Watts makes Darts pay the penalty (From News Shopper)

Sutton United 1-0 Dartford

4:50pm Monday 6th April 2009 in Sport

MURPHY’S Law decrees when you drop a slice of buttered toast, it lands on the carpet marmalade side down.

At Gander Green Lane on Saturday, Darts’ slice of toast hit the penalty spot face down with seven minutes on the clock.

An inadvertent hand-ball gave the home side the fortuitous opportunity and Steve Watts gave Andrew Young no chance with the only clean hit Sutton had all afternoon.

As so often this season, this was a game of contrasting styles with the long-established Isthmian outfit playing standard Isthmian stuff throughout the 93 minutes.

The pitch was dry and bumpy and there was a tail wind for Sutton in the first half.

Initially on the back foot, Darts had to contend with the aerial bombardment while attempting to get the ball down to pitch level.

Sutton’s swarming approach as they attempted to feed the ebullient Chukki Eribenne gave Darts little breathing space, but Adam Flanagan was at least a match for the Sutton target man and, quite quickly, United ran out of ideas..

Darts overall had more of the game and, from time to time, managed some constructive counter-moves, outstanding in which was Bradley Woods-Garness who usually got the better of his close markers.

The visitors also used more of the pitch in their approach though the right side tended to be a bit neglected.

Woods-Garness did get a pretty regular supply of the ball, either receiving the occasional astute pass or doing his own fetch and carry raids, and conjured up half-chances.

On occasion he bettered his marker and drew the busy home goalkeeper, only for his efforts to hit the upright.

The home custodian was also able to turn one of his efforts round the post, as well as denying Jamie Coyle and Steve Butterworth with fine saves.

Late in the game he was fortunate when a cheeky and inventive attempt from Jamie Day left him for dead but also rose over the bar..

Darts used all three substitutes to vary the approach but the fortuitous hosts rode their luck until the final whistle.

Dartford: Young, Osborne, Gross, Flanagan, Coyle, Dafter, Carley, White (Guest 86), May (Howarth 75), Bradley Woods-Garness, Butterworth (Hayes 71). Subs not used: Whitnell, Ibrahim. Att: 727.