MATCH REPORT: Bishop’s Stortford 1 – Dartford 2 | Dartford FC – from Dartford FC
Today’s game came after a draw against Hemel Hempstead in the league and a win against Welling United in the Kent Senior Cup. Having played some good football over those games the team came into the game in a confident mood.
Tony Burman set the team up with a 4-2-3-1 formation, the same that was deployed against Margate and the game started well. It only took 12 minutes for Dartford to take the lead with good build up play and a cross from Tom Gardiner easily slotted home from Barry Cogan.
The team played some good passing football controlling the midfield. Against the run of play Bishop’s Stortford then equalised from a corner. Smith rose higher than anyone else and headed home from 6 yard on 40 minutes.
Dartford were unlucky to go in at the break level and soon made up for that once the second half started. On 54 minutes and some more good build up play Elliot Bradbrook found himself with a chance inside the box and coolly curled a left foot shot into the top corner much to the away fans delight.
Having dug in deep despite some late pressure from Bishops Stortford the team went on to a deserved win and 3 points.
Tony Burman said “I am really pleased for the players and supporters who have travelled to BS today. Although our opponents, like us last week, had three good chances in the first 10 minutes I felt we recovered from that and controlled the game taking the lead from a well worked goal.
I was disappointed to concede from a set piece and I feel at that point we let our opponents back in the game. In the second half once we scored I felt created a number of good chances but their goalkeeper made some good saves.
All in all I think we deserved the 3 points and it’s a step in the right direction.”
Elliot Bradbrook added. “I thought it was a really good performance today and that we were really good value for the first goal.
I didn’t think we deserved to go in at half time level. After going ahead again early in the second half we played some good football and was a well deserved 3 points. We can kick on from here. We’ve not played badly over the last few weeks and hopefully we can now start stringing some wins together.”
Dartford FC – Deren Ibrahim (GK), Tom Gardiner, Callum McNaughton, Ronnie Vint, Mark Onyemah, Lee Noble, Elliot Bradbrook (C), Ryan Hayes, Barry Cogan, Danny Harris, Tom Bradbrook
Subs – Andy Pugh, Kaka Dembele, George Sykes, Ebou Adams, Jack Simmons
Bishop’s Stortford – Lovelock (GK), Vanderhyde, Herd, Abdullah, Smith, M’Boungou, Bywater, Church (C), Buchanan, Sheringham, Johnson
Subs – Merrifield, Rowe, Ferrier, Ekim, Lee
Attendance – 402