Darts’ Wood has late effort cleared off the line
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IT was honours evens at Princes Park as two of last season’s top six played out a goalless draw to kick off their National League South campaign.
A point pleased Hungerford manager Bobby Wilkinson, who told The NLP: “It was a good game, I thought. For both clubs, I think it is a great point.
“Don’t get me wrong, I wanted to win, but if you come away from here with a point, you would take that.”
The Darts almost took the lead in the opening minute when Lyle Della-Verde’s free-kick was headed powerfully into the hands of Hungerford keeper Lewis Ward by Danny Harris.
Tony Burman’s side continued to press with Tom Murphy going close to opening the scoring.
The attacker latched on to a well-placed pass by Della-Verde before unleashing a low curling effort that Ward tipped away on 13 minutes.
Hungerford took their time to get into the game, but looked more threatening when they attacked through Stefan Brown. Brown had a shot deflected inches wide on 33 minutes after good work from Stephane Ngamvoulou to escape the Darts’ defence and find the forward.
Brown troubled the home defence again two minutes later although his low effort was scooped up comfortably by Dartford goalkeeper Deren Ibrahim.
Hungerford continued to look more assertive after the break and went close through Luke Williams, whose curled effort from the edge of the area forced Ibrahim into a good save on 47 minutes.
Dartford responded and a slick attacking move almost ended in an early contender for goal of the season when Harris’ half-volley whistled over Ward’s crossbar on 50 minutes.
The visitors continued to push for the opening goal and should have punished Dartford’s sloppy defending 12 minutes after the break when an unmarked Louie Soares spurned the opportunity to score, hitting the side-netting instead.
Soares again looked threatening on 66 minutes, with the winger opting to fizz a low freekick around Dartford’s wall and only just past Ibrahim’s post.
Keaton Wood thought he had won it for the hosts on 84 minutes, but his effort was cleared off the line as the game sparked into life in its dying embers.
Despite a lot of huff and puff from both sides, neither could break through as the opening game came to a close.
Dartford boss Burman was pleased with his side’s effort, but wanted more. He said: “I am pleased with the result to a certain extent.
“We have not lost the game and we kept a clean sheet.
“I am happy that we have got a point, but I am disappointed that we have not won the game. The guys have had a go.”