Dartford 2-1 Maidstone United

DARTFORD 2-1 MAIDSTONE UNITED
Ryman League Division One South
Monday 25^th September 2006
Stephen McCartney reports from Ship Lane

Goals from Richard Avery and Eddie McClements gave Dartford the local bragging rights as they defeated arch-rivals Maidstone United for the first time in league action for 23 years tonight.

Avery nodded Ryan Briggs’ near post corner into the net from just two yards to score his first goal of the season after 36 minutes.

And McClements’ second goal of the campaign, stroking home from 12 yards, gave them a two-goal cushion after 70 minutes, before a controversial penalty decision brought the Stones back into the game six minutes later.

Dartford’s largest crowd of the season was astonished when Rochester referee Mr Ian Cooper pointed to the spot after Anthony Henry cleanly slid in to nick the ball off Maidstone United substitute, striker Leroy Huggins.

Henry was, however, booked for his protests, but Nick Barnes’ netted his third goal of the season, sending Kevin Hudson the wrong way with his right-footed penalty.

Barnes and Hudson were both booked for their parts in the melee following the controversial goal.

Maidstone United chairman Mr Paul Bowden-Brown presented his Dartford counterpart Mr David Skinner a silver salver before the game out on the pitch, as the two clubs locked horns for the first time at first team level for 14 years.

As expected new signing, Anthony Hogg, whose signed for Dartford from league rivals Dover Athletic, watched the entire game from the bench.

But Stones’ new signing, defender Lee Shearer couldn’t make his debut as the paperwork following his move from Ryman Premier League side Folkestone Invicta, didn’t come through on time.

Defences were, however, on top early on and both sides created half chances when Brendon Cass’ 20-yard shot was comfortably saved by Pat Mullin and at the other end Kane Rice’s long range shot sailed high over the bar.

But it was Maidstone who created the game’s best chance to break the deadlock after 24 minutes.

Barnes’ stabbed the ball forward from inside his own half into Ray Powell’s path but his right-footed shot from 20-yards lacked power and Hudson was able to save.

But the game finally came to life when Avery headed his side into the lead.

Ryan Briggs’ initial free-kick was driven into the wall and Dave Martin’s follow up was spilled by Mullin and out for a corner.

Brigg’s near post corner - their third of the game - was met by Avery, who nodded home to the delight of the Darts’ faithful.

A shot from Simon Austin bounced off Henry’s head, which gave the Stones their second corner of the game.

Sam Tydeman’s left-footed delivery found it’s way to Nick Hegley outside the box, whose right-footed shot from 25-yards looped just past the far post.

McClements’ right-footed 30-yard looping shot was brilliantly tipped over by a back peddling Mullin after just 29 seconds into the second half.

Maidstone’s first chance of the second half fell to Rice, whose left-footed drive from the edge of the box flashed past the foot of the post.

Barnes’ started and finished a move after 63 minutes, when he swept a pass out to Craig Roser on the left hand side. His cross rebounded of Darts’ defender Danny White, but Barnes’ 20-yard drive screamed past the right post.

But Maidstone twice went close to equalising just two minutes before McClements’ doubled Dartford’s lead.

Rice sent Nathan Paul sprinting down the right hand side, and his cross-come-shot bounced off the top of the crossbar. Powell’s follow up shot, however, bounced off the base of the left post.

But Dartford went up the other end and scored a vital second goal with just twenty minutes remaining.

Wing-wizard Martin unselfishly squared the ball to McClements who stroked the ball past Mullin and into the bottom right hand corner from 12-yards.

But Maidstone United were given an opportunity to get back into the game, which Barnes duly took.

“It was an important three points for us to get tonight because we’ve had two defeats in the league - we had to win,” Darts boss Tony Burman told www.kenishfootball.co.uk after his side climbed up to fourth in the table - Barnes' penalty preventing them moving into third due to goal difference.

“I thought it was a good game, a good atmosphere,” he said. “It’s nice to have the atmosphere. With all due respect to Thurrock, the atmosphere has not been quite right for our home games but tonight was good. I thought the game was good for the supporters to watch.”

The presentation made by the Stones chairman to his Darts counterpart was a “nice touch” according to Burman, and hopes his club will “return the favour” when the Stones return to the county town.

“That was lovely,” Burman said. “Nice touch and that’s how it should continue. When they go into their ground, which I hope is soon, maybe we can return the favour.”

Burman added: “I said in some programme notes that some of the players out there, especially on my side, when things happened fourteen years ago some of them were six or seven years of age, and they probably don’t understand everything that’s gone on back then.

“It was a disappointing time for both clubs - heartbreaking really. I’m just pleased that supporters and directors have kept both clubs going - all credit to them.

“I’m pleased to see Maidstone up here challenging with us and I hope both of us are challenging in a higher league in the future.”

Stones’ joint-manager Lloyd Hume, meanwhile, was frustrated that his side remained eighth in the table - but just two points behind their Kentish rivals.

He said: “It was a frustrating evening for us. I said to the players afterwards (that) I can’t fault their work-rate, I can’t fault their endeavour and I thought they tried very, very hard.

“But I just feel every time we play a game at the moment teams only need one or two chances against us to score a goal or two yet we create four or five decent enough chances and we don’t put the ball in the back of the net.”

He was, however, satisfied with the passionate support coming from the terraces - from both sets of fans.

“The history was a long time ago and the regimes have moved on,” he said.

“It was much of a derby feel and I enjoyed the atmosphere tonight. I enjoyed the game other than the fact we’ve come out as the losing side and I’m very disappointed about that because it’s a game we should have won.

“Having said that they worked hard, they are a well organised team but I just think when we get into the last third of the pitch we just need to be a little more creative and need to have a little more quality.”

Burman was in discussions with Stones’ defender Lew Watts - who missed tonight’s game due to suspension - in the clubhouse after the game.

The Dartford boss has officially made a seven-day approach for the former Welling United and Tonbridge Angels’ defender.