Thamesmead Town vs Dartford FC

Report

Dartford produced a comfortable win in pre-season in emphatic style largely in part to a standout out second half display from Captain Elliot Bradbrook.

The Darts flew out of the blocks from the start with Brown first seeing an effort deflected and then a cross-cum shot from Cue narrowly escaping the crossbar. Hayes later found some space to float a ball over the back line towards Bonner, who couldn’t direct his header inside the back post

Thamesmeads first real chance of the match came inside 15 minutes. A Mead counter attack caused havoc at the back and Bonner had to head the ball off the line. Thamesmead played well in spells, looking dangerous on the counter in an open game but struggled to fashion some clear-cut chances in the final third.

Dartford had the better of the play in the first half hour, keeping possession well and showing good movement off the ball. Both sides were in desperate need of a player to produce some quality in front of goal and thankful for the Darts, the deadlock was broken shortly after the half hour mark by new signing Warren Mfula who stopped low to head into the bottom corner after some good work out wide by Murphy.  Thamesmead almost respond instantly as a long ball into the box found Teniola unmarked but with goal gaping, he couldn’t convert.

The Darts began the second half with a few changes.  Della-Verde, Harris and captain Elliot Bradbrook all coming on in place of Hayes, Wood and Cue.

The half-time substitutes worked wonders inside two minutes of the restart. Noble produced a strong tackle in the centre of the pitch and the ball found its way to Murphy who claimed another assist after Bradbrook steered a calmly driven shot into the bottom corner off the pass.

Della-Verde, who looked lively from his introduction, linked well with Murphy but could only see a deflected effort bounce back off him for a goal kick. The Darts continued with their dominant second half performance and soon had a third goal to show for their play. Again, Bradbrook marauded forward and was left unmarked in the box to flick the ball into the back of the net. Bradbrook wasn’t done yet and five minutes later had completed a 21-minute hat-trick from the penalty spot after Browns quick feet was too much to handle and he was bought down.

With the Darts, well in control Tony Burman rang the changes and handed the opportunity for a lot of the youth players to gain some valuable minutes to see out a completely dominant second half showing from Dartford.

DARTFORD FC TEAM: Ibrahim, Wood, Onyemah, Bonner, Vint, Brown, Hayes, Noble, Mfula, Murphy, Cue

DARTFORD FC SUBS: Harris, Bradbrook, Della-Verde, Iweka, Coxall, Fulton, Habte, Ufuah, Thorley-Porter

Attendance: 204

By Joe Brophy