MATCH REPORT | WELLING UNITED 0 DARTFORD 1
The Darts started brightly, with Olly Box calling MacKenzie Foley into a routine save with his curling drive within the opening minute.
Sammie McLeod then saw his shot blocked (6), before former Dart Ade Azeez failed to keep his header down after having reached a free-kick first (8).
Callum Jones then saw his effort blocked ten minutes later, before defensive duo Dave Winfield and Joe Tennent put in excellent blocks of their own within a matter of minutes of each other.
Jonny Henly was called into action in the 37th minute, when Ayman El-Mogharbel’s excellent strike required saving. Then at the other end, McLeod’s effort following a Dan Carter free-kick flew agonisingly wide of Foley’s upright (40).
The visitors began the restart on the front-foot once again, as Dan Smith raced forward only for a brilliant challenge by Troy Howard prevent the striker from testing MacKenzie Foley (54)!
A swift counter-attack from The Wings found skipper Jack Thomas one-on-one with Jonny Henly, only for the Dartford shot-stopper pull off a fine save to keep his clean sheet intact (58).
Only desperate defending from the hosts kept the score goalless, as both Callum Jones and Olly Box had opportunities in quick succession. Jones’ initial effort was saved by Foley, before Chris Arthur somehow cleared Box’s follow-up off the line to keep Welling in the contest (61)!
Ten minutes later saw Dartford boss Ady Pennock make the first of just two changes in personnel this afternoon, with Eddie Dsane coming on for Olly Box (71). That would be followed by Dan Carter making way for Rohan Vaughan with just six minutes of the ninety left to play.
As the sun continued to set, we entered an additional nine minutes of play which saw Dartford look the more likely to break the deadlock… and, following a good save by MacKenzie Foley to keep out Denzelle Olopade’s effort (90+3), the Darts got the break they deserved.
Callum Jones’ dangerous cross into the Welling box wasn’t dealt with, and Rohan Vaughan stepped up to fire in his first goal for Dartford to seal a dramatic derby victory (90+5).
The result sees Ady Pennock’s side just three points away from the playoff places, with a game in hand following a fourteenth win of this highly competitive Isthmian Premier League season.
And following the Dartford boss’ call to arms to the supporters after last weekend’s draw with Cray Wanderers, the Dartford fans turned up in their droves at Park View Road this afternoon.
Not only that, but they supported the players from start to finish! So a big shout out to those Dartford fans who helped get the team over the line. You really are the twelfth person! Let’s keep it up for the remainder of the season and help the players secure a top five finish! Afterall, we’re all in this together. Up The Darts!
WELLING UNITED: MacKenzie Foley, John Ufuah, Jack Thomas (c), Chris Arthur, Troy Howard, Ayman El-Mogharbel, Ade Azeez, Dean Gunner, Zak O’Keefe, Lewis Gard, Vladimir Patermoster.
SUBSTITUTES: Jamie Reynolds, Olu Oluwatimilehin, Gianni Crichlow, Stefan Vukoje, Ibby Akanbi.
DARTFORD: Jonny Henly (c), Sam Odaudu, Joe Tennent, Dave Winfield, Samuel Okoye, Denzelle Olopade, Sammie McLeod, Dan Carter, Olly Box, Callum Jones, Dan Smith.
SUBSTITUTES: Eddie Dsane, Luther Williams, Michael Olarewaju, Jeremiah Pinder, Rohan Vaughan.
Chris Palmer