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Dartford 3 Wealdstone 3 match report

Dartford remained top of National League South on Tuesday night despite conceding a late penalty to Wealdstone.

Darts twice came from behind thanks to Alfie Pavey before substitute Andy Pugh fired them ahead with 10 minutes left.

But Wealdstone's outstanding player, Daniel Green, converted a spot-kick three minutes from time before Darts' Lee Noble saw red in stoppage time.

Dartford striker Alfie Pavey Picture: Andy Payton
Dartford striker Alfie Pavey Picture: Andy Payton

The tone was set for a frantic first half inside the first minute when Wealdstone's Ryan Sellers advanced down the left wing only for Mustafa Teryake to shoot weakly at Darts keeper Deren Ibrahim.

Wealdstone settled first and were rewarded inside five minutes. Green burst forward and fed Abobaker Eisa, who cut inside one defender before finishing beyond Ibrahim.

It took Dartford just two minutes to level it up. Alex Brown's miss-hit shot from the edge of the box fell perfectly for leading scorer Pavey to convert at the far post.

Pavey's confidence was plain to see when he let fly with a first-time right-foot volley from 25 yards following Warren Mfula's lay-off, the ball going high and wide.

Dartford's front pairing of Mfula and Pavey were certainly asking questions of the Wealdstone defence but at the other end it was the visitors who were slicing Darts apart with virtually every attack.

Wealdstone were 2-1 ahead on 13 minutes when Luke Williams fed Green, who appeared to have gone too wide initially but fired low from an acute angle to put his team ahead for a second time.

Dartford nearly produced an immediate response again but Pavey's near-post shot was saved by keeper Jonathan North, who scrambled across his line to gather the loose ball as Mfula closed in.

Mfula nearly left North red-faced when he chased down his clearance only for the ball to hit the outside of the upright.

North then produced a stunning one-handed save to thwart Darts captain Elliot Bradbrook from Lyle Della-Verde's free-kick.

Bradbrook beat North from a corner shortly afterwards but the impressive Green was back on the line to hack the ball clear.

The second half was like a different game. Wealdstone hardly put two passes together, but Darts were restricted to long-range efforts - the best from Della-Verde forcing North to show a safe pair of hands.

But North was to turn from hero to villain on 69 minutes when he handed Dartford their second equaliser. The Wealdstone keeper came out to punch a long free-kick when he should have stayed at home and Pavey was on hand to turn in the loose ball from close range.

That goal came a minute after Darts introduced Pugh, and it was Darts' second substitute who put them ahead for the first time with 10 minutes left. Wealdstone failed to clear a ball into the box and Pugh turned on the edge of the box before firing low beyond North.

But Wealdstone were not finished yet. Mark Onyemah was caught napping inside the area and gave away a needless penalty. Green stepped up and fired beyond Ibrahim to make it 3-3.

Darts finished with 10 men when Noble collected two bookings in the space of as many minutes. Referee Wayne Cartmel cautioned him for dissent and then Noble was shown another yellow card for a late foul near the halfway line.

Dartford: Ibrahim, Harris, Onyemah, Bonner, Vint, Brown (Hayes 57mins), Noble, Bradbrook, Pavey, Mfula (Pugh 68mins), Della-Verde (Murphy 76mins). Subs not used: Sho-Silva, Cue.

Wealdstone: North, Oshosi, Sellers, Olomowewe, Day, Cox, Williams (Fitchett 85mins), Okimo, Teryake, Green, Eisa. Subs not used: Goodger, Ngamvoulou, Brown, Whichelow.

Attendance: 669.

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