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Dartford 1 Concord Rangers 2 match report

Former Dartford midfielder James White sunk his old club with a wonder strike for Concord.

White’s 30-yarder flew into the top corner as Rangers recovered from a goal down to leave Princes Park with a well-deserved victory on Saturday.

But there was late drama with Darts screaming for a penalty after Concord keeper Ben McNamara took out George Sykes.

Dartford manager Tony Burman Picture: Andy Payton
Dartford manager Tony Burman Picture: Andy Payton

Rangers played with the confidence of a side who were seven matches unbeaten as they dominated the opening 45 minutes.

Much of the vistors’ best work centred on Ben Greenhalgh and with Steve Cawley and Sam Bantick for company, the visitors were sharp and imaginative as they took the game to National South play-off hopefuls Darts.

Twice Greenhalgh brought good saves out of Deren Ibrahim in the opening 10 minutes, the first from outside the box after combining with White and Cawley, and then a fierce hit when the ball dropped near the penalty spot.

Having been on the back foot, Dartford took the lead from their first attack - and what a nice goal it was too.

Captain Elliot Bradbrook freed brother Tom down the left and with Concord’s bench screaming not to let him cut inside, the big striker did just that and bent the ball into the top corner after 18 minutes.

Greenhalgh tested Ibrahim again as Concord went straight back on the attack and within six minutes they were level.

That man Greenhalgh did well to keep a partially cleared corner alive on the edge of the box, with the ball sitting up for Cawley, who thumped a 20-yard cracker into the top corner.

Elliot Bradbrook headed over from Jack Simmons’ corner towards the end of the half, while Bantick went close again up the other end.

Concord made a decent start to the second half, too, with John Easterford’s header from a Greenhalgh corner blocked on the line and the follow-up nodded over by the same man.

Darts had struggled to get going all afternoon, although around the hour mark they at least livened up the crowd by getting Simmons into a couple of decent crossing positions.

Tony Burman made a double change on 62 minutes and it was one of the substitutes, big Sykes, who had Darts’ clearest opening since taking the lead.

He was played in by Andy Pugh but Tom Stephen came across from left-back to make a superb last-ditch challenge, injuring himself in the process.

Darts had a better spell after the changes but found themselves behind after 73 minutes. There appeared to be nothing on when the ball dropped to White 30 yards out but a swing of the left boot and it flew into the top corner for another wonder goal.

Concord threatened a third moving into the last five minutes, Ibrahim flinging himself to his left at full stretch to deny Greenhalgh after a tricky run.

Darts fans let referee Ashvin Degnarin know what they thought when Sykes was denied a late penalty.

Dartford: Ibrahim, Gardiner, Onyemah, Vint, McNaughton, Wynter, Harris (Dembele 82mins), E Bradbrook, Pugh, T Bradbrook (Sykes 62mins), Simmons (Hayes 62mins). Subs: not used: Francis, Noble.

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