Dartford 2-4 Gillingham - Burchill causes Darts a striker headache

Tuesday 14th July 2009

DARTFORD 2-4 GILLINGHAM
Pre-Season Friendly
Tuesday 14th July 2009
Stephen McCartney reports from Princes Park Stadium

DARTFORD assistant manager Paul Sawyer says he is taking plenty of positives from their opening couple of pre-season outings against League One sides.

The part-timers showed many glimpses against Norwich City and against Gillingham tonight to prove that they are capable of winning the Ryman Premier League title next April.

Whilst Lee Noble, who missed tonight’s work-out with a badly bruised foot, James White and Ryan Hayes impressed during the 7-2 defeat against the Canaries on Saturday, it was striker Adam Burchill who stood out against his former club tonight.

There was, however, confusion before the game as local media thought Adam Burchall, who had signed a two-year contact for Blue Square South club Dover Athletic yesterday, had opted for a swift move to Princes Park, but they’re two separate players.

Burchill, who is on trial with Dartford, called Gillingham goalkeeper Simon Royce into early action when after picking up a pass from Hayes, his left-footed drive from the edge of the penalty area brought a routine save from the visitors’ number one stopper.

But Gillingham broke the deadlock after just ten minutes - seven minutes after Norwich City - when a fine move resulted in the impressive Luke Rooney beating Andrew Young from eight-yards.

Andy Barcham, formerly of Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur, had exchanged a slick one-two with Rooney and his initial shot was saved by Young’s legs.

But Rooney sprinted past his marker to apply a simple right-footed finish.

Young was alert ten minutes later, reacting to punch Rooney’s in-swinging corner from the left flank over his bar, following an injury sustained to Dartford defender John Guest.

Dartford’s left-back, Adam Gross made space for himself in the 27th minute, but his scuffed shot brought another comfortable save from Royce.

Substitute goalkeeper Sam Mott, who leaked three goals against Norwich City at the weekend, then replaced Young, who suffered a dead leg.

Sawyer said that goalkeeping duties will fall between Mott and Tony Kessell for Saturday’s trip to Ryman League Division One South side Metropolitan Police.

Kessell, back at Princes Park after one season at Ryman League Division One North side Thamesmead Town, is one of four goalkeepers vying for the orange jersey this season.

Another chance fell Dartford’s way when a headed clearance from White was chased by Burchill and his right-footed lob from an acute angle was plucked out of the air by Wembley Winner Royce.

But Dartford have learnt this week that mistakes against higher league professionals are punished - as Gillingham grabbed a second after 37 minutes.

Defenders Gross and Guest were guilty when the ball was played across the face of goal and Barcham needed no invitation but to drill the ball across Mott to find the far corner.

But Dartford swiftly recovered from that set-back and immediately pulled a goal back, just 55 seconds after gifting their near neighbours a second.

Burchill latched onto a fine through ball from right-back Eferakerho and took his time to pick his spot, rolling a low shot across Royce to find the bottom far corner.

Dartford, who have been punished by set-pieces during their opening two matches, scored one from their own just two minutes before the break.

Winger Hayes embarrassed Gillingham left-back Jon Nutter before winning a free-kick, and the former Slade Green player whipped in an excellent free-kick for the returning Adam Flanagan to power his header through a crowded six-yard box into the net.

As expected, Gills manager Mark Stimson replaced all but one of his starting eleven, with central defender Aaron Brown the only one of his players staying the distance.

Dartford, meanwhile, made four changes at the break, bringing on John Beales and Jamie Coyle to play at the heart of defence, midfield general Danny Dafter also came on as did right-back Billy Burgess, a summer signing from Braintree Town.

Flanagan, Guest, Bradbrook and Karl Dent all made way as Dartford came up with a much younger opposing side.

But it took Gillingham six second half minutes to take the lead for the third time, scoring from a set-piece.

New face, Chris Palmer delivered a left-wing corner towards the far post and Tom Wynter, who wasn’t picked up by White, gave Mott no chance with his header.

Curtis Weston went close for Gillingham later in the half, but they wrapped up the victory on their first ever visit to Princes Park in the 77th minute.

Stuart Lewis pass found Jordan Parkes, who had time to turn and stoke a stunning low right-footed curler from 25-yards, which gave the diving Mott no chance.

Gillingham’s substitute goalkeeper Alan Julian was only tested once during the second half, diving to tip Jamie Day’s piledriver over the bar at the death.

Sawyer, speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk afterwards, reflected on the Darts’ opening two friendlies against full-time pro’s.

“I thought tonight we progressed from Saturday,” he said. “First games are always very difficult, we had four training sessions, you come back, your timing’s out and it’s purely to get guys back on the pitch.

“I thought the score line Saturday did flatter Norwich, I don’t think 7-2 was a fair reflection, where as tonight, 4-2 was probably a fairer reflection on the game.

“We was really pleased to come back from 2-0 down to get back to 2-2 at half-time, that was very pleasing and the second half, the fitness told again. Gillingham’s full-time fitness was far better than our fitness.

“The two games have been a really good work-out for the boys and we now move on to people at our level.”

Dartford have had a number of players on holiday, including their strike force of Rob Haworth and Jay May and Sawyer admits Burchill has done himself no harm at all.

“Professionals only take their holidays during the summer and we don’t have that luxury,” said Sawyer.

“Over the next couple of weeks we should have everyone available. We haven’t had any of them (our strikers) out on the pitch apart from Adam Burchill.

“We played Lee Burns up there on Saturday, and he wasn’t available tonight, and it only let us with Adam Burchill tonight and he’s come in and he’s given us a nice headache.

“He’s come in and showed what he’s capable of and we’ve seen in training that he’s very quick and we haven’t really seen him play out there in front of a decent crowd, so it’s nice to see him perform tonight and first half I think he gave them problems.”

Dartford: Andrew Young (Sam Mott 29), Seun Eferakerho (Danny Crouch 63), Adam Gross (Chris Wimshurst 76), Adam Flanagan (Jamie Coyle 46), John Guest (John Beales 46), James White (Keiran Dingri 69), Ryan Hayes (Husein Isa 76), Jamie Day, Adam Burchill, Karl Dent (Danny Dafter 46), Elliot Bradbrook (Billy Burgess 46).

Goals: Adam Burchill 38, Adam Flanagan 43

Gillingham: Simon Royce, (Alan Julian 46), Barry Fuller (Sam Long 46), John Nutter (Jordan Parkes 46), Aaron Brown, Garry Richards (Tom Wynter 46), Rashid Yussuff (Jack Payne 46), Kevin Maher (Curtis Weston 46), Adam Miller (Stuart Lewis 46), Mark McCammon (Luis Cumbers 46), Luke Rooney (Dennis Oli 46), Adam Barcham (Chris Palmer 46).
Subs: Adam Pugh, Aaron Beckles.

Goals: Luke Rooney 10, Adam Barcham 37, Tom Wynter 51, Jordan Parkes 77

Attendance: 1,002
Referee: Mr Steve Bennett (Orpington)
Assistants: Martin Yerby (Ashford) & Mr Phil Knight (Canterbury)