Hendon 3-0 Dartford - Controversial red card upsets Burman

HENDON 3-0 DARTFORD
Ryman Premier League
Saturday 16^th August 2008
Mike Green reports from Claremont Road

IT WAS a day to forget for Dartford on their return to Ryman Premier League football as quite literally everything that could go wrong did, as they travelled to Claremont Road on the opening day of the season.

For Tony Burman’s reigning Ryman League Division One North champions, to say that this was a reality check really puts the next nine months into sharp immediate focus.

That said, there wasn’t that much wrong with Dartford’s performance. Indeed, all that was lacking was that killer touch in front of goal; and of course a few decisions that were questionable to say the least from referee Mr John Scott.

Indeed, the performance of the officiating team as a whole made you wonder that perhaps the men in black were still on their holidays.

For, without any question, the dismissal of Dartford defender John Guest on 29 minutes changed this game beyond recognition.

At the time the Darts trailed to a magnificent headed goal on 15 minutes from giant striker Brian Haule - it was a disappointing goal for Dartford to concede as the free-kick travelled from the half-way line into their box.

However, the Darts responded magnificently and within a minute Nick Barnes was within inches of equalising.

Lee Noble did brilliantly down the left and his pass found Barnes, whose shot beat goalkeeper Luke Blacmore but was scrambled off the line and into the grateful keeper’s arms.

Moments later, an even better chance for the visitors. Ray Powell got away down the right and his beautifully flighted cross found Jamie Coyle eight-yards out but the defender’s shot flew straight at Blackmore. If only the ball had found Brendon Cass, who had made a fine run to the near post and would have surely equalised.

Then came the moment that turned the game.

A hopeful defensive clearance from the home side was misjudged by Guest on the wing and as Haule threatened to get clear of him, the defender pulled him back.

Now, if this had happened within twenty yards of goal, referee Scott’s decision to award the red card could not have been argued.

But when it occurred on the edge of the centre circle with defenders covering both sides, it wasn’t hard to see why Burman was so incensed.

As the Darts re-organised, with Coyle moving into the centre and Powell back to full-back, Hendon doubled their lead courtesy of a stunning drive from 25-yards.

James Bent, who was a thorn throughout, cut in off the right and hammered home a left-footed shot into the bottom corner of Tony Kessell’s net.

Indeed, but for Kessell, this game would have been over as a contest by the break, as the keeper excelled to deny Bent and a Sam Byfield drive.

As the official blew for half-time Burman and his coaching staff waited for the official at the end of the tunnel and were deep in conversation as they disappeared from view.

After half-time, despite kicking down the slope with the wind at their back, the Darts still struggled to create any worthwhile chances, even after replacing Cass and Noble and handing debuts to Rob Haworth and Steve Butterworth.

Former Redbridge striker Butterworth did have the visitors best chance of the second half, a quarter-of -an-hour before time, but again Blacmore was relieved to see a defender hammer the ball out of the ground after Butterworth had beaten him to Haworth’s flick.

Twelve minutes from time Hendon sealed the points with a third goal, which summed up Dartford’s afternoon.

The ball went out of play and with the players’ turning for a goal kick the officials pointed to the corner, from which, defender and goalkeeper alike stood motionless as Chris Banguara headed home, seconds after coming on for Haule.

Afterwards, a shell-shocked Burman admitted it wasn’t the Darts day.

He said: “We let silly goals in today, goals that we should have stopped.”

When questioned about Guest’s dismissal, the Dartford boss was pragmatic.

When asked if the dismissal was controversial or questionable, Burman admitted: “It definitely changed the game. Up until then, although we were a goal down, we were playing well and we had the chances.

“If only Jamie and Brendon had been in each others place, we would have been level.”

The boss also admitted that this wasn’t his prolific marksman’s day, adding: “Brendon didn’t enjoy himself today - the service wasn’t great - but that’s why I brought Rob Haworth to the club.

“I could sit here and say today’s been a shock to the system, but we did lose heavily away in the first week of last season too (the Dart’s second away trip last season was a 4-0 defeat at Ware).

“We’ll see where we are after 10-12 games. After all, it’s only “Dover on Tuesday” and we must remember that the winner won’t win the league and the loser won’t get relegated.”

Hendon: Luke Blackmore, Kevin McLaren, Craig Vargas, Mark Leach, Mark Kirby, Jamie Busby, James Bent (Ludo Guentchev 85), Casey McLaren, Brian Haule (Chris Banguara 77), Chris Mapes (James Burgess 80), Sam Byfield.
Subs: Frederick Yeboah, Dave Didiou.

Goals: Brian Haule 15, James Bent 33, Chris Banguara 78

Booked: Casey McLaren 39

Dartford: Tony Kessell, Jamie Coyle, Steve Norman, Adam Flanagan, John Guest, Alex O’Brien (Ryan Hayes 77), Ray Powell, Nick Barnes, Bredon Cass (Rob Haworth 56), Danny Dafter, Lee Noble (Steve Butterworth 64).
Subs: James White, Tommy Osborne.

Sent off: John Guest 29