DARTS LOSS HEAPED BY PUGH BLOW
Injury compounds frustrating day
DARTFORD rounded off their trilogy of pre-season friendlies against Football League opposition with the narrowest of defeats to Colchester United on a day which was marred by a suspected leg break for Andy Pugh.
The Darts – continuing their summer rebuild following last season’s play-off semi-final defeat which led to the resignation of stalwart manager Tony Burman – lined up at Princes Park against a strong looking League Two side.
Burman was replaced in June by joint managers Jamie Coyle and Adam Flanagan, who run the rule over a number of summer signings and trialists.
“We gave a really good account of ourselves in the first half,” Flanagan said.” Our crosses in the box were effective. They brought a good squad which we were thankful for.”
But the bosses’ plans were somewhat hampered early on when Pugh was stretchered off following a collision with Rene Gilmartin, with the Darts forward leaving the field in considerable pain.
“Our fear is that it is a leg break,” Flanagan surmised afterwards. “Whether it is a double leg break or single we will see. We’re gutted really.”
In fact, it got worse for Dartford minutes later when Pugh was followed into the treatment room by teammate Alfie Cue, who was forced to limp off after another challenge.
Up to that point, both sides had chances. Summer signing Delano Sam-Yorke headed over from a corner on five minutes before Tom Eastman’s sidefooted effort drifted wide for the U’s after Diaz Wright’s shot was deflected into his path.
Still, though, Dartford kept coming – Pugh’s replacement Kudus Oyenuga sprang past Colchester’s offside trap before dragging his effort wide on 23 minutes.
And the lively front man, who tormented the Colchester defenders throughout, was at it again a minute later, forcing Gilmartin into a low save from his 25-yard effort.
Lanre Oyebanjo kept the scoreline goalless on 28 minutes after blocking Colchester’s Aaron Collins’ goalbound effort, but Oyenuga went close again on 37 minutes, connecting well with an Oyebanjo cross, but again saw his effort blocked by Gilmartin as the two continued their first-half duel.
Colchester came out the traps the quicker after the break with Courtney Senior dancing through the Darts’ defence before forcing a corner from Deren Ibrahim, who has impressed since reclaiming the number one shirt after losing it in the latter half of last season.
Kane Vincent-Young then went close with a volleyed effort on 61 minutes as the momentum began to shift in Colchester’ favour.
John McGreal’s men upped the ante even more after introducing a number of first-team players including Harry Pell and Frank Nouble for Dartford to contend with.
But credit to the home side, they dug in with Oyenuga again causing difficulties, curling an effort inches wide on 71 minutes as an opening goal alluded both teams.
The Darts continued to pose a threat with crosses – summer signing Billy Roast connecting powerfully with fellow new addition Ben Greenhalgh’s corner but heading over on 76 minutes.
But it was Colchester who finally broke the deadlock on 81 minutes when Ronnie Vint turned a low cross from Brennan Dickenson past Ibrahim into his own net.