ELLIOT Bradbrook’s second half brace earned Dartford a creditable draw with League Two AFC Wimbledon at a sunny Princes Park this afternoon.
The Dons were in command at the break thanks to goals from Jim Fenlon and Rhys Weston.
However, a string of second half changes by Darts boss Tony Burman paid dividends as the Conference side fought back thanks to Bradbrook’s two goals, the equaliser an 88th minute penalty.
Darts keeper Alan Julian did well to tip over Sammy Moore’s curling shot from outside of the area on the quarter hour, with Will Antwi heading just over from the resulting corner.
Almost immediately at the other end, Darts had their first chance as new boy Tyrone Sterling’s header was well saved by Dons stopper Ashley Bayes.
Wimbledon broke the deadlock on 28 minutes when some neat build up play ended with Fenlon bursting into the box and placing a shot beyond Julian and in off the far post.
And the League Two side doubled their advantage within a minute as Moore’s delivery was headed home by Rhys Weston.
Julian got down low to save Jack Midson's shot and then Lee Noble tested Bayes at other end as the first period drew to a close.
Wimbledon named a completely different XI after the restart, with Darts also making a trio of changes. One of the fresh faces, Ryan Hayes, saw an ambitious crack at goal fly harmlessly off target within five minutes of his introduction.
More substitutions followed and the game inevitably became slightly disjointed as a result.
Former Darts striker Charlie Sheringham headed just over from an inviting 71st minute Chace Jacquart cross, while Jay Porter blazed an effort over four minutes later.
Bradbrook reduced the arrears on 79 minutes with a clever finish from inside the box. Substitute Darts keeper Tom Wellhams made an excellent reaction stop to deny Sheringham as the Dons looked to quickly restore their two-goal advantage.
But it was Dartford who struck next in the 88th minute when they were awarded a penalty following a trip by Alan Bennett on Mohammed Eisa inside the box and Bradbrook stepped up to smash the spot-kick home.
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Dartford: Julian (Wellhams 78), Burns, Sterling, Fry (Porter 70), Clark (Vint 82), Rogers (Monger 66), Noble (Bradbrook 46), Cornhill (Akinwande 82), Ibemere (Prior 46) Collier (Hayes 46) Harris (Eisa 63). Subs not used: Da Silva, Anidugbe. Att: 881
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