Dartford 3-3 Oxford City - Angry Burman slams "unacceptable" defending from set-pieces

Things got off to an excellent start for the Ryman Premier League hosts, as former Witham Town and Maldon Town striker, Cody McDonald, scored the first of his three goals, with just 64 seconds on the clock.

Jon Gardner, however, levelled for the visiting British Gas Business Premier League side, before McDonald headed home his second, eleven minutes before the break.

And when McDonald completed his hat-trick, just 50 seconds into the second half, the Princes Park faithful were literally singing in the rain, as heavy rain and blustery, cold, conditions engulfed the entire stadium, including the press box, which made watching this six-goal thriller difficult to watch.

But Oxford, a side that went into the game sitting in 17^th place in their division, forced their way back into the game when Andy Gunn and Steve Jackman headed home from set-pieces.

Dartford, who, themselves fought back from a 3-0 deficit at half-time to earn a 3-3 draw here at Princes Park against AFC Hornchurch in midweek, got this FA Carlsberg Trophy Second Qualifying Round tie off to a great start.

Big target-man, Rob Haworth, did ever so well, riding Gunn’s challenge down the right, before crossing to Jamie Day on the left hand side of the penalty area.

Day quickly drilled in his cross for McDonald to rifle his third goal in as many games past Ryan Harrison from twelve yards out.

After Oxford went close with a headed opportunity, following a corner from the right, Dartford’s James White’s left-footed drive from thirty-yards flashed just past the left-upright, with Harrison desperately diving to his right.

But sloppy Dartford allowed Oxford City back into the game after 20 minutes.

Left-sided midfielder Gardner picked up the ball on the left-hand side of the penalty area, and cracked a stunning right-footed curler, which sailed over Andrew Young’s fingertips, finding the top far corner.

Advantage then swung towards the Kent giants’ favour, as McDonald headed home his second, after 34 minutes.

Day floated in a cross from the left into the middle of the penalty area, McDonald leaping to power home his header from 12-yards, leaving Harrison rooted to the spot, as the ball flew past him.

A brilliant saving tackle, inside his own penalty area, from Oxford’s central defender, Jackman, prevented Haworth pulling the trigger, after the former Margate striker was played in behind the heart of the visitors’ defence.

Another chance fell to Dartford when Ray Powell’s cross from the right was knocked down by man-of-the-match McDonald but Lee Noble’s driven shot flashed agonisingly wide of the far post.

Gardner was destined to equalise on the stroke of half-time, from the same position as his goal earlier, but his curling shot was brilliantly headed off the line by John Guest, who did magnificently to get back to his goal-line after the ball curled over Young‘s head.

McDonald, however, completed his hat-trick with just 50 seconds on the clock, when he was left unmarked on the edge of the six-yard box and stabbed his shot past Harrison after Oxford failed to deal with a throw in and a near post flick on.

Watching Dartford you’re always going to watch a side that are good to watch going forward, but are suspect of conceding at the other end.

But at least fans paying their entrance fee are entertained at Princes Park - 12 goals being scored in 180 minutes of football here this week.

And Oxford City grabbed their lifeline in the 55^th minute, exploiting Dartford’s poor defending from a set-piece.

Awarded a free-kick just outside the Darts’ penalty area on the right hand side, Gunn did ever so well to head Steve Davis’ far post free-kick towards goal, from an acute angle, and the ball was directed down and across Young, splashing in the soaking wet goalmouth before bouncing over the line.

And Oxford City almost had the audacity to equalise in the 63^rd minute when striker Jamie Brooks was released in behind the Darts’ back four, straight down the middle, but the advancing Young pulled off a fine block.

Young made an even better save just four minutes later, scooping down at his far post, to prevent right-sided midfielder, Mark Bell, scoring from a low drilled, curling shot, which was going to creep through a crowded penalty area into the bottom far corner.

Dartford’s stand-in left-back, Tommy Osborne, gave Oxford City substitute Michael Lyon space and was relieved when he drilled his shot just past the far post.

That should have been a warning for the Kent giants, but a moment of sheer brilliance from McDonald almost sent the Darts through with just eight minutes left.

Picking up the ball in a deep position, McDonald went on an impressive run, beat one, then another defender before cutting inside and unleashing a left-footed curler, which beat Harrison, but the ball agonisingly bounced off the crossbar and evaded Haworth when the ball dropped back down.

McDonald then drilled a right-footed 25-yarder, which skidded off the wet turf, but agonisingly flashed just past the foot of the near post and nestled into the side netting.

But when a flying Young tipped over Gardner’s 25-yard curling effort, after the midfielder cut in from the left, the Princes Park faithful felt their side had booked their place in the final qualifying round.

But Davis’ whipped in corner from the right was met by Jackman’s glancing header, which crept into the bottom far corner - with 53 seconds of normal time left.

But the Darts almost forced the winner inside stoppage time when Haworth’s powerful header - following McDonald’s cross - was brilliantly clawed out by Harrison.

Burman, who missed their midweek thriller against the Urchins due to illness, wasn’t impressed with his side’s defending today.

“I’m disappointed because we’ve conceded another three goals at home,” he fumed, when speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk afterwards.

“The game probably could have been six-all. Andrew Young’s pulled off some saves in the last few minutes and their keeper (did the same).

“I understand conditions and that were poor, but there the same for both sides and they’ve scored from two set-pieces, which is not acceptable.

“We’ve conceded six goals in the last two games, which again is not acceptable.”

Burman admitted his side couldn’t cope with their opponents’ formation.

“I don’t think we let them play, I think they play a certain system, a certain shape and sometimes it’s difficult to defend as a team, with the way they played,” he said.

“They overload things in the centre of midfield and you’ve got to match that and that’s why we haven’t been able to play the wingers’ (Ryan Hayes and Steve Butterworth) today.

“We wanted to get them on but you take someone out of the middle and then they’ve got an extra man in there.”

Burman was left fuming at his side for enabling both Gardner and Jackman to head home from set-pieces.

“When it’s 3-1 we should have gone on and bossed the game and we didn’t,” said an angry Burman.

“From a free-kick, which we should have seen out, we haven’t and the fella’s got an header in before it’s gone out for a goal kick and that’s not acceptable.

“Teams play better away from home, we are, in respect of our overall performance. They’ve tried to hit us on the break today, which they’ve done and we have to accept that. But it’s difficult to accept when we’ve conceded against a couple of set-pieces.

“One thing for sure, we’re going to score goals but it’s what’s going to happen at the other end. It doesn’t seem to matter who we’re playing, who we play I should say, and it’s just annoying that they’ve scored from two set-pieces and it’s not acceptable.”

Dartford: Andrew Young, Jamie Coyle, Tommy Osborne, Ray Powell, John Guest, Nick Barnes, James White, Jamie Day, Cody McDonald, Rob Haworth, Lee Noble.
Subs: Ryan Hayes, Brendon Cass, Adam Flanagan, Steve Butterworth, Darren Ibrahim.

Goals: Cody McDonald 2, 34, 46

Oxford City: Ryan Harrison, James Sawlsbury, Steve Davis, Andy Gunn, Dave Savage, Steve Jackman, Jon Gardner, Liam Malone (Darren Pond 75), James Faukneer, Jamie Brooks, Mark Bell (Michael Lyon 68).
Subs: George Redknapp, Lee Rendell.

Goals: Jon Gardner 20, Andy Gunn 56, Steve Jackman 89

Booked: Liam Malone 65

Attendance: 749
Referee: Mr David Bushell (Tottenham, London N17)
Assistants: Mr Mark Tweed (London N15) & Mr Mr Mustafa Ergun (London E8)