Dartford 0-1 Charlton Athletic - Sawyer pleased with attacking options

The Ryman Premier League newcomers almost held a youthful Charlton Athletic to a goal-less draw, but sixteen-year-old substitute Tamer Tuna had other ideas.

A beautiful long diagonal pass from the impressive Mikkel Jenson found Tuna down the right-hand side, and after cutting inside, the teenager unleashed a stunning left-footed shot, which left goalkeeper Tony Kessell rooted to the spot, as the ball flew into the top far corner of the net, from 20-yards.

The goal arrived 39 seconds into stoppage time at the end of the game and Darts assistant manager Sawyer had to hold his hands up and admit the goal was worthy of winning any game.

“The ball out to the lad was a great ball,” Sawyer told www.kentishfootball.co.uk afterwards. “His first touch inside couldn’t have been better and he struck it straight into the top corner.

“It was one of those goals you couldn’t really fault any, so fair play to the lad. It was a great strike.”

It was tough on the Darts, who impressed in front of 2,210.

The Darts fielded twenty players in total, with only Kessell and right-back Tommy Osborne playing the entire 90 minutes.

The part-timers were without influential skipper Alex O’Brien (tendonitis), right-back Jamie Coyle (away on holiday with the club’s academy side) and the holidaying, midfielder, Eddie McClements.

But Sawyer says the trio, who helped the club clinch the Ryman League Division One South title last season, are expected back next week.

Dartford wore their new away strip of light and dark blue during the first half, whilst wearing an old red strip for the second half, although their Coca-Cola Championship visitors wore traditional Dartford colours - white and black throughout.

Dartford’s first real chance arrived after 12 minutes when a Ryan Hayes trademark cross with his left-foot from the right-flank was met by a looping header from last season’s top-scorer, Brendon Cass, which cleared the crossbar.

The full-time visitors were forced to shoot from distance after 24 minutes and Kessell was pleased to see Ben Godfrey’s right-footed drive flash past the post.

Dartford had grown in confidence by the time that striker Ray Powell unleashed a hooked volley, which looped into the grateful arms of Callum Christie, after the former Tonbridge Angels striker was set-up by a cushioned header from Cass.

But Dartford’s best chance arrived after 32 minutes as their two front men seemed to have already clicked.

Powel cushioned Steve Norman’s whipped in cross back to Cass, but his looping header from six-yards out dropped agonisingly over the crossbar.

Resilient Dartford fully deserved to go in at the break level pegging, defending resiliently and Kessell was his usual reliable self in goal.

Despite changing kit, Dartford also made seven changes at the break, and this enabled Charlton Athletic to have two early second half chances.

Godfrey beat the advancing Kessell to the ball, on the right-hand side, outside the penalty area, but his angled shot sailed just over the far post.

Kessell was well positioned at his near post when he plucked the striker’s near-post rising shot out of the air.

Dartford should have broken the deadlock just past the hour mark, after weathering the storm.

And it was two new players that almost upset their full-time opponents.

Steve Butterworth was played in behind Charlton’s defence by Lee Noble but goalkeeper Christie came to the visitors’ rescue by blocking the shot with his body.

Unfortunately for Dartford, big target man Rob Haworth was thwarted on the edge of the six-yard box as Charlton got bodies back to avert the danger.

Noble cracked a right-footed volley, which deflected over Charlton’s crossbar, after a trademark flick from Haworth.

And the former Margate striker used his frame to plant a towering header over from eight-yards, following a long diagonal ball up field from trialist, Scott Holding, playing at left-back.

Another chance fell Dartford’s way when Butterworth headed over from six-yards after Haworth flicked on Yohance Lewis’ cross from the left.

But Charlton Athletic finished the stronger and after substitute Lewis Perkins glanced a header agonisingly against the foot of the far post, with Kessell rooted to the spot, up popped Tuna to save face.

“I thought it was a fair game,” said Sawyer. “I thought the result probably went against us at the end. I thought maybe a draw was a fair result and (we’re) probably unlucky not to nick it ourselves.

“It was disappointing to concede a late goal but the main aim was to just get players on the pitch and get them playing again.

“I thought everybody got a fair 45 minutes under their belt and we take a lot of positives out of tonight.”

Dartford have only had three training sessions before this match, but Sawyer was pleased with the performance of the new boys on show.

“There’s a lot of new faces being integrated into the team, who I thought done well,” praised Sawyer.

“The trialists’ on show tonight were James White, who played central midfield second half. He’s very neat and tidy, he’s a big, strong lad, only 19, so I think there’s a lot of potential there. He’s come from Great Wakering Rovers and was previously at Southend United.

“Richard Ketchell played centre half second half, again, didn’t look out of place. He’s another one with a good background. He’s come from West Ham and last year he was at Brentwood, where he done well against us last year.

The left-back was Scott Holding, who last year didn’t play. He was carrying an injury most of last season, but he was at East Thurrock so he’s played Ryman Premier before. He’s come along pre-season just to have a look. I think he’d like to give it one more go, so we’ve made no promises. But we’ve had a look at Scott tonight and he’s played well second half.

“Lee Noble played well second half. He played in the hole just behind the front men. He’s a little pocket dynamo. I think he’s going to be one that the crowd are going to respond to. He’s in people’s faces, he’s always looking to create. He picks the ball up, he finds that hole between midfield and the forwards.

“When we played (against) him last year we found it very hard to pick (him) up and tonight he just sits in that hole and when he picks it up, he’s looking forward all the time, looking for balls in behind defenders so I think he’s going to be a good one to work with and I think the crowd’s going to respond to Lee.

“Steve Butterworth played wide right second half. He’s got a good pedigree, he’s come from Redbridge. We’re pleased with him, he gives us good options. He can play either side, he’s a quick lad. He can play off the front men as well.

I thought Rob Haworth done well, he’s only just come off the beech really, been away for two weeks in Thailand and I thought he worked really hard second half and just imagine when he’s fit, I think he’ll be a very good target man.”

The Dartford stalwart added: “We’ve got plenty of attacking options. There’s a lot of positives to come out of it.”

Dartford: Tony Kessell, Tommy Osborne, Steve Norman (Scott Holding 45), Adam Flanagan (Richard Ketchell 45), John Guest (Seun Eferakorko 71), Danny Dafter (Luke May 71), Ryan Hayes (Steve Butterworth 45), Nick Barnes (James White 45), Brendon Cass (Rob Haworth 45) Ray Powell (Lee Noble 45), Mark Green (Yohance Lewis 45).

Charlton Athletic: Callum Christie, Sam Long (Tamer Tuna 72), Jack Clark, Ben Davisson (Harry Pell 65), Taylor Sinfield, Yado Mambo, Callum O’Shea (Carl Jenkinson 56), Kevin Tunani, Ben Godfrey, Mikkel Jensen, Steve Lozano-Calderon (Lewis Perkins 56)
Subs: Liam Bellamy, Brendon Hall, Shaun McKinty.

Goal: Tamer Tuna 90

Attendance: 2,210
Referee: Mr Steve Bennett (Orpington)
Assistants: Mr Martin Yerby (Ashford) & Mr Ian Gosling (Sittingbourne)