Bourne redemption for Darts (From News Shopper)

Dartford 2-1 Eastbourne

2:14pm Wednesday 30th November 2011 in Dartford By Mike Brett-Smith

IN what was essentially a carbon copy of the original tie on Saturday, Dartford progressed to the FA Trophy competition first round proper with a 2-1 win over Eastbourne Borough in last night’s replay at Princes Park.

As on Saturday, the replay had its bizarre intervals, notably a laughable penalty awarded to the visitors which afforded them a way back into the game and, late on, the harsh dismissal of visiting keeper Clark Masters.

Darts were 2-0 up when the penalty was awarded on 71 minutes.

Two Eastbourne players fell over each other in the Dartford goalmouth and referee Carl Fitch pointed immediately to the penalty spot.

Protests were waved aside and ex-Dart Carl Rook calmly slotted the penalty home, giving Borough a slight hope of going into extra-time.

Before the dust could settle, Eastbourne's good fortune turned sour when Masters fielded the ball a little inside the penalty area.

Sadly his follow-through took him fractionally outside of the box and referee Mr Fitch deemed the transgression to be worthy of a red card.

There was absolutely no deliberate intention by the keeper to prevent a goal scoring opportunity, as the law requires.

The error was compounded by the fact Borough had no back-up keeper on the bench, so a defender had to don the jersey.

The resultant free-kick taken by Ryan Hayes grazed the crossbar.

Darts started towards the Academy End with the wind at their backs and, as on Saturday, camped in enemy territory.

With Hayes restored on the right, skipper Elliott Bradbrook hors de combat and Danny Harris leading the line, Darts had more surprises than the visitors expected and it was with luck rather than anything else which kept it at 0-0 at the interval.

True to Murphy's Law, Rook – in a lone attack – almost stole a goal against the run of play.

The tie was, effectively settled by a rasping 30-yarder from Tom Champion on 57 minutes and Harris rounded off an excellent performance with Darts’ second midway through the second half when he slotted home following a delightful four-man passing movement.

It is back to the league on Saturday for a Princes Park Kent derby meeting with Dover, kick-off 3pm.

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Dartford: Wells, Jones, Green, Bonner, Goodacre, Champion, Hayes, Wallis, Harris, Burns, Rogers. Subs not used: Noble, Graham, Erskine, Garrod, Ibrahim. Att: 611.