn’t a good goal and we spoke about that – nor was the second one in respect because of the shot from outside the box,” said Burman.

“But having said that the boys come back and they got a break and they scored another goal to make it 2-1 and made it more interesting.”

Dartford’s versatile defender Nathan Collier, who featured in three of the four defensive positions during the game, failed to stop Shaun Batt making progress down the left and the former Fisher Athletic striker went on to cut inside before curling his shot harmlessly wide of the far post.

Burman praised summer signing Tom Bradbrook, who scored 36 goals for Leatherhead last season.

The Tanners sealed promotion into the Ryman Premier League after beating Folkestone Invicta on penalties in the play-off final on the Kent coast.

Collier clipped the ball forward from right-back and Bradbrook shrugged off his man but sent his right-footed chip looping up into the air and Legzdins made the catch.

Leyton Orient went lose again when Cox swung in a deep free-kick towards the far post and Mathieu Baudry came up from the back to send his towering header over the bar from six-yards.

Leyton Orient doubled their lead in the 23^rd minute, which was followed by the first of two water breaks.

Legzdins collected a cross and rolled the ball out to Cox, who picked out James’ run.  The midfielder carried the ball some 25-yards before drilling a right-footed shot past Brown from 25-yards.

Burman said: “We gave the ball away a little too cheaply and when you do that against these sides they come and punish you and that’s what we did.

“They’ll learn. You try and get yourself ready for the start of the season and things will happen in these type of games but to me we’ve played against two good sides in the two different halves and to be fair to them they’re good players.

“We’re getting our fitness ready and our organisation done and hopefully we’ll be ready for when it all happens.”

The dangerous Cox fizzed a curling cross around the far post, before Dartford received a life-line in the 31^st minute.

Danny Harris charged down the left and won Dartford a free-kick and Noble whipped in an excellent delivery with his right-foot, which curled around a crowd of blue (Dartford were wearing their new away strip) and gold shirts into the top far corner.

Striker Andy Pugh may have glanced the ball in, but when asked who was claiming the goal, the Dartford manager said: “I don’t know. I’m not sure. I don’t think it was (Pugh’s goal).

“It went straight in, I think. Lee’s put it in to a good area and that’s what we keep preaching, put a ball into good areas. If everyone misses it, it goes in the goal and that’s what he’s done.  I’m pleased for it. It’s happened and it’s got us back in the game.”

Max Cornhill, who along with Collier and Mitchel-King, got through the entire game, played a one-two with Pugh, but he shot straight at the Leyton Orient keeper.

Bradbrook then played the ball out wide to Hayes on the right, who cut on to his left-foot to whip in a cross towards the near post where Bradbrook got in front of his man to plant his header straight at Legzdins.

“I think he’s done very, very well,” Burman said of Bradbrook.

“I think he won every ball in the air tonight, that’s for sure. He’s really keen and his enthusiasm is rubbing off on one or two of the others and I’m really pleased with the way he’s come in pre-season.

“Elliot (Bradbrook) is still going to be a week and a half away. Unfortunately there’s some ligament damage there but we’ll be careful with him and hopefully he’ll be back in.”

Burman is pleased that winger Ryan Hayes is back following an eight-month injury lay-off.

He said: “Absolutely. He’s a quality player. He’s been brilliant for this club over the last eight, nine, maybe ten years. We’ve missed him for sure.”

Leyton Orient changed all ten outfield players during the interval, while Burman made a couple, with Lee Burns and Luke Daly replacing Adam Green and Pugh respectively.

“I’ve got the fourteen guys that have signed obviously and I want them to give them minutes and that takes priority,” explained Burman.

“We’ve got one or two lads who are having a trial with us and I tried to give them a little bit of a chance. It’s difficult for them to come on and things like that but having said that I think they’ve done ok.  They’ve done alright and let’s see what happens in the future.”

Burman revealed he is close to adding to his squad, which will also be made up of the club’s talented youngsters.

“We’re waiting on an answer definitely on one new player at the moment.  I’m not sure when that will happen but I’m being told I’m in a favourable position but it just hasn’t happened yet.

“It’s being patient. There’s going to be a lot of clubs like Leyton Orient and Millwall who are going to be releasing players, they’ve still got a lot of trialists in with them.  There should be an influx of players coming out.

“I’ve got a lot of the younger lads as well but I’ve got fourteen guys on contracts. I think I need another two to three players, that’s for sure.”

Leyton Orient created the first chance of the second half inside six minutes when Harry Lee swung in a corner from the right towards the near post for Chris Dagnall to plant his header over from six-yards.

Noble won possession for Dartford before passing to Harris, who drilled a right-footed drive sailing harmlessly wide from 25-yards.

But Leyton Orient scored their third goal from the penalty spot, following a high-quality move.

David Mooney and Dagnall linked up well and Mooney’s back-heel was read by Kashket, who was brought down by Mitchel-King’s sliding tackle and referee Mr Bull pointed to the spot.

Kashket’s reward was to pick himself up and send Brown the wrong way with a left-footed penalty, which nestled into the bottom left-hand corner.

“It was a brilliant touch by the number 10 (Mooney). It’s the backheel that puts us in trouble and I don’t think anyone could see that other than the player who he was passing it to,” said Burman.

“These things happen. It’s not the end of the world and they’ve scored a penalty.”

Kashket went close to increasing the lead when he drove his shot into the foot of the side netting, before substitute keeper Gary Woods made his first save of the night in the final 20 minutes.

Substitute Derry played the ball inside to Noble, whose right-footed drive brought a comfortable save from the keeper, low to his right.

The wind started to whip up and the lightning strikes above the stadium brought concern to the crowd of 705 inside.

Dartford substitute keeper Deren Ibrahim looked over his left shoulder and could do nothing about Lee’s left-footed free-kick from 22-yards, which smashed against the crossbar and behind for a goal-kick.

Burman was delighted with his side after they pulled a goal back in the 77^th minute.

Harris’ last contribution to the game was to release Derry through on goal and his right-footed shot deflected off Andis Nikolaou to sail past Woods into the net.

“I saw Tom playing for Gillingham last year, the year before that actually. I know he’s been playing in Conference South for Eastbourne and he’s name came up and I asked him to come in training and he’s done that.

“He’s a young lad but he’s a big lad. He’s a tall lad and he’s quite mobile as well for a big lad. He’s done alright.”

The home fans started to get behind their side and Cornhill burst forward from the centre of midfield to drill his right-footed drive from 30-yards, which flashed wide.

And when Dagnall sent his left-footed effort sailing over the Dartford crossbar, the Essex-based referee made the correct decision to halt the game early.

“It’s the right thing to do,” said Burman.

“Everyone knows that it was expected and it could’ve waited a little bit longer but I was quite happy with what’s happened, not a problem.”

Former Dartford pair Peter Taylor and Andy Hessenthaler visit Princes Park on Tuesday night.

“It’s a massive big test for us.  They’ll get us fit. I know we don’t have a lot of possession in playing (Millwall, Leyton Orient and Gillingham) but it’s the fitness side what helps us all out against these sides and I’m delighted that the three clubs have given us that bit of help and sending their sides down.”

Dartford kick-off their Conference Premier campaign at home to Welsh giants Wrexham on Saturday 9 August.

Burman, who retains his crown of being the longest serving English manager in the top five divisions of English football, said: “That’s what it’s all about! What a big game! Wrexham at home first game of the season. That’s why I want to be in this league.”

Dartford: Jason Brown (Deren Ibrahim 71), Nathan Collier, Adam Green (Lee Burns 46), Rory McAuley (Bode Anidugbe 64), Mat Mitchel-King, Max Cornhill, Ryan Hayes (Jordan Adekunle 64), Lee Noble (Ronnie Vint 80), Tom Bradbrook (Tom Derry 64), Andy Pugh (Luke Daly 46), Danny Harris (Becka-Kah Dembele 80).

Goals: Lee Noble 31, Tom Derry 77

Leyton Orient: Adam Legzdins (Gary Woods 61), Sam Ling (Elliot Omozusi 46), Mathieu Baudry (Valentin Gjokaj 46), Jack Humpreys (Andis Nikolaou 46), Gary Sawyer (George Elokobi 46), Montelle Agyemang (Scott Kashket 46), Marvin Bartley (Romain Vincelot 46), Lloyd James (Bradley Pritchard 46), Dean Cox (Harry Lee 46), Shaun Batt (Chris Dagnall 46), Kevin Lisbie (David Mooney 46).

Goals: Lloyd James 11, 23, Scott Kashket 56 (pen)

Attendance: 705
Referee: Mr Mike Bull (Chelmsford, Essex)
Assistants: Mr Darren Blunden (Dartford) & Mr Ian Fissenden (Gillingham)
Fourth Official: Mr Ian Crouch (Orpington)