29thfeb04

Goalkeeping and financial crisis hits Dartford

Sampson forced to play sixteen-year-old stopper

Financial restraints have forced Tommy Sampson, manager of Dr Martens League Eastern Division side Dartford, to play the youngest squad in the entire division, writes Stephen McCartney.

Sixteen-year-old goalkeeper, James Tedder played his third game of the season for the Darts as they fell 3-0 at Corby Town on Saturday.

Corby made a good start to the game taking a fourth minute lead.  A long pass from deep saw Michael Sneddon take the ball in his stride before calmly curling the ball round Tedder as the rookie youth team shot-stopper advanced from his goal.

Corby increased their lead after 17 minutes when Richard Challinor headed a corner and Steven Julian stuck out a leg diverting it into the goal from close range.

Little was seen of a very young and inexperienced visiting side as they struggled to trouble Corby goalkeeper Richard Larvin.

However, Larvin did well to keep out a low shot from Eddie McClements and another chance fell Darts' way but Paul Foley's low shot lacked power.

Corby started the second half in the same vein as the first and following a free kick after 51 minutes, Tedder was beaten by Mark Forbes' header that flashed into his top corner.

Sampson, speaking off his sixteen-year old shot stopper, said: "James Tedder is a good young goalkeeper but he is a bit too young to play.  It was his third full game at Corby and it is well documented that I've had huge problems with goalkeepers in the last five to six weeks."

The goalkeeping crisis began in the middle of January when first choice stopper Jimmy Simpson was injured.  The Darts' thought he would miss only  two weeks but Sampson will be without his first choice goalkeeper for two months.

The following Saturday, Tedder made his debut before Sampson used his contacts to bring in Billy McMahon from Ryman League Premier Division side Thurrock.

McMahon made his debut as Dartford beat Newport IOW 2-0 but Thurrock recalled the goalkeeper as their number one, Paul Gothard was injured, and  McMahon has played for the Ship Lane side ever since.

Sampson snapped up Dagenham & Redbridge goalkeeper Danny Lampton and the Dartford "goalkeeping curse" reared its ugly head again as Lampton was forced off the pitch after only 90 seconds against Erith & Belvedere with a hamstring injury.

As Tedder was unavailable due to work commitments, and without a goalkeeper on the substitutes bench, former Margate striker Paul Sykes took over in between the sticks and proceeded to crack two ribs making a save and hasn't played since.

Sampson added: "Last Saturday James Tedder played really well against Tonbridge Angels.  We played Folkestone Invicta last Tuesday and I didn't want to subject James to too many games.  Therefore, I brought in Jack Delo from Herne Bay for the 6-1 defeat."

Sampson said: "We are in a difficult situation because we are in a really difficult financial time and I have no money to borrow a contracted player from another club.  McMahon and Frampton weren't on contract so I didn't have to commit to a full four weeks.  We are going with James Tedder for as long as it takes, I think, unless someone with more experience turns up and isn't expensive."

Sampson added: "None of the goalkeepers have cost me games, and all have done ok!"

With only eleven league games remaining, Sampson is expecting  the prospect of fielding inexperienced youngsters until his main first team players return from fitness.

He said: "It's going to be a real struggle.  When we played Folkestone Invicta at home we lost 6-1 and I played three sixteen-year-olds, and two seventeen-year olds.  They are far too young.  I've got injuries to four first team players so I have to call upon the club's youth and reserve team lads.

" it's going to be a difficult ten weeks financially, living on what we have got."

To advertise here telephone Stephen McCartney 07979 418 360