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Dartford boss Alan Dowson on substitute Luke Allen's celebration after midfielder nets winner in 2-1 National League South victory against Dover Athletic

There were no issues with substitute Luke Allen’s match-winning celebration for Dartford manager Alan Dowson.

Allen scored a fine goal on Easter Monday to complete a Darts double this season over Dover through their 2-1 triumph at Princes Park, as he bent an effort into the top corner.

Luke Allen - netted the Dartford winner in Monday's 2-1 win over Dover. Picture: Simon Hildrew
Luke Allen - netted the Dartford winner in Monday's 2-1 win over Dover. Picture: Simon Hildrew

The midfielder, 30, put his finger to his lips in celebration - something Dowson felt was aimed towards him.

He said: “He was brilliant. He gave me the ‘shush’ finger.

“He put it into the top corner. It’s up to him to do that on a regular basis.

“I love all that. It’s fantastic.

"I would do that to myself if I was a player, especially if I’m not playing. It’s not a nasty thing.

Dartford manager Alan Dowson and coach Christian Jolley. Picture: Keith Gillard
Dartford manager Alan Dowson and coach Christian Jolley. Picture: Keith Gillard

“We have got some talented players but we haven’t had enough leaders at times.

“If I played for me, I would tell me to ‘F-off’ a few times a season!”

Allen netted off the bench after on-loan striker Harvey Bradbury scored for the third consecutive match.

“Harvey has done well,” said Dowson. “I’ve known him for a long time.

“I thought he was good at Woking.

"He’s a big, tall, centre-forward and quick as you like.”

The win saw Dartford maintain second in National League South, bouncing back from Easter Friday’s 2-1 loss at Eastbourne Borough, despite Bradbury’s first-half header.

Dowson still doesn’t feel certain supporters are giving them the credit they deserve while he also praised co-chairmen Steve Irving and Dave Skinner for the way the club is run.

“It’s a good achievement to be second top,” he noted.

“All we’ve got to do is keep shoving it down certain fans’ throats. Every time we have a good result someone goes ‘The opposition were not very good’.

“We have been second top all season. For people to say we’re lucky to be second, after beating the champions [Ebbsfleet] twice, I have got the hump about it, to be honest.

Samir Carruthers went off injured in Easter Friday's 2-1 defeat at Eastbourne Borough. Picture: Keith Gillard
Samir Carruthers went off injured in Easter Friday's 2-1 defeat at Eastbourne Borough. Picture: Keith Gillard

“Somebody said about the owners that the reason the club is where they are is because of the chairmen. It’s a very well-run club.

“We have got the third-best goals-for and joint-second-best goals-against. But I’m thick-skinned.

“I will just tell these people to shut up because some of these people are mad.”

Darts have a busy period ahead.

They host Taunton tomorrow, visit Tonbridge this Saturday and are at basement boys Concord next Thursday.

But they will be without some key personnel for those matches. Midfielder Samir Carruthers and striker Alex Wall came off injured at Eastbourne while fellow frontman Charlie Sheringham remains sidelined.

Dowson explained: “Samir will be out for a while. I imagine Wally will be out for a while and Charlie.

“But with the way Harvey is playing, we might not miss them.

"He has been a great signing.”

It’s too soon to say if any of the trio will be back in time for Dartford’s latest crack at promotion through the play-offs, though.

Dowson said: “I would like to think Wally will be back then. It’s something with his calf.

“Samir came off and was on crutches but, sometimes, you get these knocks and the swelling goes down and it’s not as bad.

"We’ll see.”

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