MATCH REPORT | DARTFORD 2 LEATHERHEAD 0
Dartford booked themselves a place in the hat for the 3rd Qualifying Round of the FA Cup, after first-half goals from Callum Jones and Eddie Dsane saw off a spirited Leatherhead side on a beautiful afternoon at Bericote Powerhouse Princes Park.
Having beaten Dulwich Hamlet in a replay in the previous round, The Tanners’ expectations were high going into this fixture. However, just as the 675 supporters were getting comfortable, an early mistake at the back proved costly. And, Callum Jones pounced to give Dartford a 6th minute lead after goalkeeper Sonny Wheeler couldn’t hold Eddie Dsane’s initial strike.
The Leatherhead shot-stopper redeemed himself soon afterwards, by making good saves to keep out Denzelle Olopade (17) and Samuel Okoye (22), as the hosts dominated the early stages.
Ian Selley’s side did begin to grow into the game, and a Mert Apat intervention in the 35th minute prevented Deondre Date from troubling goalkeeper Jacob Marsden. The Dartford number one would go on to mark his return from a pre-season injury by registering a clean sheet after completing a solid afternoon between the sticks.
The Darts extended their advantage seven minutes later though, when a wonderful pass by Samir Carruthers split the Leatherhead defence and released Eddie Dsane. The striker still had his work cut out for him, before firing into the bottom corner to net his fourth goal in six starts in all competitions (42).
The beginning of the second forty-five saw the Darts immediately on the front-foot, as they raced into the Leatherhead box in numbers only for a defender commit an obvious foul within seconds. However the referee, Mr Jack Oxenham, waved away the appeals much to the exasperation of the home faithful… The decision was the referee’s third denial of what looked like blatant spot-kicks so far (two for the Darts, one for the visitors), which angered both dugouts.
Once that controversial moment had passed, the visitors began to take the game to their hosts in a bid to claw their way back into proceedings. And, only the alertness of Jacob Marsden prevented them from pulling a goal back, as he made two good saves on 49 and 50 minutes.
They soon ran out of a little steam though, as Ady Pennock’s outfit began to even out the possession. And, the hosts came close to adding a third of the afternoon when Callum Jones (72) and Denzelle Olopade (76) missed the target narrowly with fine efforts.
Sonny Wheeler pulled off an excellent save in the 85th minute to prevent the brilliant Callum Jones from scoring his second goal, after the striker had reached Sam Odaudu’s free-kick first. After which the Darts controlled the remaining minutes.
Callum Jones’ performance earned him a deserved Man of The Match award, as the Darts booked a place in the next round of this historic competition.
TEAMS
DARTFORD: Jacob Marsden, Sam Odaudu, Josh Hill (c), Luther Williams, Mert Apat, Sam Okoye, Samir Carruthers, Denzelle Olopade, Jeremiah Pinder, Callum Jones, Eddie Dsane.
SUBSTITUTES: Matt Kerbey, George Whitefield, Ben Allen, Olly Box, Blu Husthwaite, Ashdon Day, Tyler Christian-Law.
LEATHERHEAD: Sonny Wheeler, Jude Jeffery, Niran Butler, Alfie Huckle, Oliver Cook, George Hedley (c), Marco Haigh, Thomas Kavanagh, Sebastian Karczewski, Kane Fitzgerald, Deondre Date.
SUBSTITUTES: Kwesi Ntim, Kelvin Mauel Massango, Anuar Ceesay, Matthew Everitt, Rileigh Hebditch.
Chris Palmer
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