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Dartford 3 Weston-super-Mare 1 match report

Dartford kept pace with leaders Havant in National League South with a comfortable home win over Weston-super-Mare on Saturday.

Goals from Alex Brown, captain Elliot Bradbrook and leading scorer Alfie Pavey wrapped up the points.

It means Darts trail leaders Havant, who edged to victory at Welling, by three points with one game in hand.

Dartford's Lee Noble on the ball against Weston. Picture: Andy Payton
Dartford's Lee Noble on the ball against Weston. Picture: Andy Payton

Boss Tony Burman named an unchanged side for the third game in succession.

They set the tone inside the first two minutes when Andy Pugh and Duane Ofori-Acheampong combined, the ball falling to Pavey whose shot was diverted behind for a corner.

Weston insisted on playing the ball to feet at every opportunity but they lacked punch in attack and left holes at the back.

Darts were ahead as early as the seventh minute. More good vision by Pugh found Pavey and the breaking Brown exchanged passes with Ofori-Acheampong before firing low into the far corner.

It should have been 2-0 seven minutes later but the assistant's offside flag cut short Pugh's presentations, although it seemed a harsh decision after Ofori-Acheampong missed a long free-kick.

Dartford continued to dominate, putting Weston under pressure at every opportunity at the back. An error by Aaron Parsons let in Ofori-Acheampong whose shot lacked power.

The second goal arrived on 29 minutes when Bradbrook turned in Lee Noble's right-wing corner and only a stunning one-handed save by keeper Luke Purnell kept out Paveys far-post header.

More pressure by the impressive Bradbrook just before the break created an opening for Pavey but he blasted wide of the near post.

Weston improved after the break, forward passing creating more of a danger for the Darts defence who were never really troubled by the visitors despite being put more on the backfoot.

Alfie Pavey scores Dartford's third goal. Picture: Andy Payton
Alfie Pavey scores Dartford's third goal. Picture: Andy Payton

Referee Lee Brennan let a couple of feisty midfield challenges go, although Noble's late trip with 14 minutes left sparked a melee among players from both sides.

It seemed to spark Darts into life, or distract Weston's defence, as within a minute the hosts wrapped the points up when Pavey rounded keeper Purnell to slot into an empty net.

Darts keeper Berti Schotterl produced a fine one-handed save to tip over Weston substitute Mohammad Baghdadi's long-range effort but he was denied a clean sheet in the first minute of stoppage time when Tom Llewellyn fired in from distance.

Dartford: Schotterl, Collier, Onyemah, Bonner, Vint, Brown, Noble, Bradbrook, Pavey (Mills 79mins), Pugh (Murphy 79mins), Ofori-Acheampong (Hayes 58mins). Subs not used: Harris, Ibrahim.

Weston: Purnell, Harper (Baghdadi 46mins), Greenslade, Cane, Pope, Parsons, Scott, Diallo, Lee, Welch (Laird 63mins), Kington (Llewellyn 79mins). Sub not used: Hill.

Attendance: 1,025.

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