RYMAN KINGS CLINCH TITLE: Kingstonian 2-6 Dartford - We deserve everything that we've got - Burman

Saturday 10th April 2010

KINGSTONIAN 2-6 DARTFORD
Ryman Premier League
Saturday 10th April 2010
Stephen McCartney reports from Kingsmeadow Stadium

DARTFORD boss Tony Burman was beaming with pride as his side outclassed second-placed Kingstonian to clinch the Ryman Premier League title in style.

Kingstonian went into the top-of-the-table clash on the back of two away defeats to relegation threatened sides Bognor Regis Town and Waltham Abbey and four games in the last seven days clearly took it’s toll on Alan Dowson’s men.

They had no answer to scintillating Dartford, who turned on the style to better their 5-0 home win over the K’s back in August.

Two early goals from their excellent wingers, Elliot Bradbrook and Ryan Hayes, settled their nerves and sent the Kent giants on their way to a glorious afternoon in the sunshine.

Kingstonian did pull a goal back through Simon Huckle’s brave header, but Dartford made it 3-1 before the break, through Danny Harris’ bullet header.

Bradbrook helped himself to a close-range second early in the second half, before shell-shocked Kingstonian were rewarded for their best spell in the game when striker Bobby Traylor netted his 36th goal of the season.

But nothing was going to stop Dartford wrapping up a champagne popping performance with goals from Hayes and substitute Lee Burns ensuring K’s goalkeeper Rob Tolfrey endured a nightmare in front of around 500 jubilant and vocal Dartford supporters.

Dartford raced out of the blocks meaning business and almost took the lead inside 102 seconds when Bradbrook sprayed the ball to Hayes, who cut inside before cracking a left-footed drive from the edge of the box, which was turned away by the diving Tolfrey, preventing the ball flying into the top corner.

But all he did was delay the inevitable as Dartford did take the lead inside the opening five minutes - and never looked back!

Hayes picked the ball up and held the ball up before slipping the ball through to right-back Billy Burgess, on the overlap, and his low centre was swept home by Bradbrook (who got to the ball first in a crowded goal-mouth) from inside the six-yard box.

Dartford doubled their lead after just 13 minutes, courtesy of a sweet left-footed volley from Hayes.

John Beales launched a throw from the left into the penalty area and Tolfrey managed to punch the ball away from inside a crowded penalty area and this was met by Hayes, who cracked a stunning left-footed volley from 25-yards, which flew into the top right-hand corner, despite the keeper getting a hand to the thunderbolt.

Kingstonian made the game interesting when they pulled a goal back after 33 minutes.

Dartford keeper Andrew Young was forced to tip over a looping header from team-mate Burgess and Kingstonian scored from the resulting corner.

Matt Gray swung the ball in from the right and this was flicked on by Traynor and Huckle got in where it hurts with a scooping header which beat Young from three-yards out.

But Dartford recovered from that brief set-back and regained their two-goal lead just five minutes later, proving to everyone that they’re the best team around.

Kingstonian’s defending was poor as they were expecting Beales to launch the ball into the box, but the former Tonbridge Angels defender didn’t.

Instead he threw the ball down short to left-back Adam Gross, who had time and space to cross the ball towards the far post and the unmarked Harris leapt to power a bullet header into the top-right hand corner.

Dartford went close before the break when Bradbrook’s low centre from the left was flicked back to the edge of the box by Danny Dafter and Michael Shinn’s drilled shot was met by a diving header from K’s central defender Adam Thomson, which flashed past his very own near post.

Dartford were just 45 minutes away from clinching the Ryman Premier League title with six games to spare.

Dowson brought on Dean Lodge at the interval to try and instil some energy into his team - but Dartford made it 4-1 three minutes into the second half.

Rob Haworth must be congratulated for closing down Tolfrey inside the penalty area and the ball spun off the big-target man towards goal and Bradbrook had the task of stabbing the ball over the line from just one-yard out.

The former Maidstone United midfielder - scoring his 12th goal of the season - was booked by party pooper, referee Mr Stephen Daly, for running towards the celebrating Darts fans to the left of the goal.

Kingstonian missed a gilt-edged chance when Gray cut in from the right and his low shot flashed across Young and bounced off the far post, but Bashiru Alimi skied over an open goal.

Had he scored then, Kingstonian might have got something out of this enthralling game, especially as their second goal arrived eleven minutes into the second half.

Carl Wilson-Denis slipped the ball to his strike partner Traynor, who drilled a low shot across Young and the ball smashed off the far post and into the opposite corner of the net.

Dartford’s fans chanted “we’re going to score in a minute,” and they were nearly right when Beales throw from the right found it’s way out to Hayes, who was lurking on the edge of the box, but his left-footed snap shot arrowed over the crossbar.

Dartford finally made the score 5-2 with twenty minutes remaining - and Tolfrey was at fault!

Bradbrook’s low cross from the left should have been comfortably dealt with by the keeper, but all he managed to do was to push the ball into Hayes’ path and the winger smashed his shot into the roof of the net.

The partying travelling contingent chanted “that’s why we’re champions” as their heroes sealed an emphatic victory twelve minutes from time.

Danny Harris (from inside the penalty area) crossed for substitute Burns to hook a volley into the back of the net - and was subsequently booked for taking off his shirt whilst he celebrated his 22nd goal of a championship winning season.

This was always going to be Dartford’s day - and after some negotiating, ten stewards positioned behind the goal allowed the passionate and well behaved travelling contingent to stream onto the pitch to celebrate with their heroic players and management staff.

Burman, who was speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk afterwards, was immensely proud of his glorious team.

“I thought they started from the off really,” he said. “We said we didn’t want to go for a draw or anything like that. We just wanted three points and not one.

“Fair play to the players, they’ve come out of the blocks and there were two good goals that they scored and it was a good performance all round.

“We’re a bit disappointed with the goals against, but there you go, it happens and it’s something that we’ve got to look at but having said that they’ve been brilliant all season. I can’t fault their effort and their work-rate all season.

“We started the first fifteen games, or whatever it was, being undefeated and that was a fantastic achievement as well and the weather has probably interrupted us a little bit but having said that we’ve com back and we’re on song now.”

Dartford are the best side in the Ryman Premier League this season, as their record of 25 wins, four draws and seven defeats testifies.

“I think we’re by far the best side, the best squad in this division,” insisted Burman. “The league doesn’t lie, as many people say, and I just feel, without being over the top or anything like that, we deserve everything that we’ve got and to win this league with six games to go is just brilliant and I think they thoroughly deserve it.

“At the start off the season we’ve beaten teams three or four nil and we was battering them and we were so much better than them as well, not just Kingstonian but a lot of big clubs and good sides especially in that start and a lot of the teams were expected to be up there.

“We’ve beaten them by some good scores and that is some sort of achievement and I’m really, really, pleased.”

But Burman added: “We’ve lost seven games so far. I think that’s a bit high to win the title but we’ve done it and I’m just delighted.”

Burman praised Bradbrook and Hayes for their contribution, not just today, but during the course of the campaign.

He said: “Don’t forget we lost Elliot Bradbrook for nearly two-and-a-half months and once he came back it was like signing a new player - and it was!”

“He’s very pivotal for us. He’s a very good player and Haysie is Haysie. He’s something different, we know his strengths and we definitely know his weaknesses but on his day….

“As I say, talk over the start of the season, he was one of the guys who was absolutely outstanding and he makes a hell of a lot of our goals. He’s just a good player.”

Burman wants his side to collect maximum points from their away games away to Harrow Borough (Tuesday) and Waltham Abbey (Thursday), before collecting the Ryman Premier League silverware when surprise-package Aveley (now in seventh following their late, late 3-2 win at Margate this afternoon) visit Princes Park next Saturday.

“I’m hoping it could be a full-house, it may not be, but I just hope it is,” said Burman.

“The people can come and appreciate us and appreciate what a fantastic stadium and everything else that we’ve got and it will be a fantastic day.”

Kingstonian: Rob Tolfrey, Matt Gray, John Fletcher, Adam Thompson, Max Hustwick, Simon Huckle, Bashiru Alimi, Mo Harkin, Bobby Traynor, Carl Wilson-Denis, Christian Jolley (Dean Lodg 46).
Subs: Lee Hall, Francis Duku, Grant Kerr, Luke Garrard.

Goals: Simon Huckle 33, Bobby Traynor 56

Booked: Simon Huckle 72

Dartford: Andrew Young, Billy Burgess (Jamie Coyle 81), Adam Gross, Adam Flanagan, John Beales, Danny Dafter (James White 80), Ryan Hayes, Michael Shinn, Rob Haworth (Lee Burns 66), Danny Harris, Elliot Bradbrook.
Subs: Jamie Coyle, Lee Noble, James White, Lee Burns, Allan Tait.

Goals: Eliot Bradbrook 5, 48 Ryan Hayes 13, 70, Danny Harris 38, Lee Burns 78

Booked: Elliot Bradbrook 48, Lee Burns 78

Attendance: 929
Referee: Mr Stephen Daly (Staines, Middlesex)
Assistants: Mr Ian Kitchen (Chertsey, Surrey) & Mr Michael Webb (Woking, Surrey)