Tunbridge Wells 0 v 5 Dartford

FA Cup Preliminary Round

Report by Mike Brett-Smith

DARTFORD overcame their FA Cup bogey with this comfortable win over Kent League Tunbridge Wells.

Perhaps the weather helped as in the previous two seasons FA Cup defeats had been played in stifling heat but on Saturday it was overcast and showery.

Darts showed their intent right from the off with Jimmy Simpson having to punch the ball away in the opening minute under pressure.

Settling into a steady rhythm Darts showed their class and steadily took control with the defence giving a master class in teamwork and distribution.

Darts took the lead on 25 minutes when Jay May scored a simple goal following a right-side throw.

The lead was almost doubled when May headed goalwards but the effort was ruled out by the referee's whistle.

This signalled a period of Dartford pressure with Dave Martin causing problems for Wells' right flank but his cross was cleared.

Brendon Cass then had an effort cleared and, just before the break, a left-side corner found May whose header just cleared the bar.

Immediately after the break Darts almost gifted Wells an equaliser, Tony Henry's square pass inside being picked up by Joe Wade but the home side fluffed the chance.

Settling down from the incident Darts finished the game off in the space of two minutes when Cass latched on to a through ball and placed the ball wide of Simpson 17 minutes into the half.

Before breath could be drawn a second Cass goal made it to the point of no return.

With Eddie McClements having an influential game in midfield, Steve Hafner enjoying the freedom of the right flank and Tommy Osborne able to show his dribbling skills, linking defence and attack, Darts were playing exhibition football.

A Hafner run ended with May scoring the fourth goal on 79 minutes before sub Ted Ansell set Glen Billinness away on the left, the resultant cross being turned in by a defender with a minute left.

MATCH FACRTS: DARTFORD: Hudson, Osborne, White, Henry, Avery, Hafner, Briggs, J May (Billinness, 76), Cass, McClements (Ansell, 80), Martin (Hayes, 80). SUBS NOT USED: Potter, Olson.