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Dartford manager Alan Dowson reacts to 2-2 home draw with National League South frontrunners Yeovil Town

Boss Alan Dowson had mixed emotions after Dartford shared the spoils from their four-goal game with National League South leaders Yeovil on Saturday.

Dowson was pleased to pick up a point against their full-time visitors, who remain seven points clear at the summit.

Dartford boss Alan Dowson – saw his side draw 2-2 at home to National League South leaders Yeovil on Saturday. Picture: Keith Gillard
Dartford boss Alan Dowson – saw his side draw 2-2 at home to National League South leaders Yeovil on Saturday. Picture: Keith Gillard

But the Darts manager was also disappointed with the mistakes made by his 12th-placed side which meant - despite leading after goals from loanees George Alexander and Richard Chin - they were pegged back by Jordan Young’s strike 12 minutes from time and unable to find a winner.

Dowson reflected: “We could have lost it - quite heavily after that first half - but in the second half, I felt we could have won it. We were miles better in the second half.

“There were some horrendous conditions, the wind was swirling around. We had to deal with that in the first half - which we didn’t do in the first 20-odd minutes.

“But in the second half, I thought we were the better side. When we went 2-1 up, I thought we would win it then.

“But it was not to be and I’m just disappointed with the mistakes we made.”

Report: Dartford 2-2 Yeovil

After a poor start by the hosts, striker Rhys Murphy, once of Gillingham, gave Mark Cooper’s men the lead with a penalty. Referee Charles Martland adjudged midfielder Sonny Blu Lo-Everton to have been fouled, with away players queuing up in the area.

Dowson said he would have to watch the incident back again but questioned some other decisions made by Mr Martland.

He added: “I don’t know.

“They (the referees) just are inconsistent. I just think, sometimes, they give a yellow card for something - but not a yellow card for something else.

“I’ll watch it back. It’s easy for me to say that because he’s only got one angle.

“If I’m being honest, it did look like a penalty to me.”

The Darts swiftly levelled through a header by Alexander, on loan from Bromley, but were then indebted to several saves by man-of-the-match keeper Ryan Sandford, especially in the first period, before both teams pushed for an all-important fifth goal late on.

“There were a lot of chances and a lot of mistakes,” said Dowson, whose team will visit Tonbridge for a Kent derby next weekend.

“But our goalkeeper, Ryan Sandford, has got man-of-the-match for a reason. Let’s get our cards on the table about that. We’ll just move forward.

“It was a decent result for us, to be honest.”

Dartford’s scheduled home league game against Chippenham on Saturday, January 13, has been postponed as Chippenham earned a 5-3 weekend win against Gloucester City to progress in the FA Trophy. A new date for the fixture will be confirmed in due course.

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