Boreham Wood v Dartford

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Boreham Wood 2-2 Dartford Match Report (3-1 on Pens)

Joe Brophy

Dartford crashed out of the FA Trophy on penalties in a gruelling 2-2 draw in their replay against Boreham Wood.

After holding each other to a 1-1 draw at Princes Park on Saturday, another 120 mins failed to separate the two teams with the National League side maintaining their nerve in the shootout.

Despite leading twice in the game through Ryan Hayes and Danny Mills, the Darts were unable to hold onto their lead.

First pegged back by Bruno Andrade before a stoppage time equaliser from Shaun Jeffers send the home fans into jubilation.

Wood keeper Grant Smith was then on top form as he saved three spot kicks that spelled the end for the Darts.

The match begun in similar fashion to how the first tie ended with both sides engineering chances.

First Hayes swung in a dangerous cross from the right that was just out of the reach of Mills before a swift counter attack from the home side ended with Angelo Balanta stinging the palms of Deren Ibrahim.

The Darts were almost gifted the lead curtesy of an own-goal, but Smith was alive to divert Tom Champion’s wayward header that was bound for the top corner.

The Darts wouldn’t have to wait too much longer for their goal however as shortly after the restart Hayes had opened the scoring.

Not closed down when he picked up the ball, the winger unleashed a vicious strike that flew past Smith to give the Darts a sensational lead.

In an effort to draw level, the home side threw on reinforcements and substitute Dan Holman almost scored with his first touch, but he was unable to make full contact with the looping through ball and Ibrahim gathered.

The warning signs were there, and Wood had equalised with 17 minutes left.

Andrade, who had looked lively, darted forwards and beat Ibrahim from range with a dipping strike.

The hosts lead lasted mere minutes as Mills responded for Dartford in emphatic fashion, showing real striker instinct to snap at a loose ricochet in the box to poke past Smith.

The fourth officials awarded ten minutes of injury time that was the cue for Wood to swarm Dartford’s box with all ten outfield players.

Several goal-line scrambles ensued that the Darts back line just managed to clear. Ibrahim followed up with a tremendous save in the dying embers to push Holman’s effort to safety.

Just when it looked like it was Dartford to progress, Jeffers popped up to smack a bouncing ball into the roof of the net.

The host side continued their late pressure into extra time, but this time Dartford held firm to force the game into a penalty shoot-out.

Captain Elliot Bradbrook stepped up to calmly score Dartford’s first penalty but strikes from Andrade and Jeffers had meant Wood were 2-1 up in the shootout.

Smith then performed heroics as he was able to keep out efforts from Lyle Della-Verde and Murphy to firmly give Wood the driving seat.

Sorba Thomas scored to leave Dartford’s hopes on a knife-edge but Alfie Pavey found himself also unable to beat Smith whose efforts sealed Wood’s place in the next round of the FA Trophy.

Boreham Wood: Smith, Smith, Ricketts (Thomas ‘103), Wells (Turley ’50), Stephens, Shakes, Champion, Murtagh, Andrade, Jeffers, Balanta (Holman ’64)

Subs: Burbidge, Sach

Dartford: Ibrahim, Harris (Sho-Silva ’90), Onyemah, Bonner, Vint, Della-Verde, Hayes, Bradbrook, Mills (Pavey ’90), Brown (Pugh ’67), Murphy,

Subs: Noble, Mfula