Harris saves the day for Dartford (From News Shopper)

Dartford 1-1 Dorchester

2:46pm Monday 19th December 2011 in Dartford By Mike Brett-Smith

HAVING lost in midweek at home to leaders Woking, Darts needed to make a quick return to winning ways at home to the improving Dorchester Town on Saturday in time for the Christmas fixture rush.

Darts have lost three midfielders to injury in the last three games in Lee Noble, Danny Harris and Paul Goodacre, prompting boss Tony Burman to draft in loan signing Connor Essam from Gillingham.

The new man settled in immediately, never putting a foot wrong all afternoon.

Like the quality player he clearly is, Essam made the difficult look simple, was never panicked and always had alternative targets for distribution.

Both sides took time to get into the game, although the visitors had a couple of fleeting chances in the opening minutes, both looking better than they actually were.

Dartford used Ryan Hayes and Richard Graham along the flanks to progress, while the visitors were more direct in their approach.

Of late visiting teams seem to string together a flurry of moves just before half-time and on Saturday Dorchester’s Ben Dickerson broke through the middle for the visitors before his shot was turned over the bar adroitly by Louis Wells.

The second half started quietly, with Dorchester content to keep the home side at bay until Jamie Symes fired home for the visitors on 71 minutes.

Dartford responded by making a couple of attacking substitutions with 15 minutes remaining.

The pressure mounted but Dorchester were in no mood to surrender their advantage and even made the occasional break.

But with the game going into time added on, Danny Harris cut in from the left and beat the keeper to the delight of the home fans.

There was even time to almost snatch the winner when a 30-yard free-kick was surprisingly well held by keeper Walker-Harris but it wasn’t to be.

Darts make the short journey to neighbours Welling on Boxing Day, kick-off 1pm.

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Dartford: Wells, Jones (Rogers 75), Green, Bonner, Essam, Champion, Hayes, Wallis, Erskine ( Garrod 75), Bradbrook, Graham (Harris 68). Subs not Used: Rogers, Garrod, Monger, Harris, Ibrahim. Att: 924.