dartford200905

Thursday 01st September 2005

Amadi settles cup clash

Tuesday 20th September 2005	Errea Cup First Round	Neil Sanders reports from Stonebridge Road
Dartford	0
Chatham Town	1	Amadi 87

The local rivals who have both made decent starts to the season, provided an entertaining midweek cup tie, writes Neil Sanders.

Dartford had the first opening when the Chatham defence froze at a free kick and watched a diving header sail past the post.

Chatham responded with some neat passing which ended with a cross going just beyond Brendan Cass.

Whilst Steve Hafner provided the Darts with a good outlet on the wing throughout the game, it was their keeper Kevin Hudson who did the most to keep the scores level in the first half, pulling off fine saves from Glen Billinness, Steve Searle and Cass.

After the break Chatham started to gain more control in midfield with Steve Best and man of the match Matt Solly winning a number of tackles to set up attacks. Cass, Best and sub Rob Denness all went close whilst at the other end Dartford sub Ian Pulman was finding space to fire in a number of shots at Chats keeper Louis Green.

With three minutes left and the game seemingly heading towards extra time, Solly won possession again with an excellent tackle and found Cass moving into the Dartford penalty area. He spotted Izzy Amadi coming in at the far post and the low cross was finished well by the Chats sub to send them through to the second round.

Both clubs meet again in seven days time (27th September) at Maidstone Road for a Southern League fixture.

Dartford: Hudson, Osborne, McGowan, Henry, Avery, Spriggs, Briggs, Hafner, Carter, McClements (Pulman 69), Hayes (Martin 77). Subs unused: Maguire, Carter, Jones-Butler.

Chatham Town: Green, Binks, Garrett, Boyle, Bourne, Best, Solly, Searle, Billinness (Denness 66), Cass, Walker (Amadi 61). Subs unused: Botting, D.Larkin, Brooks.