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Sport

Bromley 3 Dartford 4 match report

By: Steve Tervet

Published: 16:45, 08 November 2014

Dartford are through to the FA Cup second round for the first time in 30 years after beating local rivals Bromley in a true classic at Hayes Lane.

More than 4,000 fans crammed into the old ground and they were treated to a seven-goal thriller which will live long in the memory.

Bromley led 1-0 at half-time thanks to Louis Dennis' second-minute strike but goals from Danny Harris and Ryan Hayes turned the game on its head early in the second half.

Moses Ademola brought Bromley level, Harris doubled his tally to make it 3-2 to Dartford and then Danny Waldren looked to have forced a replay.

But Tom Bradbrook's late goal proved to be the winner.

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Jack Holland and Waldren replaced Paul Rodgers and Reece Prestedge in Bromley's only two alterations from their 4-1 win at Eastbourne Borough.

Meanwhile, Dartford's starting line-up bore four changes from the 3-0 league defeat at Grimsby a week earlier. Luke Daley, Harry Crawford and Andy Pugh - dragged off in a treble-substitution at Blundell Park - were all dropped, with Tom Bradbrook and Harris brought in to start up front. Hayes returned on the wing.

Mat Mitchel-King's name appeared on the team sheet but he didn't come out to start the game. Instead, Lee Burns was drafted in at right-back, with Nathan Collier moved across to partner Rory McAuley in central defence.

The tie exploded into life with just 1min 15sec on the clock, while hundreds of supporters were still squeezing into the ground.

Ademola crossed from the right and Dennis' timing was perfect as he arrived at the back post to plant the ball into the net in front of Dartford's stunned travelling contingent.

Dartford's Ryan Hayes. Picture: Andy Payton

Tony Burman's men looked shell-shocked and the home side, Ademola and Dennis in particular, were swarming all over them.

But gradually they began to gain a foothold. Burns aimed a deep cross towards Tom Bradbrook, who nodded the ball back into the danger zone. It reached Max Cornhill but his shot from the edge of the box lacked power and a deflection carried it harmlessly into the gloves of Seb Brown.

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A smart first-time ball from Hayes sent Tom Bradbrook running in behind the Bromley backline but his tame shot from the right-hand side of the box rolled well wide.

Dennis pounced on a terrible attempted clearance at the other end and tried to find the top corner with a curling shot. Jason Brown made a routine save though.

Dartford were seeing plenty of the ball but they looked vulnerable every time Bromley broke out of defence.

One such counter-attack saw Dennis cross low from the left for the onrushing Ali Fuseini, who blazed the ball over when it looked easier to score. A slight touch from Peter Sweeney in the six-yard box may have been enough to put the midfielder off.

Peter Sweeney looks to go past Pierre Joseph-Dubois Picture: Andy Payton

Ademola then ran 40 yards and had a shot blocked as Bromley finished the first half strongly.

But three minutes into the second half, Dartford were level. Hayes whipped over a corner from the right and with several blue shirts looking to force the ball home, it was Harris who got the all-important touch.

Dartford could sense a second goal - and they didn't have to wait long for it. Hayes picked up the ball on the corner of the area and curled a trademark effort into the far corner.

The lead was short-lived, though. Brown tried to deal with a backpass by dribbling out of trouble but his touch was heavy and Ademola picked his pocket before rifling the ball into the empty net.

The home fans went wild and flares were thrown onto the pitch from behind Brown's goal. Play didn't restart for several minutes as the smoke cleared.

Bromley fans celebrate by letting off a flare Picture: Andy Payton

Bromley had their tails up now but their cheers died in their throats as an incredible game took yet another twist. Elliot Bradbrook got his head to another deep corner from Hayes and although the ball looked to be heading in anyway, Harris made sure on the line.

Jordan Robertson tried his luck at the other end but failed to hit the target.

He was replaced by Duncan Culley and less than a minute later, Bromley had levelled it up at 3-3. Dennis' left-wing corner was headed powerfully into the net by Danny Waldren and Hayes Lane erupted again.

Time for the game to settle down? No. Time for a winner.

Harris crossed from the left and Tom Bradbrook planted his header inside Seb Brown's right-hand post to finally kill off Bromley and send the Darts into round two.

Bromley: S Brown, Holland, Anderson, Fuseini (Pinnock 86mins), Swaine, McNaughton, Joseph-Dubois (Scannell 78mins), Waldren, Robertson (Culley 73mins), Ademola, Dennis. Subs not used: Udoji, Prestedge, Birchall, Rodgers.

Dartford: J Brown, Burns, Collier, McAuley, Bender, Hayes (Noble 90mins), Cornhill, E Bradbrook, Sweeney, Harris, T Bradbrook (Crawford 84mins). Subs not used: Pugh, Daley, Ibrahim, Boye.

Attendance: 4,105.

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