Kentish Football 
Dartford 3-2 Welling United - Darts shining lights stun Wings
Pre-Season Friendly
Thursday 23rd July 2009
Mike Green reports from Princes Park Stadium
AFTER the darkness came the light and really enthralling pre-season friendly between the near neighbours.
As all of the weeks electrical supply problems in the north west of the county begin to ease, Tony Burman's Dartford took the bragging rights over Andy Ford's Welling United, after a five goal contest that you would struggle to call a thriller but kept the Thursday night crowd of 360 well entertained.
For whilst Wings boss Andy Ford admitted that following his side's excellent performances against Coca Cola League One neighbours Charlton and the Gills, this display "was after the Lord Mayors Show."
That said, Ford admitted to www.kentishfootball.co.uk that "(we always) knew that the friendlies against Tonbridge and tonight against Dartford would be our best two tests.
“The way the game went with us losing a big target man (James Lawson) so early, we were always going to find it difficult and I certainly didnt plan to use the combination of strikers that we were then forced to," bemoaned the Welling boss.
For his opposite number Burman - well he was just delighted to see the game.
"If it had of taken place when it was supposed to, I would have still been out of the country" he revealed to www.kentishfootball.co.uk.
"We were away on our family holiday and didn’t get back until late Tuesday, and after hearing so many good things about our first friendlies, I'm delighted I saw the performance myself."
And whilst full credit must be given to the Darts, you can’t help but think that Ford may have had a point as in the early stages Lawson had already looked as though he was going to be in for a tough tussle with Adam Flanagan and Jamie Coyle.
Indeed, it as following a challenge on Darts skipper Flanagan, that Lawson's studs seem to get stuck in the lush turf as he turned.
Fingers crossed that he will be back in time for the Wings tough opening fixture in Blue Square South against Woking on 8th August.
Ford also admitted that he was unhappy at the way his side had defended corners, whilst also admitting that his side hadn’t done a lot of work on set pieces as of yet.
And this was proved by the way his team defended Elliott Bradbrook’s 18th minutes - no one picked up Jamie Coyle’s knock down and Adam Burchell was on hand to rifle the ball home past the helplessly exposed Charlie Mitten.
Sam Hurrell and Ryan Johnson then both had chaces for the Wings – Hurrell’s shot smothered round the post by keeper Tony Kessell, whilst Johnson should perhaps have done better with a header that looped well over.
Whereas the second half of a lot of friendlies are often dull and light weight, the second half of this game was wonderful entertainment.
On 49 minutes, James White drove just over the Welling bar after Adam Gross' fine run had been blocked on the edge of the box whilst at the other end Louis Fazackerley tested Kessell with a free kick and from the resulting corner, Sanchez Ming was denied by a smart save.
Ironically one of the largest cheers of the night was reserved for Jermey Kite, the leader of Dartford Council, who inadvertently received a flick on from the disabled bay at Princes after a Welling attack had been broken up.
Dartford went two up on 69 minutes when Rob Haworth helped on sub keeper’s Derren Ibrahim's long clearances to Ryan Hayes, and the winger returned the possession, and the striker beat Mitten with some aplomb from 6 yards.
Darts almost extended their lead on 75 minutes when a quick free kick released Hayes, whose shot (after holding of the attentions of Graeme Andrews) was parried by Mitten and before Hayes could score the ball was blasted away by Neal Murray to safety.
The Wings did pull one back on 81 minutes when Johnson's through ball was turned accross the face of goal by Jason Mason, and David Cory (currently on trial at Park View Road, having played for Whitstable Town last season) to tap home.
Johnson did pull another one back for Welling on 87 after Cory and Jake Hobbs had created room down the right - Johnson sweeping the ball home from the edge of the box, but in truth by then, the game had been well lost for the visitors!
Both bosses agreed that it had been a good battle.
Welling boss Ford, himself a defender of course a former Football League defender at both Swindon and the Gills, was particularly disappointed with his sides defending.
"We were sloppy" he said, "particularly at corners. We'll work on it and hope that we get things right.
“We go again against Dulwich on Saturday - two games in 48 hours doesn’t bother me as we'd have been training tonight anyway."
When asked about their start to the Blue Square South campaign (home to one of the title favourites Woking on opening day) Ford smiled. "We couldn’t have got it much tougher could we. That said they might not be ready as it does take time to adjust after relegation from the Conference. That said they've stayed full time, so we know what we've got to beat."
For Dartford and their manager, many have tipped the Darts to do well this season, a point that Burman was happy to accept.
"We want promotion" he said, "there's no point denying it, and if we are one of the favourites then its a big compliment.
“We're always trying to improve our group and with our signings, I honestly think that we've got real competition for places now - I've options that I didn’t have last year and we know what to expect from this league; so fingers crossed!"
When asked about some of his signings Burman was clearly happy. "I'm delighted to have Taity (Alan Tait) yet frustrated that he hurt a thigh is our second training session I think it was!
“He's progressing and will be involved in our warm up on Saturday at Witham, though is away next week, so may not feature until the following weekend at Cambridge City."
Keeper Deren Ibrahim played the final 23 minutes after starring for Sittingbourne against Dover at the weekend, and Burman was complimentary about his young keeper.
"Gary (Abbott) was struggling for a keeper and asked us for help and I'm delighted Deren played so well. He's our player and we want to look after him and we'll do what’s best for the lad and for the club to improve him.
“We've all of a sudden got four good keepers here (Andrew Young, Sam Mott, Kessell and Ibrahim) so we'll have to sit down and talk to Deren."
Former Tonbridge defender John Beales has been making a comeback with the Darts, and Burman was equally impressed.
"He’s had a serious injury and has been training with us for a while for a while, and its great to see the way he’s battled back. He'll be an asset to us no doubt, and I really hope h give me a headache come August 15th!"
Dartford: Tony Kessell (Deren Ibrahim 67), Billy Burgess, Adam Gross (Seun Eferakehoh 67), Adam Flanagan (John Beales 46), Jamie Coyle, James White (Karl Dent 71), Ryan Hayes, Lee Burns, Jay May (Hussein Isa 46), Adam Burchell (Rob Haworth 43), Elliott Bradbrook (Danny Barber 46).
Goals: Adam Burchell 18; Rob Haworth 69; Ryan Hayes 83
Welling United: Charlie Mitten, Andy Sambrook (Neal Murray 46), Michael Dean (Spencer Knight 46), Dean Cracknell (Ben Greenhaugh 46), Graeme Andrews, Jack Parkinson, Louis Fazackerley (Jason Mason 67), Ryan Johnson, James Lawson (Jake Hobs 11), Tony Finn (David Cory 76), Sam Hurrell (Sanchez Ming 46).
Goals: David Cory 81; Ryan Johnson 87
Attendance: 360
Referee: Mr Stuart Butler (Maidstone)
Assistants: Mr Paul Harris (Maidstone) and Mr P Yates
Red Dragon I.T. Ltd