This fixture began rather slowly during the opening exchanges, as both sides cancelled each other out. Aside from Samir Carruthers’ early free-kick being easily collected by Wands’ goalkeeper Harry Seadon, there was very little in terms of goal-mouth action.

Once Cray Wanderers won the first corner of the afternoon, the game began to open up, but it was the Darts who forced the first real save from Seaden when Jacob Bland saw his effort saved following his brilliant run (18).

Four minutes later saw Olly Box play Callum Jones in with a delightful little flick, but the latter was brought down inside the Wands’ box. However, referee Mr Derrick Laing, ignored the visitors’ appeal for the foul!

Dartford did score via an own-goal in the 31st minute, but Mr Laing bizarrely ruled out the goal for an apparent offside!

Five minutes later saw Ady Pennock’s side take the lead via a calm finish from Eddie Dsane. The goal arrived after a superb defensive block at the other end, before a swift counter-attack released the Dartford striker who raced through to score his ninth goal of the season.

The start of the second forty-five saw Wands’ boss Tim O’Shea make a triple substitution in a bid to get the equaliser. Kareem Isiaka, Alex Hernandez, and Josh Williams all made way for Chris Dickson, Nods Bobomurodov, and Ashley Nzala respectively. The hosts would also swap Ralf Hand for Harry Waldock before the hour (59).

Ashley Nzala was the first player to be booked by Mr Laing within five minutes of coming on, before Frankie Raymond and Dartford’s Eddie Dsane went into the referee’s book for an altercation a few minutes later (57).

After both sides cancelled each other out for the opening few minutes of the restart, it was the visitors who came close to doubling their advantage via Olly Box. But Harry Seadon was alert to make the save (58).

Jonny Henly then stood up to make two superb saves for the Darts within five minutes, as Cray arguably had their best spell of the game so far. The first saw the goalkeeper pull off a fabulous save to thwart Bobomurodov (60), before an inadvertently deflected header by Samuel Okoye from a Wands’ free-kick saw Henly make a superb one-handed save to prevent an own-goal (65).

Two minutes later saw the Darts earn a free-kick on the left following a foul by Prosper Keto. The Wand got a yellow card for his trouble, while Samir Carruthers’ free-kick found Callum Jones who scored his fourth goal of the season to double his side’s lead (67).

Ady Pennock made his first change in personnel in the 72nd minute, as Dan Smith came on for Eddie Dsane. That was followed by Dan Carter coming on for Samir Carruthers (80), before Callum Jones made way for Richie Atkins deep into stoppage time (90+3).

As we return to the action, we find Jonny Henly being called into action once again. Frankie Raymond’s dangerous free-kick was met by the head of Chris Dickson, but Henly pulled off another fine save from close-range to keep his clean sheet intact (79)!

With the hosts trying desperately to get themselves back into the game, Samuel Okoye was on hand to make a brilliant challenge to prevent Ashley Nzala from getting a shot away in what would prove to be the Wands’ last opportunity of the afternoon (89).

The result stretches Dartford’s unbeaten league run to ten games, as they win a third consecutive fixture. Jonny Henly’s excellent performance earned him a third clean sheet of the season, as the Darts secured a first victory on the road this season.

CRAY WANDERERS: Harry Seadon, Prosper Keto, Adrian O-Gyamera, Harry Waldock, Remi Sutton, Tom Bonner (c), Frankie Raymond, Alex Hernandez, Josh Williams, Kareem Isiaka, Lateel Adaja.
SUBSTITUTES: Ashley Nzala, Nods Bobomurodov, Quade Taylor, Ralf Hand, Chris Dickson.

DARTFORD: Jonny Henly, George Whitefield, Michael Olarewaju (c), Joe Tennent, Samuel Okoye, Jacob Bland, Jeremiah Pinder, Samir Carruthers, Olly Box, Callum Jones, Eddie Dsane.
SUBSTITUTES: Carter Sullivan, Sam Smith, Dan Smith, Dan Carter, Richie Atkins.

Match Photos Gallery

Chris Palmer