Horsham 1-3 Dartford - That's answered a few of our critics, says Burman

Thursday 18th March 2010

HORSHAM 1-3 DARTFORD
Ryman Premier League
Thursday 16th March 2010
Stephen McCartney reports from Gorings Mead

DARTFORD boss Tony Burman revealed tonight that there were a few home truths said in the dressing room after their home defeat to Boreham Wood just two nights ago - and they responded by bouncing back with a comfortable win at mid-table Horsham tonight.

The Darts suffered their third defeat in four against the Hertfordshire side 48 hours ago - but they bounced back courtesy of a brace from skipper Elliot Bradbrook and the fit-again Allan Tait.

“We’ve got back to winning ways, which was the most important thing, to get three points here tonight,” Burman told www.kentishfootball.co.uk at a rain drenched Gorings Mead.

“The boys have had a lot of pressure on them tonight to get a result. There was a lot of people outside Dartford who wanted us to get beat and have said a few things after the last four days, regarding we’ve done this or we’re not good enough or whatever.

“We’ve answered something tonight. We’ve got another game Saturday (at home to Maidstone United) and we’ve got to prove it again Saturday.”

The Darts got off to a flying start, as they settled any nervous tension, by taking the lead inside the opening five minutes.

Right-winger, Ryan Hayes (who had already sent a free-kick arrowing just over the crossbar) whipped in an excellent cross from the right to find Bradbrook unmarked inside the box and the midfielder flicked the ball past a stranded Josh Pelling.

“We started a lot better than we did for the last two games,” added Burman. “Elliot and Daffy (Danny Dafter) were excellent in midfield today. That’s their third 90 minutes (in a week) and I’m pleased for them, although there were a few things said on Tuesday after the game in the changing room, where they got a few things off their chest.”

Bradbrook almost doubled dominant Dartford’s lead when he got in behind the Horsham defence (after Horsham failed to clear a long throw into the box from John Beales) but the skipper’s shot skimmed the top of the crossbar from an acute angle.

Bradbrook did fire the ball into the back of the net but the flag had already been raised by the time Hayes centred Tait’s diagonal pass.

Horsham tried to get back into the game and Sam Tucknott was lively down the left flank before he was withdrawn due to a hamstring injury.

The home side’s one and only chance of the first half arrived ten minutes before the break when Anthony Acheampong and Claude Seanla combined to release Pat Harding through on goal, but the striker was denied by a fine block from Darts keeper Andrew Young, who spread himself well to make a crucial save.

And at the other end, Lee Burns released Danny Harris down the left and after cutting into the penalty area his cut-back found Tait lurking on the edge of the penalty area but his driven shot was saved at the second attempt by Pelling.

Horsham upped their tempo early in the second half, without troubling Young in the Dartford goal, before the Kent side doubled their lead after 56 minutes.

Ryan Johnson slipped the ball to Hayes and the winger showed all of his skill to cut into the penalty area and his centre was bundled over the line by Tait from a couple of yards out (under pressure from Anthony Acheampong) to score his sixth goal of an injury ravaged campaign.

And Burman added: “We decided to play Allan as he’s chomping at the bit to get in. He wants to show the supporters what a good player he is. He’s been very frustrated with the injury but he’s an intelligent player and it’s maybe time for us to have players like that at the club.”

The second goal knocked the stuffing out of Horsham and Harris had a close-range goal chalked off for offside, converting an excellent cross from Hayes, which bounced towards the far post.

Dartford did wrap up a good night’s work in the 68th minute when Bradbrook smashed a low drive past Pelling to find the bottom far corner after some excellent work from Dafter.

Horsham did pull a goal back but it was sheer consolation with eleven minutes remaining. Seanla cut in from the right and his low centre found Harding, whose initial fierce drive was beaten out by Young (with his arms above his head) but Harding followed up to smash the ball into the back of the net for his 20th goal of the season.

Tonight’s win puts Dartford ten points clear at the top of the Ryman Premier League table - with games in hand on Kingstonian and Sutton United - and they go into Saturday’s crunch game against Maidstone United in prime position with only 11 games left to play.

Burman had this message to any supporters that thought their bad run would continue tonight.

“They’re good players and we don’t become bad players,” he said. “They have frozen a little bit and the barrier has come up a little bit in the last couple of games but that (win tonight) shows what character we’ve got.

“Horsham is a difficult place to come to and get a result - and we’ve got one!”

Horsham: Josh Pelling, James Nicholls, Chris Riley (Ian Payne 58), Anthony Acheampong, Sam Page, Steve Davies (Adam Hutchings 72), Steve Sargent, Jack Page, Claude Seanla, Pat Harding, Sam Tucknott (Tony Nwachuckwu 72).
Subs: Patrick O’Sullivan, Eddie French.

Goal: Pat Harding 79

Booked: Sam Page 51

Dartford: Andrew Young, Billy Burgess, Adam Gross, Ryan Johnson, John Beales, Danny Dafter, Ryan Hayes (Lee Noble 86), Elliot Bradbrook, Allan Tait (Carl Rook 76), Lee Burns, Danny Harris.
Subs: Rob Haworth, James White, Jamie Coyle.

Goals: Elliot Bradbrook 5, 68, Allan Tait 56,

Booked: Ryan Hayes 50, Danny Dafter 76, Danny Harris 85

Attendance: 332
Referee: Mr Daniel Cook (Elson, Gosport, Hampshire)
Assistants: Mr Tony Foster (Portchester, Fareham, Hampshire) & Mr Andrew Dine (Portchester, Fareham, Hampshire)