Kentish Football 
Dartford 4-1 Basingstoke Town - Danny Harris means a lot to us, says Darts boss Tony Burman
DARTFORD 4-1 BASINGSTOKE TOWN
Blue Square Bet South
Monday 27th February 2012
Mike Green reports from Princes Park Stadium
A hat trick from Danny Harris helped Dartford overcome a resolute Basingstoke Town as Monday Night football came to Princes Park - but the goal scoring hero was minutes away from missing out all together.
A beaming Darts boss Tony Burman confessed that his hat trick hero very nearly didn't play.
He said: "Danny was struggling to get here tonight to be honest. He said to me that he didn't think he'd get to the ground until after 7:00pm because of an exam that he was taking through work. I texted him back and told him that if he wasn't here by quarter to seven he wasn't playing, and this is what you have to remember with these players - they're still Non-League players after all!
“He got here just after quarter to seven - fair play to him - he means a lot to this club and he's been very good and I'm absolutely delighted for him scoring a hat trick and it was a good hat trick too."
Burman added: "Basingstoke are a good side - they've come here and had a go! They were quite physical but we were able to match that, and fair play to them for that.
“Over at their place, I thought they beat us up and they got the result - but tonight they didn't! We've come up into the League and we have to respect how some teams play and I think we've done that tonight and although it wasn't pretty at times, I still think that we were organised enough to win."
The first half was a strange spectacle that never really got going with neither keeper really tested.
However, on 6 minutes, the game’s first corner caused consternation in the Darts box, and for a split second the ball actually stopped in the six yard box before Luke Wilkinson hacked clear for the home side.
Former Bromley midfielder Wes Daly then went close with a free kick on 14 minutes for the visitors but Louis Wells at full stretch was able to shepherd the ball wide without making a save.
The visitors’ hopes weren't helped on 23 minutes when the lively looking Delano Sam Yorke hobbled off feeling his groin.
The home side’s first chance arrived moments later when Harris could only glance a Jon Wallis free kick wide of the left post.
Thankfully for the home side Harris' aim would improve during the evening along with his ever improving partnership up front with Jacob Erskine.
Then on 41 minutes the Darts won their first corner, and as Lee Noble flighted the ball into the box, veteran Basingstoke keeper Ashley Bayes could clearly be seen "cuddling" Harris which could easily have been deemed a penalty as Wilkinson powered in a header that was cleared off the line.
Harris was to get his own back left than 60 seconds later, as Erskine flicked on Wallis' free kick, Harris somehow kept his balance between two defenders before being allowed to drill the ball past Bayes for his 12th goal of the season.
Burman's team talk at half time must have really hit the mark as the Darts (and Basingstoke too to be fair) came out after half time playing some super-fast flowing football, and it was the Darts who were to take advantage by doubling their lead just seven minutes into the second half.
Wallis' corner was met by a terrific header from skipper Tom Champion, who was beginning to celebrate the goal as Bayes went full length to his right to pull off a fabulous save.
Sadly for the keeper it was Harris who acted quickest as he headed the rebound into the net to register his second of the night and his 13th of the season.
Basingstoke had to respond quickly and to be fair to the men from Hampshire that's exactly what they did as they pulled a goal back on 56 minutes.
Warner’s free kick wasn't dealt with by the Darts defence and Stuart Lake was able to force the ball past Wells and over the line.
Having scored the all-important third goal, the visitors’ tails were up and despite the tireless efforts of Sills up front, there attempts to draw level failed as the home side again upped the tempo, and from successive Wallis' crosses found Wilkinson - his first header flashed narrowly wide whilst his second from a super free kick thumped back off the bar.
The home side though weren't to be denied as on 77 minutes, Basingstoke's evening collapsed completely!
Wallis harried and hustled the midfield into losing position and as their defenders tried to clear, Harris took advantage as two defenders collided to square the ball across the face of goal for substitute Tony Garrod to slam home.
But on such a night the best was saved until last. With 80 minutes on the clock, Garrod did well down the left, and his pass found past Harris, who cut inside before curling an exquisite right footed shot around a despairing Bayes and into the net to spark wild scenes of celebrations from the Darts bench and leaving Harris with a grin as big as the Dartford Tunnel and as wide as the bridge.
Next up for the Darts as they continue their pursuit of leaders Woking, is a trip down the A21 to face Tommy Warrilow's Tonbridge Angels at Longmead Stadium.
"We'll look forward to going there," manager Burman said, "and we'll be going there on the back of two wins. We were well down in the dumps last week, everyone at the club, after what happened over at Wealdstone - not just the result but missing the chance of getting through to the last eight (of The FA Trophy) which we gave up too easily.
“So for the players to come back the way that they have is terrific - they get the stick at times but tonight they'll get the praise that this performance deserved To come back from that shows great character that they've all got to be honest, and I'm delighted for them."
Final word to hat trick hero Harris - when asked how the accountancy exam had gone earlier in the day, Harris said "Not very well" before disappearing to celebrate with the match ball firmly tucked away in his bag!
Dartford: Louis Wells, Matt Jones, Adam Green, Tom Bonner, Luke Wilkinson, Tom Champion, Lee Noble, Jon Wallis (Richard Graham 85), Jacob Erskine (Tony Garrod 73), James Rogers, Danny Harris (Ryan Hayes 85).
Subs: Paul Goodacre, Deren Ibrahim
Goals: Danny Harris 43, 52, 80, Tony Garrod 77
Booked: Luke Wilkinson 13
Basingstoke Town: Ashley Bayes, Nathan Smart, Toby Little, Steven Old, Jay Gasson, Stuart Lake (Simon Dunn 67), Wes Daly, Shaun McAvley, Tim Sills (Rob Gradwell 85), Delano Sam - Yorke (David Pratt 23), Matthew Warner.
Subs: Jide Ogunbote, Chay Morris
Goal: Stuart Lake 56
Booked: Steven Old 23
Attendance: 783
Referee: Mr Stephen Daly (Staines, Middlesex)
Assistants: Mr Stephen Rae & Mr Stephen Woodison (Ashford, Middlesex)
Red Dragon I.T. Ltd