"Darts lose to Charlton in front of big crowd"
A bumper crowd watched Dartford get their pre-season schedule under way at Princes Park on Saturday.
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Dartford 2 Charlton Athletic 3: Pre-season friendly watched by a crowd of 3,584 at Princes Park
A bumper crowd watched Dartford get their pre-season schedule under way at Princes Park on Saturday.
Championship side Charlton ran out narrow winners in the end but more than 3,500 saw an entertaining game in the summer sunshine.
Despite a bright start from the Darts, Charlton took the lead after six minutes when Henry Rylah exchanged passes down the right wing before crossing into the near post. Daniel Kanu’s initial attempt was blocked by Luther Williams but the striker blasted the rebound high into the roof of the net.
It took just four minutes for Dartford to be back on level terms. Sam Odaudu’s long throw was only cleared as far as Ben Frempah and, after his initial shot was parried by Ashley Maynard-Brewer, Callum Jones turned in the rebound.
Charlton restored their advantage from the penalty spot after 25 minutes. Referee Ben McDonald generously pointed to the spot after the grounded Michael Olarewaju’s clearance hit fellow defender George Whitefield on the arm. Greg Docherty stepped up to send keeper Jonny Henly the wrong way.
Charlton looked to turn up the heat in already sweltering conditions, Henry Rylah and Tyreece Campbell both going close while Henly did brilliantly to deny Kanu from close range.
Dartford equalised 10 minutes before the break when Eddie Dsane was pulled back in the box and Samir Carruthers’ cheeky panenka penalty made it 2-2.
Both keepers remained for the start of the second half but every outfield player was changed. The game didn’t have the same intensity as the first 45 minutes, nor the same goalmouth action.
The Darts fielded several trialists after the break, including defender Ronnie Vint. He previously spent nine years at the club and has more than 200 Dartford appearances to his name.
Just past the hour mark, we saw the new ‘eight-second’ rule for goalkeepers implemented for the first time. Darts keeper Henly failed to release the ball quickly enough, and the referee awarded a corner to Charlton.
With 11 minutes left, Olly Box drove forward for Dartford but his low left-foot shot lacked enough power to trouble keeper Tommy Reid.
Charlton went ahead on 84 minutes when Micah Mbick scored at the near post just minutes after his introduction from the bench.
Dartford’s next pre-season friendly is at home to National League South Eastbourne next Saturday.
Dartford: Henley, Frempah, Williams, Olarewaju, Whitefield, Olopade, McLeod, Odaudu, Carruthers, Jones, Dsane. Subs: Nayler, Taylor, Eze, Pinder, Box, Smith, Campbell, Olenga, Atkins, O’Mara-Knapp, Trialist A, Trialist B, Trialist C, Trialist D.
Charlton: Maynard-Brewer, Ramsey, Gillespie, Jones, Coventry, Campbell, Docherty, Dixon, Edwards, Rylah, Kanu. Subs: Reid, A Mitchell, Mbick, Enslin, Carey, Gough, Anderson, Asiimwe, Z Mitchell, Olaofe, Burke, Fullah, Mwamba.
Referee: Ben McDonald.
Attendance: 3,584.
. The stewarding is an absolute joke, they seemed more interested in Our fans than Charltons.