dartford091104

King Kwashi

Dartford piled more misery on Nationwide South basement boys Welling United by knocking Paul Parker's side out of the John Ullmann Kent Senior Cup at the first round stage at a wet Park View Road.

Although the man with the Dartford kit was stuck in heavy traffic in Bexleyheath and arrived after the delayed kick off, the Darts borrowed the Wings away kit, but it was Welling who were off colour.

Dartford substitute Tostao Kwashi - who came on after the interval - completed the win nine minutes from time sending James Pullen the wrong way from the spot after Jim Carter opened the scoring in the 51st minute.

Both sides were off target from long range efforts early on with shots from Carter and Lee Spiller never going to find the target.

The Wings, however, almost scored following Jamie Day's corner when James Smith's low drive was booted off the line by a grateful visiting player.

Danny Slatter - left unmarked - shot over from 22-yards before nineteen-year-old Dartford goalkeeper Dale Brightly blocked Paul Booth's 16-yard effort- the Wings best chance of the game -  and Darts came out of the opening 25 minutes unscathed.

Visiting midfielder Craig Maguire tested Wings stopper Pullen from 25-yards but his shot was too close to the goalkeeper to break the deadlock.  Another chance came his way, but the ball was stuck in between his feet, and he fired wide.

Both sides gave possession away in the wet conditions and more chances came the home side's way just before the break but Booth and Spiller didn't take them.

The half-time introduction of Kwashi gave Dartford more confidence and it took him only 59 seconds to head into Pullen's arms from six-yards following a cross from the right by Charlie Hawkes.

Dartford, two league's below Welling, stunned the suffering home supporters, taking the lead in the 51st minute.

Darren Brown's throw was hooked on by Kwashi on the by-line and Hawkes' low pass, across the face of goal, from inside the penalty area, was met by Carter at the far post and he fired low into the bottom far corner.

Brightly pulled off a brilliant save after 63 minutes, diving to keep out Booth's 20-yard right-footed free kick, which was heading towards the top right corner.

Dartford wrapped up their passage into the next round with nine minutes left.

Welling substitute Bradley Thomas, who replaced Lew Watts after 76 minutes was shown a yellow card for taking out Kwashi seconds after coming off the bench.

The defender, however, escaped any further punishment from referee Gavin Hoare - who officiated the local derby very well - after he brought Kwashi down to conceed the penalty.

Kwashi, however, sent Pullen the wrong way from the spot, firing into the left hand side of the net, and the visiting Darts faithful could enjoy the closing minutes of their victory.

Dartford manager Tommy Sampson praised Kwashi and said: "We defended well in the first half, didn't create much but Tostao certainly made a difference and we blossomed.

"We defended better tonight, I've been moaning about our defending for god knows how long but we defended like men tonight, won our headers and our tackles."

The Darts manager - whose side consisted of five 18-year-old's - felt sorry for under fire Welling manager Paul Parker, whose side have been rooted to the bottom of the Nationwide South table since 30th August.

He added: "I feel for Paul a little bit because management is hard and that result tonight doesn't help. 

"I don't wish Paul any harm whatsoever and I hope he turns it around and try and get some results."

Parker, who admitted he was going all out to win the county cup clash, was left hurt by the defeat against a young Darts side, two leagues below them in the football pyramid.

"Tonight's defeat, the latter part of it, is a little bit semi-embarrassing to be honest really.

"We really let ourselves down for all the good work we've done previously, we got back to our old ways with a don't care, it doesn't matter attitude."

Welling United: James Pullen, Tony Browne, Sonny Ball, James Smith, Lew Watts (Capt, Bradley Thomas 76), Tope Arajogun (George Lay 54), Danny Slatter, Lee Spiller, Tommy Tyne, Paul Booth, Jamie Day.  Subs: Gary Carter, Narada Bernard

Dartford:  Dale Brightly, Darren Brown, Tommy Osborne (Capt), Mark Horan (Dominic Elmes 89), Richard Avery, Graham Knight, Charlie Hawkes, Craig Maguire (Darren Penfold 61), Jim Carter, Danny Heale (Tostao Kwashi 46), Darren Pearson.  Subs: Steve O'Keeffe, Jimmy Simpson

Referee: Gavin Hoare
Assistants: Matt Sage & Ian Cooper