Home»All Photographs»Dartford FC 2016-17»Wealdstone v Dartford

28 January 2017. Dartford win 0:4. Goals by Luke Wanadio 19', Ryan Hayes 31', Elliot Bradbrook 41', Andy Pugh 56'.

Dartford thrashed Wealdstone 4-0 at The Vale for their first win over the Stones in 26 years, making Wealdstone's emphatic victory at Southport two weeks ago seem a distant memory. Goals from Luke Wanadio, Ryan Hayes, Elliot Bradbrook and Andy Pugh kept the Darts third in the table as the Stones moved 14 points off the play-offs.

Wealdstone had two opportunities to mount a second half comeback but remarkably Danny Green and Omar Koroma both missed penalties. Gordon Bartlett made just one change to the side that beat Southport and it was a forced one as Jonny Wright was given a shot up front replacing the injured Elliot Benyon.

And it was the Stones who started brightest with Matty Whichelow testing Gibraltar international Deren Ibrahim with a low drive that the keeper parried away to his left. But Wealdstone failed to make an opening spell of dominance and energy count and were punished when Wanadio was given too much space on the edge of the area to slot past Jonathan North.

Their lead was doubled on 32 minutes when Wanadio played in Hayes on the right and he cut inside and unleashed a fabulous swerving effort past North. A third was added just before half time when Wealdstone failed to deal with a corner allowing Bradbrook to convert his 6-yard effort at the second time of asking.

The Stones started the second half well and the lively substitute Koroma was brought down in the box prompting referee Adam Ricketts to award a penalty. But Green’s effort was too near Ibrahim and he tipped it wide. This buoyed Dartford and it was 4-0 when Pugh dispossessed Ricky Wellard on the edge of the area to fire past North into the top corner.

The Stones were given another opportunity to save some face when Jonny Wright was tripped in the area but Koroma put the penalty over the bar and out of the ground at the Gun Turret End. Dartford had two late efforts that called North into action, tipping over Duane Ofori-Acheampong’s effort and denying Richard Seixas with a similar save.
Wealdstone: North, Sheckleford, Brown, Goulding, Oshodi, Godfrey, Green (McGleish 70), Cox (Koroma 38), Wright, Wellard, Whichelow (Mavila 70) Subs not used: Hunt, Hamblin Attendance: 811

Peter Taylor, once a Manager of Dartford, and currently Assistant Coach of New Zealand, attended the game. I was told that the last time Dartford beat Wealdstone was back in the 1980s when Peter Taylor managed the club! His presence obviously brought luck.