Darts slay leaders Dragons (From News Shopper)

Dartford 2-1 Wrexham

10:16am Monday 11th March 2013 in Sport By Mike Brett-Smith

DARTFORD may have lost out on a television fee after rain postponed Friday evening’s home game with Wrexham but at least they bagged three points from Saturday lunchtime’s quickly rearranged fixture.

The ground staff, together with several volunteers, did their best to get Friday’s game on, although the downpour ensured were finally beaten in the short-term.

However, the willingness of all concerned to get the fixture played paid dividends as agreement was agreed to postpone the game until 1pm on Saturday.

Dartford played to the Academy End in the first half with the opening minutes a period where both teams tested each other out.

Conference leaders Wrexham had the better of those early exchanges, although Darts did test visiting keeper Chris Maxwell on a couple of occasions, particularly when Jacob Erskine fed Ryan Hayes and his left-foot curler went past the far post.

Steadily, though, Wrexham took hold of the game with some neat first-time short passing and they won a free-kick 30 yards from Marcus Bettinelli’s goal, which was headed wide.

Darts countered with an Elliot Bradbrook cross which was put behind by a Wrexham defender, with the ball cleared off the line from the resulting corner.

Just past the midway point of the half, the visitors took the lead.

The experienced Dele Adebola set up Danny Wright, who found the net with a low shot.

For the opening part of the second half, Wrexham were content to retain possession, the only real talking point coming when David Artell had a run-in with the assistant referee.

Darts brought on Jack Evans for James Rogers midway through the second period and within two minutes he had equalised by applying the vital touch from close in.

Wrexham were now chasing shadows as Darts took the game to the league front-runners and won every vital ball going.

Everybody chipped in with a extra little effort, although Wrexham did have their moments.

However, the Mark Arber-marshalled Dartford rearguard were in mean mode and with Bettinelli in fine handling form, they never really looked like re-establishing their advantage.

If anything, it always seemed likely a second Darts goal was on the cards.

As four minutes of time added on approached, the Hayes-Bradbrook cross and nod-in routine secured three points for Darts and sent Wrexham back to Wales with dented promotion ambitions.

Four points from the table-toppers this season is pretty good in most people’s books!

Dartford are back in action at home to Braintree tomorrow evening, kick-off 7.45pm.

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Dartford: Bettinelli, Burns, Bonner, Arbet, Green (Wallis 90), Hayes (Rose 89), Champion, Rogers (Evans 68), Bradbrook, Harris , Erskine. Subs not used: Sutton, Monger. Att: 815.