MATCH REPORT | DARTFORD 2 BATH CITY 0
DARTFORD 2 BATH CITY 0
Dartford’s unbeaten record at Fortress Bericote Powerhouse Princes Park increased to an incredible eighteen games in all competitions, after goals from Kalvin Kalala and Marcus Dinanga saw off Bath City in front of 1,003 supporters.
The hosts had an opportunity as early as the second minute when a Tyrique Hyde run was thwarted by a desperate last minute challenge by Eddie Jones in the Romans’ box. However, referee Mr Stephen Parkinson waved away the penalty claims and play continued.
The visitors responded immediately with a powerful attack of their own, which resulted in Dan Wilks saving from Jordan Dyer after he’d been set-up by Ryan Jones (3). Two minutes later saw Zak Delaney break forward before crossing towards Cody Cooke. The striker’s effort was blocked well by the Dartford defence, before Callum Rowe’s follow-up missed the target.
Once the game had settled down in the midfield, the Darts began to assert their authority on proceedings and Tyrique Hyde forced Ryan Clarke into a good save with a powerful drive in the 17th minute. The resulting corner found Jake Robinson, but the striker couldn’t guide his header towards the target.
Undeterred, the Darts continued probing and took a deserved lead a minute later following a free-kick. The set-piece caused confusion in the Romans’ box and Kalvin Kalala was alert to slot the ball home to score his first goal for the hosts (18).
From then on, a majority of play took place in the middle of the park, before Kalala released Ody Alfa with a fine ball in the 37th minute. Alfa responded with a low drive which forced Clarke into making the save.
Jerry Gill’s side finished the half strongly when Dyer’s strike was excellently blocked (41), before Tom Smith’s 25-yard drive was a little too close to Dan Wilks (44). Zak Delaney’s good run and pass found Joe Raynes in space inside the Dartford box with seconds of the half remaining, only for Raynes to miss the target!
Play was pretty even during the opening exchanges of the second forty-five, but it was the hosts who came closest first. A brilliant move by Jordan Wynter saw the defender find Kalala in a great position, thus forcing Dan Ball to make an excellent block to prevent the number seven from doubling his tally for the afternoon (50).
The visitors responded with Ryan Jones racing down their right-flank. He cut inside and pulled the trigger, only for Dartford debutante Junior Tiensa (on loan from Millwall) to step in with a timely block (51).
As the midfield battle continued, there were changes in personnel for both sides. Steve King introduced Marcus Dinanga for Jake Robinson (71), then Danny Leonard replaced Ody Alfa (75), before finally Che Krabbendam came on for Tyrique Hyde (87). The visitors, meanwhile, brought on Alex Fletcher for Cody Cooke (74) and Elliott Frear for Tom Smith (78).
The more the clock closed in on the ninety, the more the hosts grew in confidence. Marcus Dinanga was extremely unlucky to see his 83rd minute effort crash off the underside of Clarke’s crossbar, before his next good move was snuffed out by a determined combination of Dan Ball and Ryan Clarke (88).
However, deep into stoppage time saw the exciting Danny Leonard race free on the right-flank. Cutting inside, he was then pulled down by a desperate Dan Ball and Mr Parkinson awarded the penalty. Up stepped Dinanga to finish as cool as you like with the last kick of the game (90+6).
In a match with many strong performers throughout Steve King’s side, the clean sheet proved the deciding factor as captain Tom Bonner was awarded with the Man of The Match after both he and his defensive unit had kept Bath City at arm’s length to secure a fifth league win in a row and remain unbeaten at home.
TEAMS
DARTFORD: Dan Wilks, Jordan Wynter, Junior Tiensa, Luke Allen, Connor Essam, Tom Bonner ©, Kalvin Kalala, Kieran Murtagh, Jake Robinson, Ody Alfa, Tyrique Hyde.
SUBSTITUTES: Kory Roberts, Marcus Dinanga, Che Krabbendam, Ade Azeez, Danny Leonard.
BATH CITY: Ryan Clarke, Joe Raynes, Zak Delaney, Jack Batten, Cody Cooke, Tom Smith, Eddie Jones, Dan Ball, Callum Rowe, Jordan Dyer, Ryan Jones.
SUBSTITUTES: Alex Fletcher, Omar Holness, Elliott Frear, Will Fuller, Tom Richards.
By Chris Palmer
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