Dartford 5-0 Kingstonian - It's Burns' night for scintilating Darts

Tuesday 25th August 2009

DARTFORD 5-0 KINGSTONIAN
Ryman Premier League
Tuesday 25th August 2009
Stephen McCartney reports from Princes Park Stadium

A SCINCTILATING performance from table-topping Dartford ensured they played newly promoted side Kingstonian off the park as they romped to a convincing five-goal victory at a buzzing Princes Park tonight.

The Darts have now scored FIFTEEN goals from their opening four games and top the Ryman Premier League table by two points at this early stage.

Shell-shocked Kingstonian, meanwhile, are finding life tough at this level, since clinching the Ryman League Division One South title by seven points ahead of Cray Wanderers.

And Alan Dowson’s side had no answer to excellent attacking play from breathtaking Dartford, which leaves the K’s pointless and looking to pick up the pieces from a horrendous start, which has seen them lose to Ashford Town (Middlesex), Harrow Borough, Aveley and now Dartford, leaking 19 goals in the process.

Such was the Darts’ dominance throughout this exquisite one-sided game, Dartford goalkeeper Andrew Young enjoyed one of his more quieter games as Lee Burns took centre stage.

The 27-year-old, a right-back or midfielder by trade, has certainly taken to partnering Rob Haworth up front well, as not only Elliot Bradbrook and Haworth had first-half goals ruled out for offside, Burns missed a penalty before scoring his hat-trick, which took his goalscoring tally to six goals from four games.

Bradbrook and Ryan Hayes also got on the score sheet and outclassed Kingstonian also had midfielder Tommy Williams and Scottish manager Dowson red-carded for dissent on a night they would like to forget.

Dartford, who kept faith with the same starting eleven that won 3-1 at Hastings United at the weekend, called Kingstonian goalkeeper Luke Garrard into early action.

Billy Burgess’ throw by the corner flag found its way to Bradbrook and his scuffed low drive brought a smart low diving save beside the foot of the post.

Winger Ryan Hayes, who gave Ryan Lake a torrid time throughout, delivered a superb cross towards the far post and Haworth saw his header from six-yards skim the outside of the near post.

Kingstonian failed to test Young all evening and their vocal 100 or so supporters were soon stunned to silence as the game was all but over after the half-hour mark.

Dartford had the first of their two goals chalked off for offside when Bradbrook sent an acrobatic overhead kick crashing into the roof of the net, following Haworth’s looping header, before Bradbrook gave the Kent side a deserving 14th minute lead.

Hayes floated over his first corner of the night from the right and this was flicked on at the near post by grafter Burns and Bradbrook, a summer signing from Maidstone United, ghosted in to plant a header, which bounced into the bottom right-hand corner, past Garrard’s despairing dive.

Kingstonian’s skipper then made a comfortable near post save to prevent Burns scoring with a hooked shot at the near post following Burgess’ quickly taken throw.

But Dartford had a second goal ruled out for offside on the half-hour mark, as the home side turned defending into a swift attack.

Young bravely punched away Williams’ floated cross whilst under pressure and this released Hayes, who after bursting forward got Burgess and Bradbrook involved.

The ball found its way to Jamie Day down the left and his cross was brought under control by Burns and his cross was met by Haworth‘s header, but his celebrations were cut short by an offside flag.

But no flag could save woeful Kingstonian, as Dartford raced into a 2-0 lead after 33 minutes, thus ending the game as a contest.

And what a strike it was as Burns picked up the ball just outside of the Kingstonian box and cracked a stunning right-footed volley from 20-yards, which rocketed over Garrard and crashed into the roof of the net.

K’s full-back Lake would be having nightmares tonight as Hayes was giving him a torrid time with pace and skill and thankfully for the left-back, he was withdrawn after 57 minutes as both sides made double substitutions at the same time.

And in the 39th minute, Haworth got in some space down the right and delivered a fine cross for Burns to loop a header into the keeper’s arms.

The third goal arrived on the stroke of half-time, much to the delight of the majority of the 1,038 crowd.

Hayes whipped in yet another cross and Hayes was denied by a fine save by Garrard, but Burns followed up to smash a low angled drive into the bottom far corner.

By this time Kingstonian’s supporters were stunned to silence - they simply could not believe what they were watching as their side collapsed in embarrassing fashion.

By this time, Kingstonian coach Martin Tyler must have wished that he was still a television celebrity - but from our position from the press box above his dug-out the Dartford faithful - and players - were certainly enjoying the night.

Rampant Dartford wanted more, and goal number four duly arrived in the 54th minute.

This time Burns turned provider and his pass released Hayes in acres of space and after cutting in from the right, the winger unleashed a fine low left-footed curling drive, which beat Garrard’s outstretched fingers to find the bottom far corner.

Dartford were awarded a 57th minute penalty for handball, but Burns took over from penalty taking duties from defender Adam Flanagan but Garrard made a fine diving save to his right to mute celebrations for a while.

Kingstonian’s woes were summed up in the 63rd minute when midfielder Williams was shown two yellow cards all within a minute of each other.

He was first booked by referee Mr Carl Brook for a clash with Lee Noble and as Williams jogged back to his midfield position he was seen to turn his head towards assistant referee Mr Saul Kay and obviously said something out of turn.

The Sittingbourne official brought this to the attention of Mr Brook, who brandished an immediate second yellow, which deservedly turned to red.

K’s then dropped their prolific goalscorer Bobby Traynor, who didn’t get a sniff all night, into the left-back position.

Burns was able to celebrate his well-deserved hat-trick with six minutes of this glorious night left.

Two substitutes were involved, as Noble whipped in a cross from the left, which was flicked on by Danny Dafter and Garrard was at fault for spilling the ball and Burns smashed the ball into the net from close in.

Noble and defender Flanagan went close at the death, and outclassed Kingstonian also had their manager Dowson red-carded for dissent on what was a night to forget for them.

But the Darts certainly put down a big marker towards their title aspirations, although manager Tony Burman swiftly ruled out the fact that his side are champions-elect after just four games into a promising season.

“There’s a long way to go before we can say that,” Burman told www.kentishfootball.co.uk during the two-man press conference.

“It’s our fourth game and we’ve had a good start. I’ve got to be honest and say the players have thoroughly deserved the four wins. They’ve played ever so well, the work-rate they’re putting in is tremendous.

“First half, yes, I felt we started off well. We had a good chat about things before the game. I haven’t have to keep on about players’ slipping up and things like that.

“We’ve decided that we wanted to be as professional as we can and we had a job to do and wanted to do it.”

Burns has now scored six goals so far this season - not bad for a right-back turned hard-working striker!

But Burman was disappointed in his hat-trick hero - as Flanagan was down for spot-taking duties.

“He won’t have it again!” blasted Burman, on Burns’ penalty howler.

“There’s no sort of sentiment. Flan (Flanagan) takes penalties and Flan should’ve taken it. We’ve just spoken about it. Let’s not do it! Let’s just do what we’re good at, don’t have any sentiment. Flan should’ve taken the penalty and Lee got his opportunity to score three goals anyway.”

On a more positive note, Burman added: “Lee is somebody at the moment who is enjoying himself. I think he’s enjoying football and he’s not a front runner. Well, he can play up front and he can play midfield, right side or right-back.

“He’s not bad for a right-back (turned striker), he’s scored 3 goals for us (tonight) and he’s probably the league’s top goalscorer at the moment.”

Burman was, however, pleased with his side’s domination, especially during the first half.

He said: “I think we played very well, that was a good performance. First half, it was a strong, solid performance, nothing fancy.

“It was just a good all round performance to be fair. I thought first half we looked awesome. Credit to all the players for that!

“I’m pleased because of the work-rate. I know they can all play but we’ve instilled into them that they’ve got to work hard to get anything and Lee Burns has typified that a little bit.

“He’s not the out-and-out forward with finesse and everything else, but him and Rob (Haworth) haven’t given the centre halves a minute’s peace and that’s gone through the club.”

Dartford: Andrew Young, Billy Burgess, Adam Gross, Adam Flanagan, Jamie Coyle, James White, Ryan Hayes, Jamie Day (Danny Dafter 67), Rob Haworth (Allan Tait 57), Lee Burns, Elliot Brad brook (Lee Noble 57).
Subs: John Beales, Tony Kessell.

Goals: Elliot Bradbrook 14, Lee Burns 33, 45, 84, Ryan Hayes 54

Booked: Elliot Bradbrook 31, Jamie Day 52, Adam Gross 56

Missed Penalty: Lee Burns 57 (saved)

Kingstonian: Luke Garrard, Neil Lampton, Ryan Lake (Tom Dilloway 57), Francis Duku, Max Hustwick, Simon Huckle, Liam Collins (Luke Pigden 57), Tommy Williams, Bobby Traynor, Carl Wilson-Denis, Dean Lodge.
Subs: Lewis Cook, Jamie Beer, Josh Willis.

Booked: Neil Lampton 59, Tommy Williams 62, Bobby Traynor 87

Sent off: Tommy Williams 63, Alan Dowson 89 (manager)

Attendance: 1,038
Referee: Mr Carl Brook (St Leonards, East Sussex)
Assistants: Mr Saul Kay (Sittingbourne) & Mr Ian Fessenden (Gillingham)