The Darts continued their National League South campaign at the weekend with a trip away to Bishops Stortford.
Manager Tony Burman had to change his starting eleven from previous weeks after Keaton Wood was struck down with a sickness bug en route to the stadium. He was replaced by Ronnie Vint, who was handed his first start back for The Darts after his broken wrist injury which he sustained away at Whitehawk earlier in the season.
Goalkeeper Deren Ibrahim also returned to his rightful place in the net fresh from his international appearance for Gibraltar the week before. Ryan Hayes and Luke Wanadio started the match on the bench for the second week in a row.
Bishops Stortford got off to a seemingly good start, and had a couple of chances to score early within the first ten minutes; however Ibrahim and Tom Gardiner defended the Dartford goal well to deny Stortford the early lead.
Dartford dominated the match from then on, with Lee Noble and Tom Bonner both working well to break down any attacking opportunities by The Blues. Noble and Elliot Bradbrook both fired in chances to test Stortford goalkeeper Tom Lovelock, but the first goal came from a low shot by Gardiner which unfortunately was tapped over the line by George Allen of Stortford on the 42nd minute.
Half time came and went and Dartford came back onto the playing field ready to finish the game off. The second goal for The Darts came shortly after the restart when Danny Harris broke down the left and passed through to Duane Ofori-Acheampong, who’s clever back-heal sent Andy Pugh through, and Pugh had a clear shot on goal, beating Lovelock to secure the second of the afternoon.
Bishops Stortford had one real chance of the afternoon on the 65th minute, when Jon Nouble fired a shot at Ibrahim who blocked the ball with ease, and on the 77th minute Dartford delivered the final nail in the coffin when Hayes’ free kick sailed into the box and Bradbrook was able to turn and easily net from close range.
Dartford comfortably wrapped up the game and Burman’s side came away with another win which saw them climb up the league table into the fifth position.
Bishops Stortford: Lovelock, Rodgers, Hickford, Richens, Allen, Mambo, Moncur, Fagan, Nouble, Akinwande, Greene
Subs: Ronto, Ekim, Kouassi, Herd, Ekpiteta
Dartford: Ibrahim, Gardiner, Vint, Bonner, Wynter, Noble, A Brown, Bradbrook, Harris, Pugh, Ofori-Acheampong
Subs: Hayes, Wanadio, E Brown, Dembele, Francis
Attendance: 388