MATCH REPORT | DARTFORD 1 EASTBOURNE BOROUGH 0
A first-half strike by Samir Carruthers proved to be enough, as Dartford registered a first pre-season win against a physical Eastbourne Borough at Bericote Powerhouse Princes Park.
The Sports started brightly via the lively Joey Phuti, who looked threatening down their right-flank. His excellent run forced an early corner via Ben Frempah’s timely intervention. Isaac Pitblado sent the ball towards the head of Trialist #5 which was blocked, only to fall to Pemi Aderoju. But his strike was excellently blocked by Dartford’s Trialist #16 (6).
Having weathered that early Eastbourne storm, the hosts soon ventured forward and took the lead via a Samir Carruthers screamer in the 15th minute.
Dan Smith failed to test goalkeeper Jamie Searle with his 34th-minute effort, before Callum Jones fired narrowly wide after great work by Denzelle Olopade, Ikechi Eze, and Carruthers (40).
The start of the second-half saw a brilliant lunging block by Luther Williams thwart Phuthi and Tayt-Lemar Trusty’s dangerous attack (58), before Jamie Searle made a great save to prevent Carruthers from netting a second goal after good work by Dan Smith at the other end (59).
As we reached the hour, Ady Pennock made ten substitutions, with only Trialist #16 remaining in the Dartford defence. Trialist #13 came on to replace the relatively untroubled Jonny Henly, while a mixture of First Team and Academy players also entered field.
The Darts bossed the majority of the remaining thirty minutes after the changes, and came close via Olly Box (70) and Albie O’Mara-Knapp (74) following great work by George Whitefield to release the latter.
Jeremiah Pinder also looked lively, particularly in the 77th minute when he danced his way into the Sports’ box but was unable to find a teammate with his final pass.
The Darts did have a glorious opportunity to double their advantage when the referee, Mr Gerry Heron, awarded a spot-kick for a foul inside the Eastbourne box. Eddie Dsane took on the responsibility, but he couldn’t beat the trialist goalkeeper (who had replaced Jamie Searle earlier in the half) (80).
The trialist shot-stopper was at it again for the visitors, when he made a solid save to prevent Box from scoring from the edge of the area with three minutes remaining.
Luther Williams had to return to the pitch to replace Dean Nayler in the 85th minute, after the young defender picked up a nasty looking injury after coming on earlier in the half. The injury inevitable, especially when you consider the amount of bad/late Eastbourne challenges that went unpunished by Mr Heron!
Samir Carruthers’ efforts earned him a deserved Man of The Match award, and the midfield general will be pleased that he and his teammates put in another excellent pre-season shift. However, everyone involved with Dartford wishes Dean Nayler a speedy recovery.
DARTFORD: Jonny Henly, Sam Odaudu, Trialist #16, Michael Olarewaju (c), Luther Williams, Ben Frempah, Denzelle Olopade, Samir Carruthers, Ikechi Eze, Callum Jones, Dan Smith.
SUBSTITUTES: Trialist #13, George Whitefield, Eddie Dsane, Olly Box, Dean Nayler, Albie O’Mara-Knapp, Richie Atkins, Jeremiah Pinder, Gabe Campbell, Hugo Taylor.
EASTBOURNE BOROUGH: Jamie Searle, Dan Quick, Isaac Pitblado, Camron Gbadebo, Trialist #5, Joey Phuthi, Victor Akinwale, Pemi Aderoju, Craig Eastmond (c), Jayden Davis, Tayt-Lemar Trusty.
SUBSTITUTES: Trialist #6, Trialist #8, George Alexander, Trialist #12, Ola Ademola, Trialist #20, Trialist #21, Harvey Lintott, Trialist #24, Trialist #25, Kai Innocent.
Chris Palmer
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