Wealdstone battle to win replay with Darts (From News Shopper)

Dartford 2-2 Wealdstone

3:42pm Wednesday 15th February 2012 in Sport By Mike Brett-Smith

LAST night’s FA Trophy third round tie turned on a sixth-minute hamstring injury to Darts’ inspirational skipper Elliot Bradbrook.

His replacement, Lee Noble, shows the strength in depth of the squad and the wee fellow buzzed all evening.

The impression was the visitors were playing their cup final, backed by a support of around 150 who brought back memories of old-fashioned atmospheres with some excellent singing and a mass of blue flags.

There were certainly enjoying themselves. From the sidelines they certainly outshone the home songsters who, it seems, are a bit inhibited by a drum roll.

The start was end-to-end stuff and legendary marksman Richard Jolly had an early chance for Wealdstone.

On the counter Noble essayed an outrageous lob from just over the halfway line, which had Jonathan North in the visitors’ goal scrambling.

Just before the half-hour mark Dartford took the lead when Noble side-footed a cross into the far corner from close range.

This gave Darts a bit of breathing space and they were controlling matters until Jolly hit home in first half injury time.

Six minutes after the restart Noble made it 2-1 for Dartford with a shot which took a minor, although not important, deflection.

Wealdstone tight-marked Dartford in the second half and held the initiative for long periods.

They deservedly scored their second when Chris O’Leary headed powerfully past Louis Wells with 10 minutes left.

Have Wealdstone shot their bolt? Time alone will tell.

Between now and the replay is the little matter of a visit to Woking to take care of for Darts.

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Dartford: Wells, Jones (Graham 84), Green, Bonner, Champion, Wallis, Burns, Rogers, Erskine (Garrod 72), Bradbrook (Noble 6), Harris. Subs not used: Hayes, Ibrahim. Att: 770.