MATCH REPORT | CHATHAM TOWN 0 DARTFORD 2
Dartford began the New Year with a victory, after two second-half goals saw off Chatham Town at The Bauvill Stadium.
As atrocious weather conditions hit the country on this New Year’s Day, credit must go to the 3,006 supporters who attended this fixture. Instead of staying in the warm nursing hangovers after the New Year’s Eve partying, they were out in force, getting soaked and cold while cheering on their respective teams non-stop.
This wasn’t the greatest spectacle out on the pitch, however, as both sides battled with the conditions while trying to get into some kind of rhythm.
The hosts were quick out of the blocks to force an early corner. Jack Evans’ curled set-piece found Rowan Liburd, who forced Jacob Marsden into an excellent save with a sweetly struck volley after just two minutes.
John Ufuah then followed up that early effort by failing to trouble Marsden with his strike in what proved to be the Chats’ only real opportunities in what was a poor first-half.
The Darts didn’t fair any better in front of goal during this period, with Hayden Bullas (27), Samir Carruthers (35), and Denzelle Olopade (42) all unable to test goalkeeper Joe Wright.
The Chatham shot-stopper pulled off a smart save to prevent Callum Jones from scoring shortly after the restart (48) though, before Jordy Robins failed to trouble Jacob Marsden with a long-range drive at the other end.
The deadlock was finally broken on the hour, when George Whitefield’s wonderful cross from the right-flank was inadvertently headed into the back of the net by Reece Butler.
Ten minutes later saw Ady Pennock make a double change in personnel, with Olly Box and Samir Carruthers making way for Eddie Dsane and Louis Dunne respectively (70). Those changes would be followed by Samuel Okoye and Jeremiah Pinder coming on for George Whitefield and Denzelle Olopade (75), before Duane Ofori-Acheampong replaced Michael Olarewaju deep into stoppage time.
As we return to the action, we find the Darts virtually controlling the game and Chatham seemingly unable to respond.
And the result was all but confirmed in the 78th minute, when Eddie Dsane raced clear with the ball and sent a clinical strike beyond the hapless Wright to net his eighth goal of the season in all competitions (fifth in the league).
The hosts did try to rally up a response late on, but both Rowan Liburd and substitute Kian Carlinge failed to test Jacob Marsden, who collected his eighth clean sheet of the season, three of which have come in the last three games.
Not only does the result mean that Dartford completed the league double over their Kent rivals this afternoon, but it also stretches their unbeaten league run to fourteen games, as well as close the gap to the league leaders to just four points.
TEAMS
CHATHAM TOWN: Joe Wright, Miquel Scarlett, Kasim Aidoo, Jordy Robins, Reece Butler, Jack Evans (c), Rowan Liburd, Freddie Sears, Jordy Mongoy, Valckx Fernandes, John Ufuah.
SUBSTITUTES: Sid Nelson, Jamie Yila, Kian Carlinge, Kareem Isiaka, Kofi Anokye-Boadi.
DARTFORD: Jacob Marsden, Sam Odaudu, Luther Williams, Josh Hill (c), Michael Olarewaju, George Whitefield, Denzelle Olopade, Samir Carruthers, Hayden Bullas, Olly Box, Callum Jones.
SUBSTITUTES: Duane Ofori-Acheampong, Samuel Okoye, Eddie Dsane, Louis Dunne, Jeremiah Pinder.
Chris Palmer
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