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Dartford 2 Weston-super-Mare 1 match report

Dartford pulled off a dramatic late comeback to beat Weston-super-Mare on Saturday.

They trailed to Dayle Grubb's goal with 88 minutes on the clock but substitute Danny Harris levelled the scores before a Clayton Fortune own goal handed the Darts all three points.

It ended Dartford's month-long wait for a home win on a day when they looked set to lose at home to the side sat bottom of Vanarama National League South.

Kaka Dembele in action for Dartford against Weston-super-Mare Picture: Andy Payton
Kaka Dembele in action for Dartford against Weston-super-Mare Picture: Andy Payton

Lee Noble returned to the Dartford side after illness, with Ryan Hayes and Harris left on the bench and Lee Burns ruled out through suspension.

Ebou Adams kept his place in midfield and he was one of four academy graduates in the Darts XI alongside goalkeeper Deren Ibrahim, right-back Ronnie Vint and left-winger Kaka Dembele.

Weston, who had picked up their first win of the season seven days earlier, were unchanged.

The visitors played an attractive passing game in the first half although much of their football was in front of Dartford in the early stages.

Dembele beat two men down the left flank and crossed low for Tom Bradbrook, who skied his half-volley out of the ground.

Weston grew in confidence as the game wore on and when Scott Wilson got away down the right, Vint had to turn his low cross behind for a corner.

The Seagulls then broke at pace, three-on-two approaching Dartford's box, and when captain Grubb set up Tsvetan Filipov, only an excellent save from Ibrahim kept the scoresheet blank.

Tom Gardiner heads the ball back across goal for Dartford Picture: Andy Payton
Tom Gardiner heads the ball back across goal for Dartford Picture: Andy Payton

Dartford's play lacked any urgency and the warning signs kept coming. Filipov headed wide from a Jacob Cane cross and Ibrahim kept his team in the game again, standing up to make another big save when Wilson ran onto Filipov's through-ball.

Noble almost gave the Darts a bizarre lead late in the first half when his free-kick from 40 yards out swirled over Luke Purnell's head and struck the top of the crossbar.

Tom Gardiner headed over from a Noble corner at the start of the second period but he was then called into action at the other end when Dartford, still so sluggish, lost the ball in midfield. Wilson was about to oull the trigger when Gardiner's recovery tackle saved the home side.

Noble, who was getting little joy down the Darts right, drifted inside and stung Purnell's palms with a rasping drive from 25 yards. Dembele then headed over from Mark Onyemah's left-wing delivery, craning his neck to meet the ball which was slightly behind him.

At the other end, Vint misjudged a long punt forward and let the ball run for Cane, who set up substitute Tristan Plummer for a shot which flashed past the angle.

Hayes was sent on for the last 25 minutes as Tony Burman looked to change the game.

Elliot Bradbrook's flicked header sent Andy Pugh running into the box down the Dartford left and the captain collected the return pass, stabbing a shot straight at Purnell.

Right-back Ronnie Vint looks to bring the ball under his control Picture: Andy Payton
Right-back Ronnie Vint looks to bring the ball under his control Picture: Andy Payton

The pressure was mounting on the Weston goal and Tom Bradbrook headed over from a Hayes cross before another substitute, George Sykes, saw his shot deflect behind after showing a good touch to control another Hayes pass.

Burman's final roll of the dice saw Harris enter the fray and he was straight into the action, lofting a shot high over the bar as Purnell rushed out to narrow the angle.

But still the Darts couldn't score and it looked like they'd paid the price 10 minutes from time.

Vint lost possession just outside his own penalty area and Grubb pounced, cutting inside and bending the ball past Ibrahim before celebrating with the three travelling supporters behind the goal.

Dartford's players and supporters had their heads in their hands - but this game wasn't done yet.

Harris converted a Hayes corner from point-blank range to make it 1-1, after which Dembele shot over and Vint saw a 35-yard strike deflect inches past the post.

Four minutes of stoppage-time were almost up when Noble's corner from the left hit Fortune and bounced in for Dartford's dramatic winner.

Dartford: Ibrahim, Vint, Gardiner, McNaughton, Onyemah, Noble, Adams (Hayes 64mins), E Bradbrook, Dembele, T Bradbrook (Sykes 74mins), Pugh (Harris 77mins). Subs not used: Turner, Cogan.

Weston: Purnell, Withey, Barnes, Keary, Edge, Fortune, Filipov, Mawford (Plummer 59mins), Wilson (Page 68mins), Grubb, Cane (McClennan 79mins). Subs not used: Byrne, Ash.

Attendance: 802.

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