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Dartford 1 Maidstone United 1 match report

Elliot Bradbrook scored late to earn Dartford a derby draw against Maidstone on Saturday.

Alex Flisher had given Stones the lead at Princes Park but the hosts, who hit the woodwork three times, denied Maidstone a seventh straight league win when Bradbrook scored in the 83rd minute.

The goal was disallowed at first but then given following a discussion between the officials.

Dartford captain Elliot Bradbrook tackles Maidstone's Joe Healy Picture: Andy Payton
Dartford captain Elliot Bradbrook tackles Maidstone's Joe Healy Picture: Andy Payton

Dartford, playing for the first time in two weeks, made just one change to the side which had started their 2-0 win against Hayes & Yeading. In came Lee Noble following a ban, taking the place of Ebou Adams in midfield.

Tom Wynter was fit enough for the bench but Lee Burns missed out again, both players having struggled with ankle injuries recently..

Joe Healy was back in the Stones side after missing the FA Cup defeat to Yeovil through suspension, while Alex Akrofi was handed a rare start up front. Jack Paxman dropped to the bench and Alex Osborn - on loan from Ebbsfleet - wasn't involved.

Maidstone had the first effort on goal, Flisher seeing a powerful shot charged down after Healy had picked him out on the corner of the penalty area.

But there was little room for either side to play during a cagey opening period.

Dartford's Danny Harris tumbled in the box after getting in behind Manny Parry but the challenge certainly didn't merit a penalty - and neither had Harris gone looking for one.

Maidstone winger Matt Bodkin has joined Leatherhead Picture: Andy Payton
Maidstone winger Matt Bodkin has joined Leatherhead Picture: Andy Payton

Moments later, Tom Bradbrook swung his left boot at a dropping ball on the edge of the area and Lee Worgan needed to be alert to get across to his right and claw the volley behind for a corner.

Ryan Hayes almost landed the home side in hot water when his header back towards Deren Ibrahim dropped short of the goalkeeper. But Akrofi, stealing in, was unable to make the most of the opportunity.

Play was congested for much of the first half although Dartford did counter-attack on one occasion with four to three in their favour. The ball reached Harris on the left-hand side of the box but he couldn't provide the killer pass and the danger passed.

The visitors had created little to this point but they started the second half in positive fashion and pushed Dartford back into their defensive third.

Flisher's excellent cross from the left had to be turned behind by Ibrahim and Matt Bodkin then slung a couple of good deliveries into the box from the left-hand side. The second of these was nodded in by Flisher at the near post to send the travelling fans wild.

Alex Flisher is mobbed by his team-mates after scoring Maidstone's goal Picture: Andy Payton
Alex Flisher is mobbed by his team-mates after scoring Maidstone's goal Picture: Andy Payton

Darts skipper Elliot Bradbrook rattled the crossbar from Barry Cogan's corner at the other end as the home side looked to respond and after a period of calm, they hit the woodwork again.

Elliot Bradbrook's deep cross from the left looked to be floating out of play but Hayes got on the end of it and his effort rattled Worgan's left-hand upright.

Maidstone then went close twice in the space of a minute, Callum Driver forcing a good near-post save from Ibrahim and Jamie Coyle sending a free header over when Flisher curled in the resulting corner.

And with seven minutes left, Dartford were level. Elliot Bradbrook swept the ball past Worgan and although the linesman flagged to cut short the celebrations, referee Ian Cooper over-ruled him to spark a huge roar on three sides of the stadium.

There was still time for more drama, Mark Onyemah smashing a shot against the crossbar to bring the entire Dartford coaching staff to their feet before Hayes rifled a shot wide.

Driver headed over from Flisher's cross and Darts substitute Ebou Adams side-footed a shot wide in stoppage-time but it finished all square.

Players from both teams piled into a melee at the full-time whistle following a flare-up between Adams and May but they ended up shaking hands when it might have turned nasty.

Dartford: Ibrahim, Gardiner, Onyemah, Vint, McNaughton, Noble (Adams 90mins), Hayes, E Bradbrook, T Bradbrook (Pugh 74mins), Cogan (Simmons 78mins), Harris. Subs not used: Dembele, Wynter.

Maidstone: Worgan, Driver, Mills, Coyle, Parry, Rogers, Bodkin (Taylor 78mins), Healy, May, Akrofi (Birchall 71mins), Flisher. Subs not used: Paxman, Collin, Watt.

Attendance: 1,909.

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