Report: Dartford 0-3 Wealdstone
Darts goal-drought goes rolling on after Stones rout
A return to Princes Park didn’t bring a return to winning ways for Dartford as they were comprehensively beaten 3-0 by Wealdstone in the Vanarama National League south.
Chez Isaac was restored to the starting line-up as Elliot Bradbrook missed the game through illness with Lee Noble still nursing a knee injury.
Unlike in their last few games the Darts did start brightly; midfielder Isaac’s shot from the edge of the box was just too high in the 4th minute.
The visitors began to turn the screw, however, as they kept possession well which eventually resulted in their opener.
A mistake by defender Ronnie Vint sent ex-Ebbsfleet United striker Bradley Bubb through on goal before he rounded Deren Ibrahim and slotted the ball into the net from a tight angle.
Had it not been for a good save from Ibrahim the visitors could’ve extended their lead; Connor Stevens’ header was met by a strong palm by the ‘keeper following Danny Green’s corner.
Wealdstone ‘keeper Jonathan North was finally put to test midway through the half following a stinging effort from distance by Ben Greenhalgh.
The visitors looked the most likely to score however with David Pratt and Jeffrey Monakana denied within a minute of each other before they did extend their lead.
David Pratt’s header cannoned of Ibrahim’s upright before Bubb was on hand from close range to net his and the Stones’ second of the contest.
Delano Sam-Yorke was starved of service in Tuesday’s 2-0 defeat at Concord Rangers but following a poor clearance by North, the ex-Maidstone striker had a good opportunity to get one back just before half-time.
Jerome Okimo recovered well with a fine, last-ditch tackle to spare his ‘keeper’s blushes.
Half-time: Dartford 0-2 Wealdstone
Bubb nearly got his hat-trick straight from the kick-off but the visitors only had to wait eight minutes after the restart to all but secure three points.
The skilful Monakana produced the goal of the game after cutting in from the left. The winger let fly from 25 yards with his right foot and beat Ibrahim via the under-side of the bar.
Bubb had another chance to get his third and to make the contest a drubbing as a sloppy short free-kick by the hosts saw Monakana lead a counter-attack before the forward somehow missed the target with a close-range header.
Bobby Wilkinson’s side were relentless and offered the hosts very few chances to get back into the match with Manny Ighorae’s late effort the closest the Darts came.
Monakana and Bubb went close before the final whistle as the Darts looked like a team waiting in hope for the final whistle.
It was a very disappointing performance by Coyle and Flanagan’s side as they failed to score for the third game in the row.
They were second best all over the pitch to an impressive Wealdstone side as the Stones’ high tempo style proved too much for the Darts to handle as they were over-run in midfield.
Flanagan pulled no punches after the match and vowed to make changes to a team who he said produced ‘the poorest performance I’ve seen from a Dartford side’.
Full-time: Dartford 0-3 Wealdstone
Dartford: Ibrahim, Driver, Onyemah, Roast, Vint, Bonner, Greenhalgh, Oyenuga, Murphy, Sam-Yorke (Cue), Isaac (Ighorae).
Wealdstone: North, Tyler, Grant, Stevens, Okimo, Poku, Monakana (Mitchell), Ahmidi, Pratt, Green, Bubb (White).
Attendance: 981.
Written by Henry Clark (@HenryWAClark)
www.youngsportsjourno.wordpress.com