Dartford v Bognor Regis Town

Report

Joe Brophy

Dartford swept three past Bognor at Princes Park to seal the three points and move up to fourth in the National League South.

Alfie Pavey opened the scoring for the home side but the visitors quickly pegged them back and the first half finished at one-a-piece.

The Darts lead was restored through an Elliot Bradbrook penalty before they sealed the points curtesy of an Andy Pugh header.

With Deren Ibrahim on international duty with Gibraltar and academy keeper Tony Coxall unavailable through suspension, Tony Burman turned to Jordan Carey in goal.

Both teams hoped to take their FA Cup form into the league fixture with Dartford thrashing Needham Market and Bognor knocking out Eastbourne.

Early chances for both sides with the Rocks having the first opportunity through Ollie Pearce who whipped a free kick just over before Pavey had a half chance with a header at the other end.

Fortune favoured the Darts as they did open the scoring on seven minutes. Hounded by Ryan Hayes, Campbell slipped on the halfway line and his heavy back pass forced Lincoln to concede a throw in, taken quick by Hayes who found Pugh in the box whose clever flick set up Pavey to score with a left footed finish into the bottom corner.

Bognor’s game plan to play out from the back played into the hands of the high pressing Darts and Bognor struggled for a period early on to establish themselves outside their half.

One mistake then cost Dartford. Keaton Wood allowed Campbell to step inside him and then evade Sho-Silva to fire in the equalised, despite Tom Bonners almost miraculous last-ditch clearance.

Dartford responded well to the setback with Pugh having a shot blocked before Pavey headed wide from a dangerous corner.

The Darts burst out of the blocks once again in the second half and had regained their lead just seven minutes after the restart.

A high foot caught Onyemah and Bradbrook duly stepped up to power a penalty past Lincoln.

Bognor weren’t done and almost equalised once more as Chad Field was given far too much space and narrowly headed wide.

Sighs of relief came in the 65th minute around Princes Park when Hayes stood up a terrific cross from the right and Pugh was on hand to head home.

Bognor had one last chance to have the last note when deep into stoppage time Jimmy Muitt was sent clear but a good combination from Carey and Onyemah was enough to see the ball out for the 3-1 victory.

Attendance: 1126

Man of the Match: Alfie Pavey

Dartford: Carey, Wood, Sho-Silva (Harris 85mins), Bonner, Onyemah, Hayes (Della-Verde 77mins), Noble, Bradbrook, Murphy, Pugh, Pavey (Ofori-Acheampong 76mins). Subs not used: Brown, Mfula.

Bognor: Lincoln, Davies, Campbell, Block, Heath, Field, Muitt, Beck, Whyte, Pearce (Suraci 79mins), Swallow (Wild 73mins). Subs not used: Lea, Scott.