McQUEEN DOUBLE AS JOSH SEES RED
AMOMENT of madness from Josh Taylor proved to be immensely costly for Havant & Waterlooville as Dartford star Darren McQueen struck a second-half double to make them pay.
The Hawks led through Jonah Ayunga’s early tapin before midfielder Taylor was sent off in first-half injury time for kicking out at Elliott Romain, which changed the complexion of the semi-final.
Darts boss Steve King took full advantage by getting his changes spot on at half-time as substitute Ky Marsh-Brown laid on McQueen’s first and then won the match-winning penalty.
“I probably got the shape wrong myself in the firsthalf,” King said. “We played with wing-backs and three centre-halves.
“We were worried about their aerial presence which was their main game, which is all they had.
“It wasn’t quite working, we changed the shape of the side [at half-time] and went with more width with Marsh-Brown and, for me, he was the match winner, he changed the whole game.
“I’m proud of the boys, we’ve done this the hard way to get to the final. It will be my fourth play-off final in the South and we’re just hoping the gods are smiling on us. We’ve come from fifth from bottom of the division all the way up and beaten the favourites in the semis. Can we go one step further?”
King will be back in the dugout for the final having served his two-game touchline ban – and this tie had him on the edge of his seat throughout.
Neither side had a glimpse of goal until Havant took the lead in the 13th minute.
Taylor’s long throw was flicked on by captain Kedwell at the near post and Ayunga ghosted in at the back for a simple tap-in, which he nearly managed to miss, turning the ball in off a post.
Dartford responded through Romain Elliott whose shot was deflected wide but Havant looked threatening whenever they went forward and Roarie Deacon’s shot ricocheted into the hands of a grateful AJ Cesay.
After the drinks break, the Dartford goalkeeper came rushing out and brought down Ayunga 20 yards from goal, but advantage was played and Wes Fogden’s follow-up was cleared from inside the area.
Sanchez Ming, playing at right-wing back, had the visitors’ best chance of the half but shot over when well-positioned in the Havant area.
There was little between the two sides going into halftime until Taylor needlessly handed Dartford an advantage.
The midfielder had been fouled by Romain, but then inexplicably attempted to kick out at the Dartford striker which was spotted by referee Tom Bishop.
Both managers made changes at the break with Paul Doswell – also suspended and watching from the stands – bringing on
Chris Paul, Bedsente Gomis and Andy Drury for Benny Read, Deacon and Kedwell.
However, King’s double substitution and a tactical switch to 4-3-3 had the biggest impact.
Marsh-Brown, operating on the left wing, kept his cool to play in McQueen and he finished past Ross Worner.
Nine minutes later, the 24-year-old was brought down in the area after another mazy run and McQueen sent the spot-kick into the top left corner.
The dangerous Ayunga should have done better when he opened up some space in the Dartford box following a short corner, but lacked composure and blazed over.
Dartford had chances to kill the game off and Ayunga could have punished them, yet he somehow managed to head wide in injury time from inside the sixyard box.
“We committed suicide in the 48th minute,” said Doswell, “putting yourself down to ten men against a side which is good in terms of exploiting the space and giving them a penalty as well. It’s almost like we decided to throw the game away.
“I thought the referee was terrible today but this isn’t about the referee, if you look at our stats we’ve lost nine home games this season and that was nowhere near good enough and it’s come back to haunt us today.”
STAR MAN: Darren McQueen (Dartford)
ENTERTAINMENT: ★★★★★
REFEREE: Tom Bishop