Home»All Photographs»Dartford FC 2016-17»Dartford v Hemel Hempstead Town

12 November 2016. Dartford win 2:0. It was the 10 year anniversary of the club at Princes Park and Elliot Bradbrook was also presented with an award for 100 goals for the club. It was also Danny Harris' 250th start for the club. A quote from a fan "We didn't have to play well to beat a poor HH side who just rolled around whingeing at every opportunity. " Which seems to be a recurring common strategy - I hope it does not continue!

Much of the first half was a midfield battle, with neither goal-keeper being truly tested. The best player on the field of play was Dartford’s right winger Lee Noble, who was a constant thorn in the side of the Hemel defence.

Midway through the half Jonathan McNamara claimed he had received an elbow to the face that left him flat out and face down, just outside the visitor’s penalty area for a couple of minutes. No punishment was forthcoming from the referee however, whom apparently did witness the incident. It was not until the fortieth minute that there was any meaningful action. Dartford left-winger Danny Harris cut inside from the left and curled the ball past a helpless Jamie Butler, into the bottom right hand side of the net. Then in the eightieth minute a breakaway move saw substitute Luke Wanadio sprint clear of the Tudors defence and coolly beat Butler. thereby making the game safe for the home side.

In researching why they are called "The Tudors" it seems that although Hemel Hempstead was one of the many "new towns" that sprang up after WW2, its origins as a settlement go back to the 8th century and it was granted its town charter by King Henry VIII in 1539. So now you know.