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Dartford 2 Concord 0 match report

Dartford picked up their first win of the season in National League South on Tuesday night.

A goal in either half from Elliot Bradbrook and Lyle Della-Verde gave Darts three deserved points.

They never looked in danger of losing as they maintained their unbeaten start to the campaign, with a third clean sheet in four games.

Dartford celebrate Elliot Bradbrook's opener against Concord. Picture: Steve Crispe
Dartford celebrate Elliot Bradbrook's opener against Concord. Picture: Steve Crispe

Both teams set up with just a lone striker. Darts had a five-man midfield supporting Warren Mfula while Concord had five men at the back and four in midfield in a bid to stifle Tony Burman's men.

It worked to an extent in the first half. Dartford had plenty of possession but chances took a while to come.

Early on, Mfula shot over and then Ryan Hayes curled wide when well-placed inside the penalty area.

But neither team looked particularly threatening until Dartford took a 37th-minute lead, courtesy of their captain.

Concord had a free-kick midway inside the Darts half but when the home side cleared the danger, they broke with pace and the ball fell perfectly for Bradbrook to fire in from close range.

It could have been 2-0 by the break but Mfula's low shot was beaten away by keeper Louis Wells two minutes later, and then Tom Bonner was unable to turn in Hayes' deep corner.

Concord saw more of the ball in an even second half. Rob Girdlestone's early drive was beaten away by keeper Deren Ibrahim and then Khale Da Costa shot wide from distance.

At the other end, Bradbrook's header from a deep Hayes corner was cleared from danger.

Dartford's Warren Mfula runs at the Concord defence. Picture: Steve Crispe
Dartford's Warren Mfula runs at the Concord defence. Picture: Steve Crispe

King, having nearly scored an own goal at one end, then headed over a deep corner as Concord threatened while Darts substitute Alfie Cue shot just wide two minutes after replacing Alex Brown.

Darts wrapped the points up with seven minutes left. Cue was again involved, driving forward before playing a lovely ball inside to Della-Verde, who curled home a right-foot shot into the far corner.

Dartford: Ibrahim, Harris, Onyemah, Bonner, Sho-Silva, Brown (Cue 76mins), Hayes (Thorley-Porter 90mins), Bradbrook, Mfula (Ufuah 82mins), Noble, Della-Verde. Subs not used: Wood, Eweka.

Concord: Wells, Girdlestone, Brown (Topley 60mins), Peter, King, Roast, Knight (Smith 86mins), Nasha, Taaffe, Da Costa (Renew 71mins), Farrell. Subs not used: Cawley, Cox.

Attendance: 750.

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