London & SE Regional League, Premier Division played on Sunday 11th February 2024, kick-off 12.30 on 3G
Team: Jade Charlton, Gabby Howell, Georgie Davis, Jo Woodgates, Bethany Powell, Hannah Cleary,
Emily Woodhouse, Lizzie Adams, Shauni Griffiths, Emily Vaughan, Nicha Dyett
Subs (all used): Chloe Brian, Alicia Adams, Adele Pearce, Amy Reader
Scorers: Gabby Howell, Hannah Cleary
ANOTHER 3 POINTS TOWARDS THE BIG PUSH IN THE TITLE RACE
Sunday dawned and Darts faced an injury, illness and work commitments dilemma for their early 12.30 kick-off time with Aylesford.
Missing from the line-up were Meghan McKeag, Zayla-rae Alberts, Chana Hinds, Emily Read, Charlie Torry, and Paris Smith, along with Molly Hawkins (recovering from injury with the Devs), and long-term casualties Shannon Wason and Gemma Shepherd with ACL injuries.
Darts got off to a bright opening period and on nine minutes, a great opportunity fell to Emily Vaughan who found herself in a one-on-one situation, but ex-Dart keeper, Sade Rider, stood strong, narrowed the angle and beat away Em’s effort.
Just three minutes later and Darts got their opener, when Lizzie Adams accurately found Gabby Howell in space and after a couple of strides let fly a great shot which gave the keeper no chance and the ball nestled in the netting at the far stanchion. 1-0
In their next attack, a cross from Shauni found Emily Woodhouse who hit the ball first time but a defender and keeper between them saved the goal by the left-hand post although Sade Rider was injured in the process.
Attacks were plentiful and a pass from Shauni was met by Beth Powell but her header went wide.
Then a tremendous free-kick from Aylesford rocked the Darts’ crossbar.
22mins a short corner from Shauni to Emily Vaughan was quickly played square to Hannah Cleary, who unleashed a great shot that sailed over the keeper and into the net. 2-0
Four minutes later Darts nearly increased their lead when good work by Nicha out on the wing got in a great cross from the bi-line, but Lizzie couldn’t quite adjust her shooting position and the chance went just wide.
And still the 3rd goal eluded them. On 34 minutes Shauni fired in a great 30-yarder which had the goalie sprawling to save and in the process collided with the goal post which sent the whole goal shuddering and shaking and moved several inches on its base-wheels. But the ball missed its target by only inches.
Emily Vaughan then drew another foul (the second in as many minutes) which was about 25 yards out. Georgie Davis and Jo Woodgates lined-up to take the free-kick – and it was Jo who thundered in one of her usual ‘specials’ but this time it struck a defender and was cleared.
HT 2-0
Within four minutes of the re-start Emily Vaughan tried to squeeze the ball under the goalie but was saved on the goal-line.
But chances, on the whole, weren’t as frequent as in the first half and it was a further 20 minutes before Darts created a chance. A great cross from Nicha on the wing found Emily Woodhouse who struck the ball sweetly enough but it struck the right-hand goal post and was cleared.
On 77 minutes, Jade pulled of a great save in a one-on-one situation and then in the next minute Lizzie Adams sent in a half-shot that cannoned of a defender’s foot in her 6-yard box. The ball could have gone anywhere but for Aylesford the relief was there for all to see, as it cleared the bar by a mile, such was the ferocity of the shot and the fierceness of the defender’s miss-kick.
In the 85th minute, the almost inevitable happened. A free-kick out on Aylesford’s left flank was delivered dangerously into Dartford’s box and a fine header sent the ball past the Darts defence for 2-1
In the 92nd minute Amy Reader found herself in space and with the keeper off her line lobbed the ball over the keeper, but also just over the bar, and Darts’ elusive third goal never materialised.
Darts were left with the 2-1 win but crucially earned the three points which takes them back to the top of the table.
SUMMARY:
For long periods of the game, Darts were looking good for more goals to boost their goal difference but in an afternoon of slightly mixed fortunes, Aylesford first frustrated Darts and then gave them a bit of a scare towards the end but generally, Darts were well worth their three points earned. This win took Darts back to the top of the table.
Interesting of note, less than two hours later, all four of Darts’ subs later played for the Development side in their league encounter with Welling Utd which ended goal-less.
Report by Tony Brown
Photo by Taur Everard and Alex Barber (ABcVideo)