A late goal from captain Elliot
Bradbrook gave Dartford a share of the game in an entertaining match
at Princes Park on Tuesday evening.
Billy Bricknell's deflected effort had
earlier put the Fleet ahead but the Darts fought back to draw in this
friendly North Kent Derby.
The Fleet named one trialist in the
starting XI; Dominic Green, former Dagenham and Redbridge winger who
spent a short spell on loan at Dartford last season. New signing
Anthony Cook was named in the starting line up while Mat
Mitchell-King, formerly of AFC Wimbledon, was the only new trialist
on the bench. Johnson-Cole and Cesc Fakinos were handed places in the
squad again.
Both sides were looking for the win
after disappointing losses at the weekend and it was the hosts who
had the first real chance as Jason Prior hit wide from inside the
area.
Joe Howe curled one just wide after
being fed in by Green, before Bricknell saw an effort go wide and Ben
May headed over from Osei Sankofa's cross.
Green, who had a fine first half for
the Fleet, delivered a perfect cross for May at the back post but the
Darts defender did just enough to put him off as he headed straight
at Alan Julian. That would be the closest the Fleet would come in the
rest of the half as the Darts began to take control.
Howe thrashed one high and wide but
only after 'veteran' winger Ryan Hayes had hit the bar and the Darts
were denied a penalty for a handball. Hayes then saw an effort
deflect onto the post. The Fleet were having to ride their luck a bit
but held firm, and the last action of the half saw Bradbrook out
muscle Tom Phipp in the middle of the park before firing a shot low
down to Brandon Hall's right; the keeper got down well to save.
Both sides were playing neat football
in the first half, with the ball rarely venturing above head height!
Both created decent chances, but the hosts created the slightly
better opportunities.
Five minutes after the restart, May
played the ball left to Bricknell and his effort from outside the
area deflected off the defender leaving Julian no chance as it
clipped the post and bounced over the line.
The Fleet were buoyed by the goal and
begun to take control of the match, without troubling the Darts goal
too much. Cook smashed an effort over from inside the area.
The Fleet were playing some lovely
stuff, which was a joy to watch after last season's shenanigans.
The visitors made several changes in
the second half and the Darts slowly worked their way back into the
game. Lee Noble's effort was comfortably saved by Hall and the
Fleet's number two then produced a fine save to deny the Darts an
equaliser. Unfortunately, he could do nothing to prevent the home
side from getting a deserved equaliser.
Cook was subbed off the pitch and he
sarcastically clapped the home fans after picking up a yellow card
for an altercation with Lee Burns. The Darts won a free kick just
inside the Fleet half and the beautifully floated free-kick deserved
somebody there on the end of it, and it was none other than captain
Bradbrook who rose highest to head into the bottom right. The goal
was no more than the hosts deserved and the draw was the correct
result.
Dartford send a side to East Thurrock
United on Wednesday (24) and then travel to Tonbridge Angels on
Saturday (27), while the Fleet host a Charlton XI on Sunday (28) with
admission just £5 for adults. Concessions can gain entry for £3
while U16s pay £2. U12s go free when accompanied by an adult.
Dartford - Julian;
Burns, Clark, Sterling (Rogers 73), Fry; Hayes, Cornhill, Bradbrook,
Noble; Harris (Collier 71), Prior (Ibemere 46).
Subs
not used: Eisa, Monger, Allen, Vint, Azeez, Wellham.
Goal - 86
Ebbsfleet - Hall;
Sankofa (Palmer 46), Huke (Mitchell-King 46), Lorraine (Corcoran 77),
Howe; Cook (Fakinos 84), Phipp (McMahon 61), Long, Green (Rance 46);
May, Bricknell (Johnson-Cole 71).
Sub
not used: Edwards.
Goal - 50
Attendance - 704
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