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Dartford FC goalkeeper Deren Ibrahim scored against Hungerford Town with a free-kick from inside his own half

Goalkeeper Deren Ibrahim has described the moment he scored for Dartford on Saturday.

The 25-year-old came out to take a free-kick 20 yards inside his own half with 11 minutes remaining in the Darts' home game against Hungerford Town.

With the match goalless, no-one could have predicted what happened next. Ibrahim's long kick was carried by the wind over the head of visiting keeper George Legg, who misjudged the flight and was left red-faced as the ball sailed into the net.

Ibrahim said: "If you put it in the mixer, you hope you can draw the keeper out and someone does get a flick. Thankfully, no-one got a flick and it went straight in.

"My kicking is one of my strong points. In the first half it was hard with the wind against us and there was a lack of respect shown from the opposing dugout about the kicking, which wasn’t nice, so it was nice to score.

"I’m confident in my kicking. The wind was strong in the first half and it showed in the second half with their keeper’s kicking when he knocked a couple out.

"It’s one of those things, it could happen to anyone but thankfully I’ve struck it, it’s gone in and helped us to three points.

"I take a lot of free-kicks in our half and try to get it into the box. Last year a couple went wrong and the gaffer let me know about it.

"But Skip (assistant manager Paul Sawyer) said 'try to put it in the mix' and with Duane (Ofori-Acheampong) up front, who was outstanding, winning most things, you’ve always got a target.

"Elliot (Bradbrook) came on as well and as Tone (Tony Burman) always says, even with corners and free-kicks, 'put it in the area and anything can happen'. Thankfully it went straight in.

"It hasn’t sunk in. I’m sure I’ll go home and think about it a bit more.

"My phone has gone mad - I’ve got about a hundred Whatsapp messages saying 'is it true you scored?'"

Amid his celebrations, Ibrahim had sympathy for his opposite number Legg.

"It could happen to anyone," he said. "Buts (Jamie Butler) scored last year against Ross Worner, who’s probably one of the best goalkeepers.

"Those things, no-one can go out and plan. That keeper will probably have a great season.

"It’s just one of those things, thankfully it’s gone in my favour today but who knows in the future? It could work against me."

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