Dartford 6-1 Enfield Town - Enfield outclassed by breathtaking Darts

Having scored seven goals against Witham Town in midweek, Tony Burman’s talented side were keen to continue in the same vein today, totally outclassing an Enfield Town team, that started the game in fourth place.

One irritating visiting supporter, allowed to stand in the space behind the away dug-out, beside the press box, was shouting “hallelujah” every time referee Nigel Lugg awarded his side a decision - but was stunned to silence, not only by a steward, who was thankfully doing his job, but a Dartford side that on their displays this week, should be playing at a much higher level of football than Ryman League Division One North - they were simply too good!

Burman’s side ensured that their 7-2 win over Witham Town in midweek was not a one-off, and have set their standards as they bid to claim top spot and promotion into the Ryman Premier League.

Enfield Town were shell-shocked as they went into the break four goals to nil down, as an early brace from defender Adam Flanagan, Jay May’s tenth goal of the season, and a stunning audacious Ryan Hayes free-kick got the Kent side off to a whirlwind start.

And during the second half midfield play-maker Eddie McClements made it five before Brendon Cass scored his 21^st goal of the season to wrap up a perfect day.

David Bastian netted his third goal of the season to score a consolation for the north Londoners.

But had Enfield scored from the first opportunity of the game, then maybe it might have been a different outcome.

Goalkeeper Andre Foster plucked Hayes’ free-kick out of the air and his kick up field was latched onto by central midfielder Bryant Hammatt.

The skipper then cut the ball back to striker Ruddi Hall, but he failed to score his tenth goal of the season, blazing his right-footed shot high over Tony Kessell’s bar from sixteen-yards.

Enfield Town were punished as Flanagan netted two goals inside the opening eleven minutes.

The Darts were awarded a free-kick on the left-hand side, and Hayes’ left-footed delivery bounced off the two-man wall, finding it’s way to the far side of the six-yard box.

And former Folkestone Invicta skipper Flanagan drilled his shot past Forster from an acute angle to give the Kent side the lead after six minutes and 47 seconds.

And with ten minutes and 20 seconds elapsed Flanagan scored his, and Dartford’s second.

Hayes drilled another free-kick into the six-yard box, which evaded May, but Flanagan was on hand to bundle the ball into the net from four-yards to take his goalscoring tally to five for the season.

Hammatt was forced into shooting from distance, but his right-footed shot from 35-yards was never going to beat Kessell.

McClements was unlucky at the other end, as his right-footed shot from 25-yards, curled agonisingly over the crossbar, as Dartford were in the mood.

Dartford scored from another free-kick after 33 minutes.

Foster, who leaked 13 goals whilst playing for Burgess Hill Town in the two games against Dartford last season, was making his Enfield Town debut, having joined the club on loan from Blue Square South Thurrock last night.

He had a debut to forget, as he came rushing off his line to punch Steve Norman’s deep free-kick.

The ball landed at Jamie Coyle’s feet on the edge of the penalty area and he floated a free-kick for May, which hit a defender, and the striker stabbed the ball into an empty net from eight-yards.

Stunned Enfield Town, meanwhile, were unlucky not to pull a goal back when Hall’s right-footed free-kick from 24-yards, clipped the far-post with Kessell beaten.

And talented winger Hayes netted his fourth goal of the season with five minutes of an impressive first half remaining.

The former Slade Green winger unleashed an amazing free-kick, just yards from the left by-line, which rocketed past Foster, who was expecting a cross and had stepped away from his line, and could only look on in horror as the ball flew into the top far corner.

Straight from the kick-off, Hall tried his luck from the centre spot, trying to catch Kessell asleep, but like his team-mates, the former Folkestone Invicta goalkeeper was alert, plucking the ball out of the air on the goal-line.

Left-winger Phil Williams, still suffering from flu’, should have added to the score line 240 seconds into the second half.

The former Dulwich Hamlet star cut along the by-line and his low centre wasn’t put away by either May or Cass, but Williams continued his run off the ball, and somehow sent his left-footed shot high over Foster’s crossbar from just five-yards.

May was left in acres of space at the far-post and the striker cracked a right-footed volley from ten-yards, which crashed off the crossbar, after Hayes whipped in another trade-mark cross from the right.

But it was soon to be five as McClements scored his sixth goal of the season after 55 minutes.

Williams, who will get even better under the guidance of Burman, burst down the middle and struck a low right-footed drive, which Foster spilt, and McClements followed up to place the ball into an empty net from ten-yards.

It took leading striker Cass 56 minutes to register his first shot on goal, a right-footed effort, which rolled past the left-post.

But Cass finally got on the score sheet seven minutes later.

May, who received the ball from midfield rock, Alex O’Brien, flicked the ball into Cass’ path, and the striker dinked the ball over the advancing goalkeeper from 12-yards.

Dartford then stepped off the gas, and gave their beleaguered opponents a few chances of their own.

Bastian chipped a ball towards the far-post and Kessell denied substitute Simon Tickner scoring with a header from eight-yards.

But Bastian got on the score sheet with 66 minutes on the clock.

His initial shot was saved by Kessell, but the left-sided midfielder smashed the ball into the roof of the net from the edge of the six-yard box.

Dartford defender Coyle was denied within two minutes as his volley was kept out by a fine one-handed save by Foster, but the goalkeeper went back to his old ways when he spilt May’s right-footed drive from 22-yards.

Enfield should have pulled another goal back with eleven minutes remaining but Hammatt sent a towering header flying over Kessell’s crossbar from 12-yards, following a perfect cross from Bastian.

Their misery continued when striker Ricci Crase had a goal ruled out for offside in the last seven minutes.

And at the other end, substitute Mark Green steered a header past the near-post from six-yards, following another free-kick from Hayes.

On their last two performances, no-one in this division will be able to live with such an entertaining team.

Dartford: Tony Kessell, Jamie Coyle, Steve Norman, Adam Flanagan, Tommy Osborne, Alex O’Brien, Ryan Hayes, Jay May (Tom Bradbrook 86), Brendon Cass (Yohance Lewis 86), Eddie McClements, Phil Williams (Mark Green 61).
Subs: Dave Moore, Richard Avery.

Goals: Adam Flanagan 7, 11, Jay May 33, Ryan Hayes 40, Eddie McClements 55, Brendon Cass 63

Booked: Jay May 45, Alex O’Brien 45, Adam Flanagan 51

Enfield Town: Andre Foster, Malcolm Dannie (Steve Velandia 57), Kofi Nyamah, Tom Hodge (Simon Tickner 24), Glen Harvey, David Bastian, Richard Georgiou, Rudi Hall, Ricci Crase, Bryan Hammatt, Darren Grieves (Matt Mitchell 41).
Subs: Ozie Foster, Luke Marshall.

Goals: David Bastian 66

Booked: Rudi Hall 14, Bryant Hammant 24, Richard Georgiou 67

Attendance: 1,004
Referee: Mr Nigel Lugg (Chipstead, Surrey)
Assistants: Mr Stephen Earl & Mr Roger Wells