DARTFORD WOMEN 2 BILLERICAY TOWN WOMEN 4
Pre-Season Friendly played on Princes Park 3G on Sunday 28th July 2024
Dartford team: Jade Charlton, Naomi Nash, Poppy Payne, Abbie Davies, Gabby Howell, Bethany Powell,
Brionne Fowle, Liz Adams, Teni Charles, Emily Vaughan, Ellie Dolby
Subs: Chana Hinds, Georgie Davis, Molly Hawkins, Shauni Griffiths
Scorers: Teni Charles(2)
This was a great game for the Darts’ to be involved in and against third-tier side Billericay Town the match was played
at a fast pace, especially considering the sweltering conditions and it had quite a competitive, almost robust, nature to the game. Yet hardly any injuries to any players (some hard knock, yes) and the game played in great spirit and was a pleasure to watch.
On seven minutes Billericay had a great chance of taking the lead but were thwarted by a great save by Jade then six minutes later there was an important save at the other end after Emily Vaughan, Gabby Howell and Ellie Dolby had produced some great inter-passing before Ellie sent over a t5antilising cross but no-one there to capitalise on it.
Sixty seconds later the ball was at the other end and it was Jade, once again who saved, this time literally of the Town’s striker’s boot.
The first goal was Billericay’s and this came in the 17th minute. Their forward-line began to look threatening but the Darts’ back three or four were up to the challenge.
But within five minutes Darts were level. Gabby found space behind the defensive line and her shot was excellently blocked by the keeper but the rebound fell to Teni Charles who was placed slightly to the left of the goal and she expertly drove it past the defenders for a great equaliser. 1-1
After a water-break the Town got their noses in front again with a great long-range effort for 1-2 but four minutes later, in the 30th minute, a break and accurate pass by Georgie Davis set away Tenni, who made strides down the left flank before producing a wonderful cross that flew agonisingly close across the face of the goal but there was no-one close enough to get the final touch.
A couple of minutes later and Emily Vaughan produced a great strike at goal from the edge of the area – it flew straight and true but the keeper got her whole body behind it and pulled off a good save.
Half-time was beckoning when Town had a great chance of increasing the lead but Jade showed her bravery by first blocking and then pushing the ball away from Town’s twin strike-force.
There was just time for Darts to create another chance before the break. A well-aimed free-kick from Georgie Davis, slightly out on the right looked certain to be entering the goal and when the netting bulged it looked like an equaliser, but instead it was just inches wide of the post and had hit the side netting.
Half-time 1-2
All of Darts efforts then appeared to have been undone when a first-minute corner was met well, and headed into the back of the net for 1-3.
Then on 51 minutes it looked likely for Town to increase their lead but a great header off the line, from right under the bar went out for a corner. Another good accurate corner was sent over but Jade was equal to it with a good clean punch away.
On 59 minutes Jade pulled out another wonderful save – low to her right she managed to palm away to safety another Town attack.
Town had really shown their quality in that opening second-half 15 minutes, but for the most part Darts had hung on in there.
Then, on the hour mark, came a piece of brilliance by Xayla as she waltzed through the Town’s midfield before laying on a great pass to Teni who cracked it past the keeper for her second of the day and a great goal. 2-3
Six minutes later and Shauni tried a volley but just went too high.
In the 72nd minute, a breakaway by Town look suspiciously off-side but no flag was raised but Jade pulled off another of her miracle saves in a one-on-one situation.
Six minutes after this it Emily Vaughan turn to find Shauni in a good position but was hustled off the ball by two quick-thinking defenders then in the next minute Gabby went over to the left and produced a great free-kick into the Town’s penalty area but the chance was scrambled away.
Another great move on 81 minutes saw Gabby, Brie and Shauni produce a great inter-passing move and this deserved much more but the ball fell unkindly in the area and was cleared.
Town had produced a few very fast moves down the right where they had exceptional speed and this finally led to them successfully scoring another goal – this, a brilliant run into the box and finishing expertly for the final goal of the afternoon. 2-4.
Billericay were in fine form throughout the whole match and really won the game in the opening ten minutes of the second-half when they extended their slender lead to 3-1. But the Darts fought for everything on the day and in the end, Town were probably slightly flattered by a two-goal win.
Lots of positives to be taken from this game – probably from both sides, not just Darts.
So onto double training in the week before their next friendly which is against ACTONIANS (4th tier) on Sunday 4th August at Princes Park …..probably on the 3G at 3pm
Report by Tony Brown
Photos by Taur Everard