Darts ease past Folkestone in Kent Cup (From News Shopper)

Folkestone Invicta 1-4 Dartford

2:05pm Thursday 8th December 2011 in Dartford By Mike Brett-Smith

DARTFORD started their defence of the Kent Senior Cup, easing through to the next stage with a comfortable win over Folkestone Invicta at Cheriton Road last night.

Facing an icy wind straight from the steppes of Siberia, Darts found themselves a goal down on eight minutes when Josh Burchell volleyed a partially-cleared ball past Deren Ibrahim to give his side a lead with what turned out to be the home side’s only shot on target all night.

The next blow Darts suffered was the loss through injury of Lee Noble, who was replaced by Elliot Bradbrook.

As usual manager Tony Burman was using the tie to give worthwhile outings to squad players, in this case Ibrahim, Jacob Erskine, Tony Garrod and Richard Graham.

Bradbrook had an immediate effect on the game, keeping the ball on the deck and allowing the front players in particular to parade their abilities. Folkestone, a young, energetic team, used the offside trap as a springboard for counter attacks.

But those who live by the offside trap also die by it.

Darts were enjoying their freedom even at three-quarter pace and drew level when Erskine fired home from a right-side cross.

And the game was effectively won when Tom Bonner sprung the offside trap and calmly tapped home amid choruses of ‘offside’.

The second half saw Darts add just two more goals despite being flagged (wrongly) offside many times.

Graham calmly beat Roddy Haywood with an exquisite lob and the same player scored with a neat header from a Ryan Hayes cross eight minutes from time.

Both sets of supporters have to be congratulated for creating a good atmosphere in dreadful conditions.

Darts’ fans light-heartedly chanting 'Are you sure you're not Dover in disguise' and following this up with a burst of the French national anthem – a subtle in-joke!

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Dartford: Ibrahim, Jones (Hayes), Rogers, Bonner, Goodacre, Champion (Wallace), Harris, Noble (Bradbrook), Erskine, Garrod, Graham. Subs not used: Green, Wells. Att: 163.