Bognor Regis Town V Dartford

Report

Dartford returned to the top of the Isthmian Premier League table, after a goal in each half saw off struggling Bognor Regis Town at the MKM Arena.

The Darts started brightly in front of 1,044 supporters, and were soon ahead when Samir Carruthers’s free-kick enabled Sam Odaudu to fire beyond goalkeeper Ryan Hall (6). The goal was the defender’s fourth of the season.

The visitors came close to adding a second in a positive opening thirty minutes, only for Olly Box’s superb solo effort drop the wrong side of Hall’s post (9).

The Rocks’ shot-stopper then pulled off a fine save to thwart Callum Jones (11), before some desperate defending saw the hosts clear two Dartford efforts off the line in quick succession (27).

The hosts meanwhile had very little to show for their efforts in a dire first forty-five in the final third, with Tommy-Lee Higgs’ 36th minute free-kick being the only real shot on goal… which failed to trouble Jacob Marsden.

Michael Birmingham and Jamie Howell’s side looked more threatening at the restart, as they set out to find an equaliser. Jasper Mather proved to be a handful at times, and he forced Marsden into a great save after 57 minutes in what was The Rocks’ best opportunity of a rather scrappy affair.

Dartford soon responded via the excellent Samir Carruthers, who came close with a lovely turn and strike which curled narrowly wide of the far post (62).

A free-kick from Sam Odaudu was then tipped onto the crossbar by Ryan Hall (64), who was determined to keep his team in the contest.

After a relatively quiet period, Ady Pennock moved to freshen things up by replacing the tireless Olly Box with Eddie Dsane with nine minutes remaining.

Josh Hill then saw his effort tipped behind by Hall, before Carruthers’ resulting corner was forced home by the hard-working Callum Jones to seal the points for the Darts (85).

The visitors’ boss then made a triple swap in personnel by bringing on Tyler Christian-Law, Duane Ofori-Acheampong, and George Whitefield for Samir Carruthers, Callum Jones, and Michael Olarewaju respectively (88), as Dartford saw out the remainder of the game.

Jacob Marsden collected his thirteenth clean sheet of the season, as Dartford completed the league double over today’s opponents and returned to the summit of the table in this fiercely competitive league.

TEAMS

BOGNOR REGIS TOWN: Ryan Hall, Harvey Whyte, Dion Jarvis, Preston Woolston, Dan Gifford, Chad Field, Bailey Smith, Doug Tuck, Tommy-Lee Higgs, Matt Burgess (c), Jasper Mather.
SUBSTITUTES: Harvey Rew, Freddie Chester, Ashton Horstead, Lennie Smith.

DARTFORD: Jacob Marsden, Sam Odaudu, Michael Olarewaju, Luther Williams, Josh Hill (c), Samuel Okoye, Hayden Bullas, Denzelle Olopade, Samir Carruthers, Olly Box, Callum Jones.
SUBSTITUTES: George Whitefield, Duane Ofori-Acheampong, Eddie Dsane, Tyler Christian-Law, Gabe Campbell.