Weston-Super-Mare v Dartford

Report

Weston-super-Mare 3-0 Dartford Match Report

Joe Brophy

Top of the table Dartford were humbled by a 3-0 defeat to Weston-super-Mare which saw the Darts slip to fourth in the league.

A first half brace from Gethyn Hill and a second half strike from Archie Collins ensured a comfortable win and the three points for the home side.

Dartford faced a Seagulls side who were looking to add to their three-game unbeaten strike in the league.

Last season, Dartford had a 100% record against Weston but the home side had the returning Gethyn Hill to front their attack.

It was indeed the visitors who started the stronger of the two sides and could be considered unfortunate not to have received an early penalty when the referee awarded a free kick for a handball when it appeared the contact occurred inside the box.

Lee Noble then had a shot from distance that failed to trouble the goalkeeper before the warning signs emerged.

Excellent work from Dayle Grubb and Jacob Cane found Reid who could only guide his header wide of the target.

From then on, it was one-way traffic in a dominant first half for Weston who opened the scoring on 18 minutes.

A scintillating run by Cane engineered the space for Danny Greenslade to whip an arching cross into the box, and fresh from a loan spell at Hereford, Hill was on hand to head home on his return to the starting line-up.

It only got worse for the Darts when Weston extended doubled their advantage three minutes later.

Grubb lost his marker in the box and fired an effort that struck the post but Dartford’s misery was compounded when the rebound fell kindly for Hill to slot home the rebound to see his side two goals to the good.

Tony Burman sent on Pugh and Murphy at half time in an attempt to salvage another dramatic 2-goal come-back but alas it wasn’t to be as Weston killed any hope straight from the kick off.

Lapse defending from the Darts back line failed to close down Collins who managed to squeeze in a third from a tight angle.

It could have got even worse for Dartford as Cane saw a header cleared off the line before being scrambled clear.

The Darts did enjoy a prolonged spell of pies sink in the second half but struggled to test Luke Purnell in goal much.

Alfie Pavey did have the best chance to get his side on the scoresheet but with the goal at his mercy, he could have smack an effort against the bar.

Weston saw out the rest of the match to pull themselves away from the relegation zone and slightly burst the bubble of the former league leaders.

DARTFORD FC TEAM: Ibrahim, Onyemah, Bonner, Vint, Wood, Noble, Hayes, Brown, Bradbrook (C), Della-Verde, Pavey

DARTFORD FC SUBS: Pugh, Harris, Murphy, Mfula, Ofori-Acheampong

Attendance: 559