Dartford 2 v 1 Thanet

Kent Primary League

DARTFORD under-11s secured at least the runners-up position in the Kent Primary League courtesy of a nerve-jangling 2-1 victory against Thanet, writes Brian Page.

They now require all three points from Saturday's encounter with Ashford to become League Champions.

Dartford came close to taking an early lead with Wentworth's Luke Pickett and Connor Taylor combining well only to be thwarted by Thanet's goalkeeper.

They went a goal behind in the seventh minute when a well-flighted opportunist strike caught Hextable's Tom Wellham off his line.

Taylor fired over Thanet's crossbar as a rapid warning shot with Sweyne's Sam Small firing a 35-yard free-kick into the body of the visiting goalkeeper.

The intense pressure also saw Stone's John Attrell fire wide and Small forcing the keeper to make a save from a low drive.

A shot from a rare first-half assault from Thanet was flashed narrowly across the face of Dartford's goal before Taylor replied by thundering the ball into the top corner of the net to record his third goal of the season and Dartford's fiftieth.

With eight first-half minutes remaining, an inspired string of attacks led by Taylor put Thanet under pressure but superb goalkeeping kept Dartford at bay and the scores level at the interval.

Shortly after the restart, Taylor continued to threaten by heading a corner inches wide before Thanet started to string together some attractive passing football.

A tense moment midway through the half saw Thanet unlucky not to regain the lead as they drove a shot wide of the target.

This gave Dartford a life-line and a few more valuable minutes to look for another goal and maximum points.

A close offside decision against Attrell came during a spell of Thanet domination but a strengthening last-gasp display from Dartford proved fruitful with a lob from Sweyne's Josh McGregor's finding the net from 25 yards.

Josh McGregor was nominated as Dartford's man of the match for his match-winning goal.

Dartford entertain Ashford & District in Kent Primary League action at Corinthians on May 6 and then travel to Bexley on May 13 to contest the Bexley-Dartford Shield.

Dartford's squad: John ATTRELL (Stone), Harry BELL (Fleetdown), Simon BILSLAND (Sutton-at-Hone), Thomas HAMMOND (Hextable), Matthew HOLDER (Wilmington), Thomas KITCHENER (Joydens Wood), Ryan MAY Hextable), Joshua McGREGOR (Sweyne), Sam OLAOFE (Horton Kirby), Jack PAGE (Knockhall), Luke PICKETT (Wentworth), Samuel SMALL (Sweyne), Connor TAYLOR (Wentworth), George TAYLOR (Temple Hill), Thomas WELLHAM (Hextable), Alex WHITE (Wentworth) and Luke WHITEHEAD (Sutton-at-Hone).