Dartford v Concord Rangers

Report

Dartford 2-0 Concord Rangers Match Report

Joe Brophy

Dartford marched to their first win of the season in the National League South with a comfortable victory over Concord Rangers on Tuesday night.

Goals were supplied by captain Elliot Bradbrook, who once again got on the score sheet, alongside Man of the Match winner Lyle Della-Verde to ensure the Darts picked up a deserved three points.

The dominant win maintains the Darts unbeaten start to the campaign whilst also gaining a third clean sheet in four games for Ibrahim.

Both teams set up with just a lone striker. Murphy, Pugh, Vint & Ofori-Acheampong remained out so Tony Burman set up a 4-5-1 with a five-man midfield supporting Warren Mfula.

Dartford started the better of the two sides, preserving plenty of possession but struggling to fashion any clear-cut chances of note.

Mfula had a half-chance with one attempt sent over the bar and Hayes, who found himself space in the penalty area, could only curl wide.

It took almost forty minutes but suddenly the Darts stepped up a gear. A Concord free-kick inside the Darts half was cleared and reversed to counter-attack with pace.

Della-Verde chested a through ball out wide before firing a low cross into the box that fell kindly for the onrushing skipper to hit a left-footed finesse from close range into the bottom corner.

The Darts almost carried a 2-0 lead into half-time. First, Mfula saw his low shot beaten clear by Concord keeper Louis Wells, and then Tom Bonner was unable to turn in a deep corner from Hayes.

Concord attempted to step up their efforts to gain a foot-hold in the game once the second half started with a much more direct approach on goal. Rob Girdlestone’s early drive was well gathered by keeper Deren Ibrahim and then Khale Da Costa had a effort from distance but could only shoot wide.

Bradbrook had the opportunity to double his goal tally for the day but his header from another deep corner from Hayes was cleared from danger.

King, almost a villain for nearly scoring an own goal at one end, then missed the chance to be a hero at the other as he headed over from a threatening corner as Concord searched for an equaliser.

Alfie Cue, always a handful off the bench, made an instant impact to ensure the three points as he shot just wide two minutes after replacing Alex Brown.

With seven minutes remaining the Darts did seal their first win of the season. Cue collected the ball in the centre then driving towards the wing before playing a cute inside ball to Della-Verde, who toyed with his marker outside the box before deftly cutting inside and curling a right-footed shot into the far corner.

Dartford: Ibrahim, Harris, Onyemah, Bonner, Sho-Silva, Brown (Cue 76mins), Hayes (Thorley-Porter 90mins), Bradbrook, Mfula (Ufuah 82mins), Noble, Della-Verde. Subs not used: Wood, Eweka.

Concord: Wells, Girdlestone, Brown (Topley 60mins), Peter, King, Roast, Knight (Smith 86mins), Nasha, Taaffe, Da Costa (Renew 71mins), Farrell. Subs not used: Cawley, Cox.

Attendance: 750

Man of The Match: Della-Verde – Presented by Aston Anderson Estate Agents