Dartford 1-1 Welling United - We’re hoping that we may get some good embargo news soon - Day

DARTFORD  1-1  WELLING UNITED
Blue Square Bet South
Tuesday 15^th February 2011
Mike Green reports from Princes Park Stadium

Was it a fluke? Or a moment of pure genius?  Whatever the truth, the fact is that a stunning free kick from substitute Ryan Hayes just seven minutes from time meant that this hugely enjoyable Kent derby ended with honours even.

 

After Jack Parkinson had thundered home a header from Jamie Day’s wonderfully delivered corner to give Welling at that point (on 65 minutes) what was a deserved lead, Hayes equalised with an audacious free kick from almost on the right touchline some 40 yards out. 

Now whether the viciously struck free kick was meant or not only the Darts substitute will know, but whatever the truth, the pace and the swerve on the ball surprised Wings keeper Tom Lovelock as it screamed into the net.
After the game both manager’s agreed that a draw was about the right result. 

Darts boss Tony Burman said: “We left it late tonight, but I thought we did well to come back into the game – it’s a little bit of a never say die attitude – but I’m pleased that we got something out of the game. 

“We’ve had a tough month what with the fixtures and all the travelling we’ve done.  We’ve played all the decent sides over the past few weeks and make no mistake, Welling are a very decent side. 

“I thought we looked a bit jaded tonight – we didn’t have the spark that has been there in recent games.  Having said that we’ve come through – we made a couple of substitutions late on and they proved worthy of making them as it put the spark back and we were able to get something out of the game.”

Welling player-boss Day agreed.  “I thought that we probably deserved to win the game, but Braintree have come here and been beaten, and I think that they’ll cause a few teams a few problems between now and the end of the season, and they’re on a good run so I’d have taken a point before the game and so we’re pleased to get one! 

“I thought second half we were comfortable especially when we went one up and we could have seen the game out.”

The Darts were fastest out of the blocks and inside the opening five minutes, debut making Lovelock was forced into a fine low save. 

The on loan youngster from Leyton Orient did well to divert Jon Main’s low drive onto his left post after the striker had been played through by Elliot Bradbrook. 

Indeed as the home side pressed, Lovelock was indebted to his defense moments later as following a deep corner, Paul Goodacre’s looping header eluded Lovelock’s flailing punch and Louis Fazackerley was on hand to clear off the line.

The Wings first chance of note came from the boot of the player manager, as Day’s free kick was almost headed into his own net by an off balance Tom Bonner, and then just before the half hour, Billy Burgess was the Darts hero with a fine block to deny Andy Pugh as the striker had raced clear.
Main went close again at the other end with a flick header from a Danny Harris cross before the half’s talking point arrived four minutes from half time. 

Goodacre and Parkinson met in a very firm tackle that left the Welling man in a heap, and referee Harris showed the Dartford man a yellow card.  Yes, the tackle was very hard (and possibly two footed) but Goodacre clearly won the ball, and his was his contact with that that felled Parkinson. 

Anyway, a free kick was given – one that Day sent fractionally too high over Deren Ibrahim’s bar!
Within seconds of the restart, Liam Bellamy glanced a header wide from Fazackerley’s cross, whilst at the other end, Bradbrook toe poked a chance just wide before the Wings took control and eventually the lead.

With Day pulling the strings in the middle of the park, the Wings began to play some super football and showed just why they’re continuing to defy the odds on the edge of the play-off zone. 

And it was from a Day through ball, albeit deflected, that Pugh was again denied – this time from a smart Ibrahim save. 

Ten minutes later on 62 minutes, former Dart Jamie Coyle should really have done better when he “only” glanced Days corner wide with the goal at his mercy! 

The home side didn’t heed the warning though and on 65 minutes, Parkinson connected with another Day corner to power home the opening goal.

The Darts were up against it and looking tired as was highlighted on 70 minutes.  Burgess’ ball into the box was laid off by Carl Rook for Bradbrook who fired well wide from a good position. 

The Darts skipper was clearly struggling with an injury that he picked up in Saturday’s draw at leaders Braintree, and was clearly below the exceptional standards that he usually sets himself. 

That said he toiled on gamely, just as his side did and after a double change that saw Hayes and Lee Burns replace Rook and Harris, the Darts finally showed some missing spark and leveled seven minutes from time. 

Referee Harris tried to play advantage after Fazackerley had felled Hayes, but when none became clear, the Maidstone official pulled the ball back.  Now there appeared little danger as the ball was only three or four yards in from the right touchline and some 40 yards out. 

Up stepped Hayes and whether it was meant as  a cross or a shot we will never know, but the result was the ball in the top corner of the Welling net and on balance of play perhaps a deserved equaliser. 

Even the two managers weren’t too sure if the shot had been meant.  Wings boss Day was disappointed that the goal had been conceded, whilst Darts supremo Burman was just relieved that the ball had gone in. 

Day said: “I don’t know whether Ryan meant it or not, but we got caught out by the free kick, so I’m disappointed but we’d have taken a point all night long. 

“Having played alongside him, I know that the thing with Ryan is that he’s good with set plays and can do things like that – he’s decent but just disappointed that maybe we should have done better from it.” 

Meantime Burman was obviously happier.  “Ryan puts the ball in like that and even tonight ten minutes earlier Lee (Noble) played in a similar ball that only needed a touch to be a goal,” he said. 

“Ryan’s ones gone straight in but they are very difficult balls to defend, and he’s come back in tonight after being left out for a while and I’m pleased for him because he’s been a little but upset – and rightly so – but he’s got to learn that he’s part of a decent squad and has to work for his place – and he’s hit a great free kick that’s gone straight in.”

The game almost boiled over on 86 minutes following an ugly two footed jump by Lee Clarke on Bradbrook, but full praise must go to referee Harris and his assistant Mr Ions for their handling of what could have been a very difficult situation. 

The referee swiftly removed Clarke away from the melee that ensued and whilst he was “only” cautioning the Welling midfielder, Mr Ions kept watch on the proceedings and then informed the referee of a confrontation between Bonner and Bellamy that earned both players a caution.

The game ended with chances at both ends – Bradbrook shooting over following a Burns touch on, whilst from yet another Day corner, Pugh saw his effort cleared off the line – this time by Lee Noble.
The Darts boss was relieved to get through another 90 minutes at the end of a very long month. 

He said: “I just think that the last month caught up with us a little bit tonight and has taken its toll, but having said that it’s been a fantastic month for us as we’ve taken points off some very good sides. 

“That said, I still think it’s a question of us looking down the table rather than up, as we’ve now just got to try and claw the teams above us back towards us who we have a lot of games in hand over, and if we can just carry on doing that, who knows just what might happen. 

“But bottom line is that we need more points than we’ve got at the moment to say that we’re not going to be dragged into it again!

“Hampton’s now got to be the focus for us (on Saturday) and I just hope that the supporters come along again and we’re going to need a bit of help on Saturday to get the boys going again as there are some tired legs in there. 

“We need to freshen up if we can, but we might need the “12^th man” that a vocal home crowd can give a side.  Hampton are one of those teams who are below us and we need to get the points off of them rather than them catch us up.”

For his opposite number, who it’s difficult to remember is still in his rookie first full season as a manager, there are interesting times ahead as the Wings chase a play-off place, beginning later this week with a League decision over last week’s abandoned game with neighbours and play-off rivals Bromley. 

Day added: “I don’t know what’s going to happen about the abandoned Bromley game but we just need to get a five or six game run going again, and with no disrespect to the sides we’ve got in the next four or five games we’ve got to be looking to do that if we’re going to get in the play-off’s.  So we know that we’ve got to get a run going again and just sneak in there. 

“That starts on Saturday against maidenhead and we’ve got to start beating teams at home and grab the points to stay around the group that’s beginning to pull away from the rest.

“We’re hoping that we may get some good news on Thursday as the regards to the transfer embargo.  The club is in with the League about that and the Bromley game and as far as I know, I’m sure that I read somewhere that if a game is played past 85 minutes the result stands.  And as there were only two minutes left when the game was abandoned we’ll just have to wait and see. 

"I think to replay the game is a harsh and if we get the points it’ll get us past Bromley with games in hand and well into the pack chasing those play-off places.”

Dartford: Deren Ibrahim, Billy Burgess (Matt Jones 77), Tom Bonner, Joe Bruce, Paul Goodacre, Tom Champion, Danny Harris (Ryan Hayes 72), Lee Noble, Carl Rook (Lee Burns 72), Jon Main, Elliot Bradbrook.
Subs:  Joe Foster, John Whitehouse

Goal:  Ryan Hayes 83

Booked: Paul Goodacre 41, Tom Bonner 86

Welling United:  Tom Lovelock, Jamie Coyle, Anthony Acheampong, Jamie Day, Graeme Andrews, jack Parkinson, Lou Fazakerley, Lee Clarke, Louis Cumbers (Loick Pires 86), Andy Pugh, Liam Bellamy.
Subs:  Andy Sambrook, Jordan Johnson, Leon Farrell

Goal:  Jack Parkinson 65

Booked:  Jamie Day 55, Lee Clarke 86, Liam Bellamy 86

Attendance: 1,384
Referee:  Mr Paul Harris (Maidstone)
Assistants:  Mr Paul Beadle (Sevenoaks)  & Mr Graeme Ions (Maidstone)