Dartford 4-1 Bromley - I need to put my stamp on this club in the summer, says Bromley boss Bird

DARTFORD  4-1  BROMLEY
Kent Senior Cup Final
Bank Holiday Monday 2 May 2011
Stephen McCartney reports from Princes Park Stadium

BROMLEY boss Hayden Bird has promised to make wholesale changes for next season after Ryan Hayes inspired Dartford to their first Kent Senior Cup triumph for 23 years at a windy Princes Park Stadium.

Right-winger Hayes, 25, the club’s longest serving player, dazzled the crowd of 2,025 with a majestic performance as Dartford gained revenge for Bromley’s 4-1 win at Hayes Lane in Blue Square Bet South only ten days earlier.

But the Darts had the last laugh as they went on to win their last two league games (Bromley lost their final two without scoring), to finish their first campaign at this level in tenth-place, level on 57 points and one place above Bromley, and with their first Kent Senior Cup since Paul Sawyer lifted the magnificent trophy back in 1988.

Dartford skipper Elliot Bradbrook sent them on their way as he bundled in a close range effort after 20 minutes to the delight of the home faithful, before Hayes tore Bromley and left wing-back Harrison Dunk apart, doubling the lead himself after 50 minutes, before Bromley goalkeeper Craig Holloway punched Hayes’ corner into his own net just five minutes later, before Danny Harris tapped home a fourth.

Abject Bromley scored a consolation in the final fourteen minutes when striker Warren McBean scored his tenth goal of a miserable season in what is likely to be his last game for the Hayes Lane outfit.
 
The Kent County Football Association was delighted to announce before the game that Charlton Athletic and Gillingham will return to the Kent Senior Cup next season – a significant coup to raise the profile of the competition.

New chief executive Paul Dolan wrote in his programme notes, “This is a very exciting time for the Kent Senior Cup.  Brining back the magic to Kent’s oldest football tournament and raising its profile was high on my agenda when I took over as chief executive of the Kent FA in February.”

He added: ”When Gillingham and Charlton dropped out several years ago the cup seemed to become less important to the county’s senior clubs.  With the return to these two top teams I hope the crowds will return to watch games in the competition next season.”

Gillingham manager Andy Hessenthaler and Charlton Athletic boss Chris Powell were both introduced to both sets of players just before kick-off before departing from their seats in the directors box after 68 minutes.

Unfortunately, the 250-strong Bromley faithful, who had to put up with such a poor display, had to stay until the end.  Some of them vented their feelings by looping toilet rolls onto the pitch, hinting to their players what they really thought of their heartless performance.

With Dartford celebrating out on the pitch, Bird, who was interviewed in reception, said afterwards, “It’s not nice at all.  I thought that Dartford played very well. Dartford were worthy winners.  They coped with the conditions better than we did and I think that we showed today the squad doesn’t have enough depth to really compete at this level.  We saw how much we missed the likes of Jerrome Sobers (injured) and Leon McKenzie (suspended) for example, only two examples but they were definitely much more stronger and physical today.  I think that was a key part of the game.”

Dartford boss Tony Burman was delighted that he has guided the club to its third trophy in the last four years.

”I’m very pleased that we’ve put on a good performance in front of a fantastic crowd.  I felt we thoroughly deserved it,” he said.

”It is just nice to finish on a little bit of a high.  It hasn’t been a great season, but it’s been a good season, that’s for sure.”

Players struggled to cope with the windy conditions (despite there being blue skies above this magnificent setting), although Dartford created the first chance inside six minutes.

Matt Jones spread the ball out to Hayes, who cut inside and whipped in a trademark cross with his lethal left-foot and Bradbrook planted a header, which just dropped past the foot of the far post.

Dartford goalkeeper, Deren Ibrahim, who won the competition with Sittingbourne 12 months ago, was called into action after 12 minutes.

Dunk, who has created the attention from Charlton Athletic and Crawley Town this season – and scooped all three of the club’s player-of-the-year awards at the weekend and has been offered improved terms for next season, claims a club source, picked the ball up and cut inside from the left flank before cutting the ball back to Harry Harding, who stabbed a low right-footed shot towards the near post, and Ibrahim stuck out a strong hand to turn the ball aside.

Dartford, however, broke the deadlock inside 20 minutes, with a goal-mouth scramble, immediately after Harris’ right-footed drive deflected just past the far post.

Hayes whipped in the resulting right-wing corner, which was knocked down by Harris at the far post and Bradbrook steered the ball through a crowded goal-mouth and into the net, aided by a deflection.

Bradbrook, 26, said, “I got a touch on it before their player did. I’m definitely claiming it!”

The proud skipper added, “It was difficult in the first half with the wind.  It was really difficult go get out of your half in the first half so we were kind of lucky to have that wind in the first half where you can deal with it.

”We knew we’ll come out attacking them in the second half and they would have to deal with it.

”We scored the goal and went in 1-0 up with them turning round and go into that wind second half.  I think that was very difficult for them.”

Bromley went agonisingly close to equalising just 59 seconds later when Harry Harding was put through and cracked a left-footed shot on the very edge of the box, whilst sailed just over.

Hayes then delivered another corner from the right and 25-goal striker Charlie Sheringham nodded down and wide of the near post when well placed.

Bromley defender Liam Harwood then collected a square pass from Wes Daly and drove a left-footed shot from 30-yards, which took a deflection and sailed wide.

With both sets of fans, as expected, providing a good atmosphere, there was no further first half action.

But Dartford ran riot and added three goals in a whirlwind eleven-minute spell, which embarrassed Bromley.

Bird said: “I think that the conditions made it very difficult.  I think they adapted to the conditions better than we did.

”Today I’m disappointed because the one thing you have to do when you come here is that you have to be able to defend properly and I thought that defensively we were poor and all of their goals were avoidable and ultimately from defensive errors.”

Dartford left-back Tom Bonner, who joined in with an attack, was involved with the second goal when he whipped in a teasing cross which found Hayes inside the box and his right-footed shot nestled inside the bottom left-hand corner.

Bradbrook teed up a chance for the unmarked Sheringham, but he hooked a right-footed shot over, before a blunder from much-criticised Holloway gifted Dartford a third goal after 55 minutes.

Hayes drilled an exquisite corner from the right, which was curling into the Bromley net, but Holloway, who was down on his knees, inexplicably punched the ball into his own net.

Worse was to follow in the 61^st minute when the slack Bromley back three allowed Hayes to flash a low centre across the face of goal and an unmarked Harris (lurking at the far post) comfortably tapped the ball into the bottom near corner.

Burman – and Bradbrook – praised Hayes for his glorious contribution on his 200^th appearance for the club.

”That’s Ryan.  That’s how he can be,” beamed Burman.  “I think he creates and probably makes 70-75% of our goals.  He’s excellent today but we’ve moved up a league, he’s got to move with us.  We know what he needs to do but he can’t take away what he’s good at and today he was consistently good.”

Bradbrook added: “I’m pleased for him.  He’s been in and out (of the side) all season.  He gets on well with the boys in the dressing room.  He’s put in some great crosses this year so I was really pleased for him to get the goal.  I don’t know if he’ll be able to claim the second one – but I’ve claimed the first goal!”

The Bromley manager, however, wasn’t pleased with the way his side capitulated.

”Yes, absolutely nothing to add to that,” Bird said.  “We started the second half very badly.  They got out of the traps quickly and the goals that we conceded were poor.” 

Bromley’s longest serving player, the versatile Tutu Henriques, who this week was called “Mr Bromley”, by his manager, called Ibrahim into making a comfortable save 70 seconds later.

Arron Fray did superbly to twist and turn Dartford left-back Bonner and played the ball into the penalty box, which McBean was his useless self as he couldn’t control of the ball, but Henriques showed him the way by striking a low right-footed shot, which was gathered low down by Ibrahim.

Ironic cheers greeted Holloway as he caught a hopeful 35-yard free-kick from Dartford’s award winning terrier Lee Noble, and the Dartford fans chanted “what the f*****g hell was that!” when Charlie Ide sent a right-footed shot from 30-yards ballooning high over Ibrahim’s crossbar.

Bromley fans were probably thinking the same!

Bromley did pull a goal back in the 76^th minute, but by then it was too little too late on what was an awful day.

Harry Harding’s quickly taken free-kick was in between the two Dartford central defenders (Joe Bruce and Paul Goodacre) and McBean (who ended his 17 game drought against the Darts on Good Friday) slotted a right-footed shot past Ibrahim into the centre of the goal.

Hayes drilled a powerful left-footed free-kick over the bar from 40-yards and his replacement Jack Pallen flashed a shot wide of the left post after he was released by Noble.

Bradbrook, who after lifting the silverware handed it to Hayes, was proud to follow in assistant manager Sawyer’s footsteps all those years ago.

”Skip (Sawyer) was just telling me he was the last person to lift it (for Dartford) before I was.  It feels really good,” he said.

”We was expecting a nice crowd because if was decent weather and people turned out.  It’s the last game of the season so it was nice to get a win in front of them.”

When asked about gaining revenge on the defeat to Bromley just ten days earlier, Bradbrook replied, “That was terrible!  That was probably one of our worst performances of the whole year so it was nice (to win today) because we overtook Bromley in the league on the last day of the season as well.”

Burman was pleased that his Dartford side have finished their first season at this level with a piece of silverware.

 “It’s a trophy and it’s one that we’re pleased we’ve won and it just makes it nice for the end of the season.  It’s something that we’ve got from the season and good luck to them.”
 
Both manager’s now look forward to a busy close season to improve their squads, although it would appear that Bromley’s squad will be much-changed next season.

”I think it’s obvious to everybody the requirements are to improve,” said Bird.

”I think we need to change.  We need to strengthen in all areas and I’m going to go away now for a week to ten days and think things over, hear what (owner) Jerry (Dolke) has to say but it’s quite clearly quite a major job that has to take place in the summer.”

Bird added: “The end of the season weren’t too bad but it doesn’t paper over the cracks and there’s a clear requirement to improve in every area which is something we have to look at in the summer.”

When asked about comings and going’s, although club sources claim McBean will be shown the door to free up the budget, Bird replied, “I don’t think it’s fair to say at this point.  I think what’s fair to say is it’s a blank canvas in the summer now and I need to put my stamp on this club and that can’t happen until the summer, but it has to start happening now.”

Burman wants his club to be genuine play-off contenders next season.

”We’re at a club where we do want to be involved in things at the end of the season and we want to get into the play-off’s and we want to maybe win a trophy and have good Cup runs and that is the expectation now,” he said.

”I feel we should be challenging and that’s what we’ve got to try and do and improve things during the summer – learn from our mistakes and our in-experiences this year and improve it.”

Meanwhile, today’s attendance of 2,025 just proves that the Kent Senior Cup Final should be played on May Bank Holiday Monday and at one of the county’s top football stadia – Gillingham, Charlton Athletic, Dartford or Dover Athletic in future years.
 
Dartford: Deren Ibrahim, Matt Jones, Tom Bonner (James White 82), Joe Bruce, Paul Goodacre, Tom Champion, Ryan Hayes (Jack Pallen 83), Lee Noble, Charlie Sheringham (Adam Burchell 88), Danny Harris, Elliot Bradbrook.
Subs: Billy Eves, Andrew Young

Goals: Elliot Bradbrook 20, Ryan Hayes 50, Craig Holloway 55 (own goal), Danny Harris 61

Booked: Tom Champion 15, Elliot Bradbrook 36

Bromley: Craig Holloway, Arron Fray, Harrison Dunk, Liam Harwood, Jerry Nnamani (Jamie England 65), David Graves, Wes Daly, Tutu Henriques, Charlie Ide, Warren McBean, Harry Harding.
Subs: Ugo Udoji, Elliott Jones, Jerrome Sobers, Paul Agu

Goal: Warren McBean 76

Booked: Harrison Dunk 83

Attendance: 2,025
Referee:  Mr Stuart Butler (Maidstone)
Assistants: Graeme Ions (Westerham) & Mr Paul Beadle (Sevenoaks)
Fourth Official: Mr Darren Blunden (Dartford)