Dartford 3 v 0 Wivenhoe

Southern League Division One East

FOLLOWING three matches without a victory Dartford got back to winning ways with a comfortable victory at Stonebridge Road, writes Mike Brett-Smith.

With Richard Avery a flu victim Darts boss Tony Burman drafted in Lee Craig into an otherwise unchanged line-up.

The early play suggested the visitors were going to pose a threat.

They were strong at the back, worked the ball well through midfield but were wayward in the final quarter of the field.

The visitors won a handful of corners, mainly on the right, but they rarely threatened Kevin Hudson who produced another immaculate display in goal.

At the back Tony Henry, Tommy Osborne and Lee Craig had time to set up attacks.

In midfield Eddie McClements won a staggering amount of balls in the air and his ground work was impeccable, backed up by Ryan Hayes and Ryan Briggs, Steve Hafner and Ian Pulman while Gary Carter and Dave Martin were electric on the flanks.

The result was settled in six first-half minutes.

On 27 minutes Pulman won possession in midfield and released Hayes who beat two defenders and rounded the keeper to slot home from six yards.

Two minutes later Henry, up for a set piece, intercepted a poor clearance and crossed for Pulman to score crisply at the far post.

Just four minutes later it was all over when Carter picked up Briggs' lay-off and produced a pinpoint pass which was met by McClements who swept the ball home.

The second half saw Darts move down the gears and run through their repertoire of tricks.

Early in the second half Martin went on a rampaging run and fired in a cross which was parried by the Wivenhoe keeper into the path of Hayes who struck the post with a first-time volley.

MATCH FACTS: DARTFORD: Hudson; G Carter; Osbourne; Henry; Craig; Hayes; Briggs; Hafner (Potter, 88); Pulman (Elmes, 84); McClements (Maguire, 89), Martin.

ATT: 283.