Dartford 2-2 Camberley Town

A TYPICAL early autumnal Saturday afternoon was the backdrop to this cup tie, which proved to be a cliche-writer's paradise.

Defending the Brooklands end, Darts settled first against The Krooners, named thus from Camberley's Krooner Park ground, and showed intent with a Moore diagonal run which ended with a cross to the incoming Brendon Cass, who scuffed his shot.

It soon became apparent one or two Darts players were a little below par and Camberley began to show more as the half wore on.

A Camberley cross from the left saw Finnieston creep round the back, but head wide of Tony Kessell's right post.

On 15 minutes a Dartford clearance was headed by Jay May into the path of Cass, who slid a shot under Chris Foster in the Camberley goal.

Somehow sensing an upset, Camberley came into the game and Danny Ker set up diminutive winger Ben Cobbett whose accurate 25 yarder beat Kessell to level matters 10 minutes later.

The Krooners held sway for the rest of the half without really causing Darts too many problems.

After the turnaround Darts looked sharper and retook the lead when a Steve Norman free-kick was hit to the far post where Jamie Coyle knocked the ball back for man-of-the match John Guest to head firmly home.

Thereafter the quality degenerated somewhat with some heavy tackles flying in, a Darts penalty appeal rejected and the physios being needed more and more.

Darts had a spell of six successive corners which somehow were kept out.

There were five substitutions in 12 minutes, all disrupting the pattern of play.

Amidst all this, Camberley grabbed a replay lifeline when on 75 minutes, Ker volleyed home from a headed clearance with such ferocity the ball almost took Kessell's hand with it as it screamed into Darts' net.

The replay takes place this evening with a visit to either Bromley or Aylesbury on October 13 awaiting the winner.

Dartford: Kessell, Coyle, Norman, Flanagan, Guest, O'Brien, Moore (Potter 80), May, Cass, McClemments, Green (Bradbrook 85). Subs not used: Avery, Tedder. Att: 906