Kentish Football 
Dartford 3-0 Bishop's Stortford - I'm pleased to get the first win - Burman
Tuesday 24th August 2010
DARTFORD 3-0 BISHOP’S STORTFORD
Blue Square Bet South
Tuesday 24th August 2010
Mike Green reports from Princes Park Stadium
DARTFORD’S first win of the season was confirmed by first half goals from Danny Harris and Charlie Sheringham’s first for the club on debut, capped with substitute Carl Rook late follow up from a quickly taken Tom Champion free kick secured Tony Burman's side their first three points of the season.
Add to that keeper Andrew Young (who's partner is due to give birth at any moment) made a significant impression of his own on the game with a stunning first half penalty save and the Darts have their first home win of the season.
Speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk after the game, boss Burman was obviously a very happy man.
“I’m very pleased to get the first win, and now hopefully it will take out a bit of the nervousness of our play,” he said.
“Things went for us tonight, and we had a bit of good fortune and we get the points too so I’m delighted.
“We’ve got a good squad, and I’ve had to leave a couple in the stands tonight who have done nothing wrong in previous games, but we don’t have to take chances at this early stage of the season. The players have done very well tonight but it’s just a start.
“I hoped that we’d have more points on the board by now, but I cannot criticise them for lack of effort – they’ve given their all. We’ve nearly there but not quite yet…”
But if the Darts continue to perform like this, starting with Saturday’s huge local derby with Ebbsfleet United, sides coming to Princes will have to be on their game to leave with anything.
This really was a very enjoyable end-to-end Blue Square Bet South contest and it was the visitors who had the first chance with Reece Prestredge stinging Young’s hands from 30 yards.
Eventually the Darts got into their stride and took the lead on 19 minutes. Billy Burgess’ long throw was helped on by Lee Burns to Harris who did very well to hold off a defender to beat giant keeper Nicky Morgan with a well placed shot low to the keepers left.
Immediately though the visitors were given a lifeline as they were awarded a penalty for a clumsy challenge by Paul Goodacre on Matt Judge. The Stortford number nine dusted himself down to take the spot kick which was brilliantly turned aside by Young at the base of his right post.
The Darts could have retaken the lead on the half hour when a long free kick from the left found Hayes in plenty of space and his wonderful curling right footed cross was met by Burns who’s header flashed narrowly wide.
Stortford just didn’t learn from that, as on the stroke of half time, the lead was double from an almost identical position.
Hayes was again the provider and this time it was Sheringham ghosting in at the back post to head the ball home, in a manner that reminded many of some of the goals that his watching father would have been proud of.
After the break, the visitors created some chances but couldn’t get past Young, who was outstanding.
On the hour Stortford substitute Jason Mason was allowed too much room in midfield and his 30 yard drive brought the very best out of Young diving away to his left.
The keeper again came to Dartford’s rescue on 75 minutes when former Welling man Sanchez Ming’s cross was met at the back post by full back Aidan Palmer and his shot was beaten away by the Darts keeper.
Ten minutes from time the Darts sealed the three points. Tom Champion, who simply ran the midfield, saw a free kick fumbled by Morgan, and Rook on as a 76th minute substitute for Lee Burns bundled the ball over the line to secure the points and a much needed morale boost ahead of Saturday first League meeting with the Fleet in almost two decades.
Dartford: Andrew Young, Billy Burgess (Adam Gross 87), Tom Bonner, Joe Bruce, Paul Goodacre, Michael Shinn, Ryan Hayes, Tom Champion, Charlie Sheringham (Lee Noble 84), Lee Burns (Carl Rook 76), Danny Harris.
Subs: Ollie Berquez, Deren Ibrahim.
Goals: Danny Harris 19, Charlie Sheringham 43, Carl Rook 80.
Booked: Billy Burgess 11, Michael Shinn 59, Danny Harris 63
Bishop’s Stortford: Nicky Morgan, Matt Jones, Aidan Palmer, Max Lette Jallow (Jason Mason 60), Lynvall Duncan, Stevland Angus, Scott Shulton, Reece Prestredge, Matt Judge (George Daly 75), Duane Jackman, Sanchez Ming.
Subs: Ritchie Jones, Alu Abdullahi, Sheldon Sellears.
Booked: Duane Jackman 72
Attendance: 882
Referee: Mr Adam Serrano (Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire)
Assistants: Mr Ernie Moore (High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire) & Mr Paul O’Hare (High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire)
Red Dragon I.T. Ltd