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An opening twenty
minute blitz in which Terrors shipped two goals
effectively killed of this match as a contest as
promotion chasing darts consolidated their playoff
place in front of a bumper crowd.
Dave King returned to the starting
line up and was called into action as early as the
second minute as Darts started with all guns blazing.
Four minutes later Coyle, on the right, set up Hayes
who scored with a low shot. In the following quarter
of an hour Terrors managed to win one corner, which
was easily claimed by Young, before Hawarth was
allowed a free header from a free kick to make it two.
After that Tooting finally got to
see the ball and for the rest of the half actually
held the bulk of possession. On the half hour a high
looping ball from Pinnock was fumbled by Young, but
referee Degnarain decided that Paul Vines had impeded
him and disallowed the goal. Overall though,
that incident apart, Terrors did not make much of a
dent in a solid defence. Dartford seemed happy with
what they had and saw no need to take any unnecessary
risks.
Half Time: Dartford 2-0 Terrors
The second half started pretty much
as the first had finished, with Terrors pushing
forward. An early Pitterson cross just eluded
several forwards as it sped across the face of the
goal and shortly after Paul Vines fired wide.
Then, as the players were streaming back from another
Tooting attack, Joe Vines was adjudged to have elbowed
Flanagan and was dismissed.
Marshall was immediately replaced by
Matt Howard, shortly followed by Tiesse for Pitterson,
as Tooting reverted to 4-4-1. But Degarain was
not done with upsetting the visitors when, having
rejected yet another corner in favour of a home goal
kick, he rounded his day off (admittedly
dis-ably assisted by his linesman) by allowing the
goal that sealed the result. Tease was flattened in
the left back position, allowing Darts a free cross in
to Hawarth that caught King in no-mans land and
presented the forward a simple tap in.
Ten man Tooting continued to hold
the lions share of the ball. On seventy five minutes
Matt Howard set Paul Vines up for a lob that easily
cleared the bar. Three minutes later Vines was
on target, but his shot was directed straight at
Young. Tiese and Pitterson both worked themselves into
good positions but their efforts were easily thwarted.
George Wakeling was ordered off the
touchline as his frustration boiled over, then
Degnarain surprisingly spotted Guest climbing all over
Paul Vines and awarded Tooting their first spot kick
of the season, which was duly converted by Matt York..
Darts decided to finish as they had
started, forcing Dave King into two fine saves,
although Terrors had the last attack, Paul Vines
forcing the first real save out of Young with a header
from an injury time corner.
Overall there can be little
complaint about the final score-line against a side
that must be in with a good chance in the playoffs.
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