MATCH OF THE SEASON: Dartford 4-3 Ashford Town - Martin says goodbye in seven-goal thriller

Saturday 20th January 2007

DARTFORD 4-3 ASHFORD TOWN
Ryman League Division One South
Saturday 20^th January 2007
Stephen McCartney reports from Princes Park

Dartford fans gave their departing hero Dave Martin, 21, a standing ovation following this epic seven goal thriller at Princes Park today.

The lightening quick left-winger, who was plucked out of Kent League football at Slade Green by Tony Burman, is expected to sign for either Championship side Crystal Palace – managed by former Dart Peter Taylor - or League One outfit Millwall this week.

The Darts, now unbeaten in eight games, winning their last four, will hold a press conference at Princes Park on Tuesday morning.

But Martin said goodbye to the Ryman League Division One South club by winning an injury time penalty as the Darts won the best game played in Kent this season.

A crowd of 1,470, Dartford’s eighth successive four-figure crowd since coming home in November, received full value for money as second placed Dartford defeated an Ashford Town side that, on recent displays, should be higher than their position in the bottom two.

Following an uneventful opening twenty minutes, Ashford found themselves deservedly 2-0 up to stun the Darts faithful after 36 minutes through Ken Jarrett-Elliott and Walid Matata before Darts hit back through Jay May just two minutes later.

But May levelled for the Darts eight minutes into the second half with his seventeenth goal of the season to bring the home side back on level terms before Matata became the first player to score from the penalty spot at this stunning stadium to give Ashford the lead again after 58 minutes.

But a seventeen-man brawl, which resulted in straight red cards for Tom Adlington and May saw both sides reduced to ten-men.

Dartford’s central defender, Lew Watts scored his second goal of the season from two yards inside his own half to make this enthralling clash 3-3.

Dartford’s amazing comeback, however, was completed when right-sided winger, Ryan Hayes, kept his composure to score his 12^th goal of the season with a last gasp penalty.

But watching the opening twenty minutes you would not have predicted that a seven-goal epic being the outcome.

Ashford star midfielder, Matt Carruthers, who finished the game playing at the heart of their defence, had a couple of chances before they deservedly broke the deadlock after 21 minutes.

Dartford’s experienced goalkeeper Kevin Hudson did well to tip Carruthers’ 35-yard, right-footed free-kick onto his crossbar but Jarrett-Elliott was on hand to steer the ball home for his second goal of the campaign.

It took Dartford 31 minutes to fashion their first chance of the game.

Central midfielder, Eddie McClements drove a left-footed effort from 25-yards, but Jake Whincip was on hand to make a comfortable save as the ball bounced once in front of him.

But a piece of magic from Matata, the former Dover Athletic and Folkestone Invicta striker, opened his goalscoring account for Ashford after 36 minutes.

In fact, the lightening quick striker had scored in games against Hastings United and Cray Wanderers in recent weeks, but both goals were wiped out as those games were abandoned due to waterlogged pitches.

The highly-rated striker cut in from the left, left three defenders in a daze, before rolling the ball past Hudson from 12-yards.

Luckily for the Tottenham resident there were blue skies above the stunning £6.5m stadium - fit for exciting games like this.

But Dartford hit back almost immediately when May’s 25-yard drive took a deflection of defender Marc Cumberbatch to leave Ashford’s much-travelled 21-year-old goalkeeper stranded.

Cumberbatch almost made amends when he shot straight at Hudson at the near post, following Jarrett-Elliott’s corner.

At the half-time break you could sense that these two good sides would produce more drama.

Ashford’s manager, John Cumberbatch emerged from the tunnel during the half-time interval to pass on instructions to 32-year-old substitute, defender, Graham Porter.

Cumberbatch was forced to watch the second half from the away officials section at the back of the stand as he was sent-off by Crawley based referee, Mr Warren Atkin during his half-time team talk.

With Porter thrown in at the deep end issuing instructions from the technical area, the visitors created their first chance of the season half after just 45 seconds.

Matata intercepted a loose ball from Hayes and burst forward towards goal, but his 20-yard effort rolled to Hudson.

Dartford were awarded a free-kick on the edge of the D but Hayes’ left-footed free-kick took a deflection over.

But Dartford drew level from the resulting 53^rd minute corner when May glanced home Hayes’ excellent corner kick.

The equaliser brought Dartford back into life and Ashford lost their composure for a short time.

Darts leading scorer, Brendon Cass, endured a quiet day but he should have tucked away Ryan Briggs’ free-kick but missed the target from six-yards.

But Ashford were awarded a penalty after 58 minutes when Marc Cumberbatch was flattened inside a crowded penalty area following Anthony Allman’s free-kick out on the left.

Matata stepped up to calmly roll his right-footed penalty to Hudson’s left as the goalkeeper went the other way.

Watts, meanwhile, is not renowned for his goalscoring but his 62^nd minute clearance left Whincup red-faced.

Manager Tony Burman even revealed that Watts declined a goal bonus when he signed for the club in September.

But his second goal for the club came from a looping clearance up field from two yards inside his own half as the ball bounced over Whincup’s head and dropped into the net to send the home fans into raptures.

Former Dartford defender, Adlington, playing in the heart of defence, blotted his copybook when an incident with Hayes sparked the seventeen-man brawl.

Adlington punched Hayes twice as his opponent laid on the ground after both players tussled for the ball.

During the brawl, May retaliated on Adlington and after calm was restored, the three match officials discussed the incident together out on the pitch.

The referee took time to brandish straight red cards to Adlington, then May and then Matata received a yellow card.

Cass did find the back of the net with nineteen minutes remaining but the flag had already been raised before he glanced home Hayes’ free-kick.

Carruthers, playing the ball out of defence, with Martin chasing him, played a sublime diagonal ball to Matata out on the left flank.

Using his trademark pace, Matata cut in from the left but his right-footed 18-yard shot flashed agonisingly past the foot of the near post.

Whincup, meanwhile, pulled off the save of the match late on, spreading himself to deny Martin a goal on his last appearance for Dartford.

But he was not to be denied for long, as his trademark pace saw him burst past three defenders and his shot struck Allman’s outstretched arm and the referee had no hesitation but to point to the spot.

Hayes stepped up to fire his left-footed penalty into the bottom right hand corner with 47 minutes and 59 seconds on the clock – just 121 seconds from the end of this enthralling contest.

At the final whistle Martin walked up towards the Darts faithful behind the goal as they gave him a well-deserved ovation.

I’m sure the Darts fans would like to wish Martin, arguably the most talented footballer in Kent, all the very best as a professional footballer.

I’m sure every right-back that his terrorised would like to wish him well also.

But you had to feel sorry for Ashford for losing such a great game of football.

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Dartford: Kevin Hudson, Tommy Osborne, Steve Norman, John Guest, Lew Watts, Ryan Hayes, Ryan Briggs, Jay May, Brendon Cass (James Carter 89), Eddie McClements, Dave Martin.
Subs: Brad Potter, Carl Bruce, Ted Ansell

Goals: Jay May 38, 53, Lew Watts 62, Ryan Hayes 90 (pen).

Sent off: Jay May 65

Ashford Town: Jake Whincup, Anthony Allman, Simon Glover, Tom Adlington, Marc Cumberbatch, Kevin Lott, Luke Coleman, Matt Carruthers, Walid Matata, Steve Sodje, Ken Jarrett-Elliott (Ian Ross 70).
Subs: Nick Fenwick, Joe Hitchins, Graham Porter, Lee Ealham

Goals: Ken Jarrett-Elliott 21, Walid Matata 36, 58 (pen)

Sent off: Tom Adlington 63

Attendance: 1,470
Referee: Mr Warren Atkin (Crawley)
Assistants: Mr Andy Mead (Orpington) & Mr James Garrett (Blackheath)