Created 7-Apr-24
160 photos
6 April 2024. Havant & Waterlooville 1 (James Roberts 57'), Dartford 2 (Joash Nembhard 64', Olly Box 68').
Joash Nembhard and Olly Box gave Dartford a huge boost in their bid to survive the drop, after their goals saw off Havant & Waterlooville in an entertaining encounter at Westleigh Park. As both sides played their part in this fixture, you wouldn’t have thought that this was a proverbial six-pointer in a relegation dogfight, such was the attacking play on the pitch. And it was Dartford goalkeeper Rhys Byrne that was called into action first, as he managed to get down to stop Jake McCarthy’s 2nd minute strike from curling into the bottom corner. Yet, it was Ross Worner at the other end who was in fine form, as he pulled off an excellent save to keep out Luke Allen’s 15th minute drive, before completing a superb double save in quick succession to thwart Alex Wall and Olly Box (27). The Hawks number one then managed to somehow keep out Alex Wall’s thumping header (42), as the visitors threatened to overwhelm their hosts. Despite creating more opportunities though, Dartford certainly didn’t have it all their own way during the first-half. Only the alertness of Ronny Nelson prevented former Dart Jack Jebb from giving the Hawks a 33rd minute lead.
Despite their efforts though, the Darts soon found themselves behind in the 57th minute, after a goal of some considerable quality. James Roberts was the Havant player to score, after he’d received the ball before sending a delightful curling drive into the top corner. However, Adrian Pennock’s players weren’t in any mood to accept defeat this afternoon, and were level seven minutes later. Joash Nembhard was the man to score the equaliser, despite the best efforts of Brendan Willson in trying to keep the ball out! The defender thought he’d cleared the danger, but referee Mr Oliver MacKey disagreed and awarded the goal (64). Dartford’s tails were up at this point, and Luke Coulson found Olly Box with a neat pass, leaving the talented youngster to smash the ball into the roof of the net (68). Rewind sixty seconds, however, and you’ll see that Adrian Pennock made his first change in personnel by introducing Tyrell Miller-Rodney for Harrison Sodje (67). The boss would only make one other change, with Jordan Greenidge coming on for the excellent Alex Wall late on (90+3). Meanwhile, the hosts would also only make use of two of their three available substitutions, as Kwaku Donkor replaced James Roberts (77) and Jonas Mukuna came on for Nathan Carlyle (84).
As we return to the action, we find the visitors full of confidence and searching for a third goal. But, once again they came up against a stubborn Ross Worner, who saved well from Luke Coulson, before the superb Luke Allen clipped the outside of the post in the 78th minute. Havant had their opportunities as well though, as they responded in an effort to get back on level terns. But their efforts were in vain, as Rhys Byrne saved late efforts from Jack Jebb and Kai Woollard-Innocent to ensure the Darts returned home with the points.
HAVANT & WATERLOOVILLE: Ross Worner, Devante Stanley, Kai Woollard-Innocent, Joe McNerney, Jake McCarthy (c), Nathan Carlyle, Ryan Seager, Brendan Willson, Callum Kealy, Jack Jebb, James Roberts.
SUBSTITUTES: Alan Walker-Harris, Kwaku Donkor, Jonas Mukuna, Sion Spence, Taylor Crook.
DARTFORD: Rhys Byrne, Jordan Wynter, Jack Smith, Luke Coulson (c), Luke Allen, Alex Wall, Paul Rooney, Joash Nembhard, Olly Box, Ronny Nelson, Harrison Sodje.
SUBSTITUTES: Tyrell Miller-Rodney, Maxwell Statham, Fumnaya Shomotun, Taylor Maloney, Jordan Greenidge.
Att:
Referee: Oliver Mackey
Assists: Mitchell Terry, Graham Pearce
Report: Chris Palmer
Joash Nembhard and Olly Box gave Dartford a huge boost in their bid to survive the drop, after their goals saw off Havant & Waterlooville in an entertaining encounter at Westleigh Park. As both sides played their part in this fixture, you wouldn’t have thought that this was a proverbial six-pointer in a relegation dogfight, such was the attacking play on the pitch. And it was Dartford goalkeeper Rhys Byrne that was called into action first, as he managed to get down to stop Jake McCarthy’s 2nd minute strike from curling into the bottom corner. Yet, it was Ross Worner at the other end who was in fine form, as he pulled off an excellent save to keep out Luke Allen’s 15th minute drive, before completing a superb double save in quick succession to thwart Alex Wall and Olly Box (27). The Hawks number one then managed to somehow keep out Alex Wall’s thumping header (42), as the visitors threatened to overwhelm their hosts. Despite creating more opportunities though, Dartford certainly didn’t have it all their own way during the first-half. Only the alertness of Ronny Nelson prevented former Dart Jack Jebb from giving the Hawks a 33rd minute lead.
Despite their efforts though, the Darts soon found themselves behind in the 57th minute, after a goal of some considerable quality. James Roberts was the Havant player to score, after he’d received the ball before sending a delightful curling drive into the top corner. However, Adrian Pennock’s players weren’t in any mood to accept defeat this afternoon, and were level seven minutes later. Joash Nembhard was the man to score the equaliser, despite the best efforts of Brendan Willson in trying to keep the ball out! The defender thought he’d cleared the danger, but referee Mr Oliver MacKey disagreed and awarded the goal (64). Dartford’s tails were up at this point, and Luke Coulson found Olly Box with a neat pass, leaving the talented youngster to smash the ball into the roof of the net (68). Rewind sixty seconds, however, and you’ll see that Adrian Pennock made his first change in personnel by introducing Tyrell Miller-Rodney for Harrison Sodje (67). The boss would only make one other change, with Jordan Greenidge coming on for the excellent Alex Wall late on (90+3). Meanwhile, the hosts would also only make use of two of their three available substitutions, as Kwaku Donkor replaced James Roberts (77) and Jonas Mukuna came on for Nathan Carlyle (84).
As we return to the action, we find the visitors full of confidence and searching for a third goal. But, once again they came up against a stubborn Ross Worner, who saved well from Luke Coulson, before the superb Luke Allen clipped the outside of the post in the 78th minute. Havant had their opportunities as well though, as they responded in an effort to get back on level terns. But their efforts were in vain, as Rhys Byrne saved late efforts from Jack Jebb and Kai Woollard-Innocent to ensure the Darts returned home with the points.
HAVANT & WATERLOOVILLE: Ross Worner, Devante Stanley, Kai Woollard-Innocent, Joe McNerney, Jake McCarthy (c), Nathan Carlyle, Ryan Seager, Brendan Willson, Callum Kealy, Jack Jebb, James Roberts.
SUBSTITUTES: Alan Walker-Harris, Kwaku Donkor, Jonas Mukuna, Sion Spence, Taylor Crook.
DARTFORD: Rhys Byrne, Jordan Wynter, Jack Smith, Luke Coulson (c), Luke Allen, Alex Wall, Paul Rooney, Joash Nembhard, Olly Box, Ronny Nelson, Harrison Sodje.
SUBSTITUTES: Tyrell Miller-Rodney, Maxwell Statham, Fumnaya Shomotun, Taylor Maloney, Jordan Greenidge.
Att:
Referee: Oliver Mackey
Assists: Mitchell Terry, Graham Pearce
Report: Chris Palmer
(c) SportShotz Photography