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Dartford 3 Charlton Athletic 1: Kent Senior Cup final match report

Dartford lifted the Kent Senior Cup at Princes Park on Tuesday night.

Elliot Bradbrook's 18th goal of the season had them in front although Charlton's development side were level by half-time.

But two goals in the space of four minutes late on won the cup for Tony Burman's side. Ronnie Vint scored the equaliser and substitute Ben Francis made sure with only his second senior goal for the club.

Dartford captain Elliot Bradbrook lifts the Kent Senior Cup with Ronnie Vint in 2016. Picture: Steve Crispe
Dartford captain Elliot Bradbrook lifts the Kent Senior Cup with Ronnie Vint in 2016. Picture: Steve Crispe

Dartford's starting XI bore four changes from their league game against Oxford City at the weekend. In came Keaton Wood, Tom Bradbrook, Barry Cogan and Kaka Dembele for Paul Lorraine, Andy Pugh, Nathan Ferguson and Danny Harris.

There were only three players in the Charlton line-up - goalkeeper Dimitar Mitov, defender Josh Staunton and forward Zak Ansah - who started in their semi-final win at Ebbsfleet.

Joe Aribo sliced an early shot wide for the Addicks and Brandon Hanlan then cut inside before shooting straight at Darts goalkeeper Dean Gardikiotis.

Ryan Hayes gave the ball away just outside his own penalty area and was almost punished when Josh Umerah whipped a low shot across the face of goal and narrowly wide.

But Dartford then enjoyed a decent spell, with Tom Bradbrook seeing his downward header held by Dimitar Mitov after Hayes' corner had been cleared back to him.

Former Dartford striker Tom Bradbrook has signed for Welling Picture: Steve Crispe
Former Dartford striker Tom Bradbrook has signed for Welling Picture: Steve Crispe

Tom Bradbrook then did superbly to hold off three Charlton players in midfield and spread the ball wide to Kaka Dembele. The winger ran into the box and flashed a cross-shot wide of the far post.

Dartford took the lead on 20 minutes. Charlton failed to clear Barry Cogan's corner from the left and Elliot Bradbrook hooked an excellent half-volley into the top corner.

But the Addicks were level within nine minutes and their equaliser was utterly avoidable. Hanlon got beyond Keaton Wood too easily down the Charlton left and Gardikiotis spilled his low cross before colliding with Vint. Umerah made the most of the mix-up by firing the loose ball into the net.

The game meandered towards half-time after that, with Hayes' long-range shot which hit the roof of the stand the only effort of note.

It was a similar story at the start of the second half. Neither side came up with anything until just after the hour mark when Umerah lashed a snapshot well wide from the corner of the penalty area.

Ronnie Vint (right) goes for goal as Danny Harris has his shirt pulled Picture: Steve Crispe
Ronnie Vint (right) goes for goal as Danny Harris has his shirt pulled Picture: Steve Crispe

Dartford then went close twice in a minute. Elliot Bradbrook glanced a header wide from Hayes' right-wing cross and Tom Bradbrook turned well inside the box before forcing a save from Mitov.

Vint bundled Darts back in front 15 minutes from time, getting the final touch to a Hayes corner from the left.

Academy striker Francis strode through to make it 3-1 three minutes later, finding the far corner with an assured left-footed finish on the counter-attack.

Hayes dragged a right-footed shot wide in stoppage-time and referee Paul Yates then blew for time to start the celebrations.

Dartford: Gardikiotis, Gardiner, Wynter, Vint, Wood, Burns, Hayes, E Bradbrook, T Bradbrook (Pugh 81mins), Cogan (Francis 74mins), Dembele (Harris 70mins). Subs not used: Simmons, Ferguson.

Charlton: Mitov, Barnes, Edwards (Charles-Cook 62mins), Dijksteel, Staunton, Thomas, Umerah, Aribo, Ansah, Kennedy, Hanlan. Subs not used: Konsa, Beeney, Ahearne-Grant.

Attendance: 1,005.

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