Home   Dartford   Sport   Article

Dartford 1 Wrexham 5

Lee Burns
Lee Burns

Dartford's terrible run of form continued when they collapsed to a fifth straight defeat on Tuesday night.

They led Wrexham through Lee Burns' third-minute strike but capitulated in the most dramatic fashion, conceding four times in 19 minutes before half-time.

A fifth goal for the visitors late on was the 11th the Darts have conceded in their last three games and the 39th in 20 league games so far.

Tony Burman's side remain entrenched in the Skrill Premier relegation zone and they have now played a game more than most of the teams around them.

Dartford's starting line-up bore four changes from their 3-1 defeat at Macclesfield on Saturday.

Former Gillingham goalkeeper Tommy Forecast, on loan from Chelmsford, made his full debut in place of the injured Alan Julian, who came off with a groin problem at the weekend.

Dave Martin, having re-joined Dartford on loan from Luton earlier in the week, came straight into the side, while Lee Noble returned from suspension.

There was a recall for Alex Woodyard in midfield, while Tyrone Sterling, Max Cornhill and Danny Harris all dropped to the bench.

As well as Julian, injuries ruled out Ryan Hayes (knee) and Elliot Bradbrook (ribs).

Dartford may have been depleted but they started the game like a rocket.

With less than three minutes on the clock, Burns collected Noble's pass on the right-hand side of the box and drilled a low shot across Wrexham keeper Andy Coughlin into the bottom corner.

The visitors looked sluggish and they almost conceded a second goal straight away. Adam Birchall unloaded with a powerful shot from 25 yards and Coughlin did well to claw the ball behind.

But Wrexham hit back on 15 minutes. A low cross from the left picked out Brett Ormerod and Forecast couldn't keep his effort out.

Eight minutes later, the visitors were in front. Joe Clarke was afforded too much space to receive Jay Harris' forward pass and he took full advantage by lashing a shot inside the near post.

Wrexham almost added a third when Neil Ashton's far post header was tipped over by Forecast. Somehow, referee Justin Amey failed to spot the goalkeeper had got the crucial touch and gave a goal kick to the fury of the men in red.

Noble fired a shot over on the run to suggest Dartford were still in the game, but the home side promptly pressed the self-destruct button.

A calamitous slip by Mat Mitchel-King inside his own box presented the ball straight to Rob Ogleby and he accepted the gift by planting a shot beyond Forecast. Hoots of derision from the travelling fans suggested Forecast could have done better in his attempts to save.

And things got even worse for Dartford on 34 minutes. Ormerod was given another sight of goal and he needed no second invitation to double his tally with Wrexham's fourth.

The Dragons almost made it five before the break but Forecast turned Harris' shot over.

At the start of the second period, Matty Godden had a powerful snapshot saved by Coughlin at his near post, before Wrexham got back into their stride.

Mark Carrington played a neat ball into the feet of Clarke and he stepped inside a defender before hitting a shot which Forecast gathered at the second attempt.

A deep cross from Hunt picked out Ogleby, unmarked, at the far post, but he planted his header straight at Forecast.

Godden sent a volley over the bar and then went close with a header when Noble's left-wing corner bounced in the box and fell his way.

But Wrexham had the last word on a night which Dartford will want to forget very quickly.

Hunt took a quick free-kick on the edge of the box, catching the home side totally unaware, and his shot nestled in the far corner as Forecast watched on helplessly.

Dartford: Forecast, Collier, Clark, Mitchel-King (Sterling 54mins), Fry (Cornhill 54mins), Noble, Burns, Woodyard (Harris 54mins), Martin, Godden, Birchall. Subs not used: Prior, Ibrahim.

Wrexham: Coughlin, Carrington, Wright, Artell, Ashton, Clarke, Keates (Cieslewicz 68mins), Harris, Ormerod (Bailey-Jones 76mins), Ogleby (Morrell 81mins), Hunt. Subs not used: Mayebi, Creighton.

Attendance: 816.

Close This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies.Learn More