Dartford 0 Barrow 1
By Steve Tervet
Dartford slipped to their second defeat in four days when
relegation-threatened Barrow took all three points at Princes Park
on Tuesday night.
Richie Baker's penalty was the difference between the sides in a
game which was painfully short of quality from beginning to
end.
Tony Burman made three changes from the side which started
Saturday's 3-0 defeat at Hyde. Jason Prior made his debut in attack
after arriving on loan from AFC Wimbledon and there were also
starts for Richard Rose and Jack Evans. Jacob Erskine and James
Rogers dropped to the bench and there was no place in the squad for
Adam Green.
Dartford were sluggish early on and Barrow created the best
chances. Marcus Bettinelli rushed out to thwart Danny L Rowe but
the ball ran loose and Darts defenders did well to block follow-up
efforts from Alex-Ray Harvey and Adam Dawson.
Dawson, making his debut for the Bluebirds, had a free-kick
pushed round the post by Bettinelli, who then held a long-range
effort from the same player.
There was a controversial moment at the other end when Elliot
Bradbrook (pictured), bearing down on goal, was clipped by Steve
Williams. The home crowd howled for a red card but referee Charles
Breakspear chose to show only yellow.
Both sides were guilty of misplaced passes as play became
increasingly scrappy.
Dartford almost took a narrow lead into half-time when Bradbrook
headed an Evans set-piece towards the top corner, but Garry Hunter
made a crucial clearance on the goal line.
The second period was 25 minutes old before either side created
a chance worthy of note. Bettinelli slid out but failed to gather a
loose ball and Rowe had his powerful shot cleared off the line by
Lee Burns.
With 17 minutes remaining, the game came to life. Rose tripped
Harvey in the box and Baker stepped up to give Barrow the lead from
the penalty spot.
Straight from the kick-off, Dartford attacked and Danny Harris
looked to have been fouled in the area, but this time, Breakspear
waved play on.
Erskine and Nathan Collier came off the bench to bolster
the Darts attack but the home side created very little going
forward and Hurst commanded his area whenever the ball was pumped
into the box.
Dartford: Bettinelli, Burns, Bonner, Arber,
Rose, Hayes (Noble 68mins), Champion, Bradbrook, Evans (Collier
83mins), Harris, Prior (Erskine 63mins).
Subs not used: Wallis, Rogers. Attendance:
908.
19/03/13