Sevenoaks Town 1-4 Dartford

The Kent League hosts stunned their higher league visitors by taking a ninth minute lead.

Central midfielder, Luke Piscina, a big summer signing from their Ryman Premier League neighbours, Tonbridge Angels, drilled a shot across Tony Kessell and into the bottom far corner.

But Dartford defender, John Guest’s stunning goal brought the Ryman League Division One North side back on level terms after 35 minutes.

With Sevenoaks short on numbers, they could only bring on a goalkeeper, Jamie Williams, at the interval, and they finally ran out of steam with twenty minutes remaining.

Dartford, however, captalised by netting three goals in the final 18 minutes, through Ryan Hayes, who was playing in the middle of the park, and two from Eddie McClements, playing up front.

Sevenoaks Town went into the game with prolific striker, Tony Atkins, Perry Spackman, Frankie Whitehead and Nick Reeves, on holiday.

Ben Rainbow, Ryan Haskins and Scott Hayho were all at work, whilst Darren Pearson (hamstring) and Lee Aldridge (knee) were out injured.

Dartford were also without their prolific strike partnership of Brendon Cass (holiday) and Jay May (ankle), so Tom Bradbrook and Tommy Youle played their third game in three days, having progressed through the club’s under 21 side.

And it was Dartford who should have opened the scoring after six minutes.

Hayes’ corner was knocked down by former Tonbridge Angels’ holding midfielder, Alex O’Brien, and Jamie Coyle, a central defender, drove a left-footed shot agonisingly past the foot of the far post.

But it was Sevenoaks who broke the deadlock just three minutes later.

Piscina, who also scored during Sevenoaks’ 4-2 defeat to Folkestone Invicta two nights ago, exchanged a one-two with right-back Toby Webb, and drilled a right-footed angled drive across Kessell and into the bottom far corner.

And Sevenoaks created a couple of decent chances as Dartford couldn’t cope against a side desperate to make a good impression.

Webb, who played for Loughborough University last season, tried his luck from distance, which sailed over before the post saved Dartford’s blushes in the 13^th minute.

Piscina, a big fish in a small pond, played a delightful ball out of defence, over the top of Guest and Coyle, and Sevenoaks’ striker, Matt Parsons, whose been drafted in from the club’s youth team, lashed a right-footed shot from 25-yards over Kessell’s head, only to see the ball crash agonisingly against the top of the left-post.

Five minutes later, Piscina shaped up to take a 35-yard free-kick from a central position, but allowed Webb to take it, only for the full-back to blaze over.

Hayes drilled a shot, with his lethal left-foot, from 30-yards only to see the shot roll harmlessly past the post of Alan Hughes, the former Erith & Belvedere goalkeeper.

But Dartford were level ten minutes before the break.

Hayes cut his corner back to left-back Steve Norman and his cross was knocked down to Guest, who from 20-yards, unleashed a left-footed screamer, that flew into the top left-hand corner.

The goal helped Dartford step up a gear and created another four chances before the break.

O’Brien’s right-footed shot from distance dropped just over Hughes’ crossbar before Coyle’s ball over the top of Sevenoaks’ defence, was latched onto by Bradbrook.

But the youngster rushed his shot and his lob dropped over Hughes’ crossbar.

And Hughes made a smart low save to his right, tipping Hayes’ left-footed low curler around the post, and from Hayes’ resulting corner, he comfortably saved Coyle’s header.

Hayes squandered an excellent chance to give Dartford the lead after 53 minutes when he stabbed the ball past the advancing Williams, only to see the ball roll harmlessly wide of the foot of the far post.

Later, former Dartford full-back Tom Olsen sent a free-kick towards the far post, but Parsons fired wide.

With lack of numbers on the bench, Sevenoaks tired, and Dartford, who were able to utilise their five substitutes, went for the kill.

Hayes made it 3-1 with eighteen minutes remaining, stroking a left-footed shot in off the far post.

McClements scored the best goal of the game just four minutes later when he received a pass from fellow substitute, Mark Green, and curled a stunning right-footed shot from 25-yards into the top far corner.

And McClements wrapped up the win after 81 minutes when he twisted and turned inside the penalty area, left Olsen for dead, before firing past Williams.

McClements thought he had scored a hat-trick late on, but his well executed volley, from Norman’s cross, was ruled out for offside.

But Darts boss Tony Burman said EXCLUSIVELY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk  afterwards that he was pleased that his side won through in the end.

“I thought that Sevenoaks done ever so well really in the first half,” he said.

“I thought they put us under a lot of pressure, they closed us down and they played very well, and I think they deserved their 1-0 lead.

“We were expecting that sort of thing to happen and Derek (Moore) and Bob (Pittaway) are getting their team fit, and we’re trying to get our team fit.”

Last week, Dartford were chasing shadows against Tottenham Hotspur (which they lost 7-2) and Crystal Palace (0-3), before winning comfortably by four goals to nil at Kent League side Tunbridge Wells on Tuesday night.

“We’ve played in two different games against League clubs, which told tonight,” explained Burman.

“Those two games has helped us out and our fitness was good and I think we got to 55 minutes and we’ve kicked on in both of our games midweek, which I’m pleased about.”

Burman was pleased with Bradbrook and Youle, who have stepped up into the first team squad.

He said: “They did (impress) because they played sixty minutes last night (a 2-0 reserve team win over Tonbridge Angels).

“They’ve come along here, I was struggling for a couple of forwards as Brendon (Cass) has gone on holiday and Jay (May) is injured but that’s no disrespect to anybody or anything like that, I wanted to try them and they was available to be thrown in, and I’m pleased with them.”

Derek Moore, the joint-manager of Sevenoaks Town, was pleased with the performance from his side.

“I’m really played with the lads,” he said EXCLUSIVELY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk. 

 “We’ve arrived at the game with the bare bones, nine players missing, 6 from the previous game against Folkestone on Tuesday night, through injury and holiday commitments.

“But we’ve managed to get a side out that showed a high degree of commitment and a high degree of skill as well.

“So very pleased with the work-out and pleased that Tony brought his full side to us.”

Sevenoaks Town: Alan Hughes (Jamie Williams 45), Steve Armstrong, Tom Olson, Joe Hamshire, Tony Webb, Steve O’Keefe, Aaron Smith, Luke Piscina, Sam Warnett, Jack Pittaway, Matt Parsons.
Sub: Courtney Rayfield.

Booked: Jack Pittaway 71

Goal: Luke Piscina 9

Dartford: Tony Kessell, Tommy Osborne, Steve Norman, Adam Flanagan, John Guest (Mark Green 62), Jamie Coyle (Brad Potter 62), Jack Roberts (Eddie McClements 45), Alex O’Brien, Tom Bradbrook (Dave Milton 76), Ryan Hayes, Tommy Youle (Jamie Lawrence 74).

Goals: John Guest 35, Ryan Hayes 72, Eddie McClements 76,81

Attendance: 50
Referee: Mr Ian Fissenden (Gravesend)
Assistants: Mr John Roffey (Ashford) & Mr Ian Sands (Ashford)