MATCH REPORT | DARTFORD 2 CHICHESTER CITY 0
A relatively slow start by both sides saw the hosts come close via a Jeremiah Pinder strike, which was blocked by a Chichester City defender after eleven minutes.
And with the visitors offering nothing worthy of mentioning in the final third, the Darts’ soon broke the deadlock after a pass had split the defence wide open and allowed Dan Smith to race clear. The number nine made no mistake, as he calmly fired beyond the hapless Kieran MaGee in the 29th minute.
The visitors did respond but came up against skipper Michael Olarewaju, who put in an excellent block (28), before Jeremiah Pinder fired narrowly wide at the other end (29).
Despite the hosts bossing the game for a majority of the half, no further meaningful opportunities were created as half-time approached.
Early in the second-half saw Chichester City boss Miles Rutherford move to replace Ethan Prichard with Lewis Rustell (56). Nine minutes later saw the visitors make a double swap, as Misha Djemaili and Mo Jammeh made way for Lloyd Rowlatt and Oliver Munt respectively (65), before Joe Clarke made way for Theo Bennett (75).
Ady Pennock, meanwhile, made his first substitution with ten minutes remaining, as Eddie Dsane came on for Olly Box. That would be followed by Denzelle Olopade coming on for Jeremiah Pinder (87), Sam Smith coming on for Jacob Bland (90), before Samuel Okoye made way for Ben Frempah (90+4).
Returning to the action, we find the goalscorer coming close with a header early in the second-half, before taking advantage of a mistake by Kieran MaGee to tap home his second of the afternoon (67).
Both Callum Jones and Olly Box had opportunities to increase the hosts’ lead during a prolific spell which saw Dartford have the visitors on the proverbial ropes. Then, having weathered the storm, Chichester City hit the crossbar with their first effort of the half (79).
MaGee made up for his earlier error by denying George Whitefield with an excellent save (84), before Eddie Dsane narrowly missed the target deep into stoppage time at the end of the ninety.
The visitors saved their best move until late, but Jonny Henly made a good save to secure his third clean sheet of the season (90+6).
Dan Smith’s performance earned him a deserved Man of The Match award, as Dartford remain in the play-off places albeit on goal difference.
DARTFORD: Jonny Henly, George Whitefield, Michael Olarewaju (c), Joe Tennent, Samuel Okoye, Dan Carter, Jacob Bland, Jeremiah Pinder, Olly Box, Callum Jones, Dan Smith.
SUBSTITUTES: Samir Carruthers, Sam Smith, Denzelle Olopade, Eddie Dsane, Ben Frempah.
CHICHESTER CITY: Kieran MaGee, Emmett Dunn, Robert Hutchings (c), Joseph Moore, Jamie Horncastle, Benjamin Pashley, Isaac Bello, Joe Clarke, Misha Djemaili, Mo Jammeh, Ethan Prichard.
SUBSTITUTES: Oliver Munt, Lewis Rustell, Theo Bennett, Lloyd Rowlatt.
Chris Palmer