BURMAN BEAMING AS DARTS HIT THREE
DARTFORD moved up to fourth after beating a plucky Bognor Regis Town side at Princes Park.
Dartford boss Tony Burman was pleased with his side’s determination. He told The NLP: “The guys showed a lot of patience and waited for the opportunities and they have won the game.
“I am pleased that we have responded to the defeat at Weston.”
Bognor boss Jack Pearce felt mistakes thwarted his side from taking something from the game. “At half-time I was very pleased with our first-half performance,” he said. “We played some really good stuff at times but the goals were self-inflicted.”
On a cloudy afternoon on Non-League Day, both sides had chances in the first five minutes.
Ollie Pearce’s thirdminute free-kick was only marginally higher than Jordan Carey’s crossbar as the Bognor attacker tested the new Dartford keeper, who replaced Deren Ibrahim, who was on international duty with Gibraltar.
Dartford responded immediately, forcing Dan Lincoln into an excellent save from an Alfie Pavey.
The Darts broke the deadlock on seven minutes when the hosts capitalised on poor defending, with Pavey neatly tucking his low shot away.
Undeterred, the visitors brought the game level on 17 minutes through Kristian Campbell. The left-back on loan from Bromley waltzed past Keaton Wood and Richard Sho-Silva before firing home.
Bognor, who started the day two points away from the relegation places, grew in confidence as the first half progressed, with Pearce again firing a freekick narrowly over.
Pavey again went close on 34 minutes, nodding a Hayes corner just inches wide.
Both sides emerged for the second half with a renewed purpose.
Referee David Spain pointed to the spot on 51 minutes when Dartford’s Mark Onyemah was caught with a high tackle. Captain Elliot Bradbrook dispatched the resulting spot-kick.
Dartford found their third on 65 minutes when Andy Pugh nodded in a cross from Ryan Hayes.
Substitute Lyle DellaVerde tested Lincoln’s fingertips with a low shot on 80 minutes. Lincoln then kept his side two goals behind with an outstanding save to an effort from Pugh.
STAR MAN: Alfie Pavey (Dartford) ENTERTAINMENT: ★★★★★