Dartford v Whitehawk

Report

Joe Brophy

Dartford remained top of the National League South with a convincing 3-1 win against Whitehawk.

A double from Andy Pugh and one from Ronnie Vint on his century of starts was enough to end Whitehawk’s unbeaten start in 2018.

David Ijaha had drawn the away side level early in the second half but Pugh’s brace was enough to secure the three points.

The Hawks looked to race out of the blocks at Princes Park, and Deren Ibrahim had to be switched on.

First to deny Ky Marsh-Brown then get down to a low drive by Sam Chaney.

Tom Bonner than did brilliantly to keep the scores level. A scramble from a Hawks free kick landed unfavourably at the feet of Gold Omotayo whose time effect was somehow turned onto the underside of the bar and away from danger by Bonner.

The Darts grew into the half and looked to punish the away side for their lack of conviction in front of goal.

Alfie Pavey fired a warning shot after being played in by Danny Harris before Vint capitalised in added time shortly after.

A Ryan Hayes free kick came back out to Vint and the defender made no mistake from the 6-yard box, thundering home the rebound to open the scoring.

Dartford failed to build on their lead after the restart and Whitehawk finally found a way past Ibrahim ten minutes later.

The Darts keeper could only parry Elliot Benyon’s ball in from the left onto the path of Ijaha who still finished well from a tight angle.

Dartford didn’t have to wait long to regain their lead however.

Shortly after the hour mark, hesitation in the Hawks backline allowed Pugh to snatch a flick on by Nathan Collier and somehow finish from the tightest of angles to put the Darts back in front.

Ibrahim then performed superbly to preserve Dartford’s lead, tipping Benyon’s first time drive round the post.

Twelve minutes from time and Pugh had got his second. Allowed too much time to run through after a long ball and finished well past Wilks.

The result means the Darts remain three points clear at the top of the table.

Dartford: Ibrahim, Harris, Vint, Bonner, Onyemah, Hayes, Collier, Bradbrook (c), Murphy, Pugh, Pavey

Dartford FC Subs: Mills, Della-Verde, Acheampong, Noble, Brown

Whitehawk: Wilks, Lyons-Foster, Genovesi, Ijaha, Ambroisine, Obamwonyi, Craney, Mandy, Omotayo, Benyon, Marsh-Brown

Subs: Rodrigues, Cadman, Rose, Mensah, Pinney

Attendance: 1104

Man of the Match: Andy Pugh