MON SHERI! CHARLIE’S THE ANGEL
DARTFORD rediscovered their pre-pandemic form to blow away Slough Town with a scintillating second half performance.
Manager Steve King has taken the Darts from relegation candidates to promotion contenders following his appointment last October – and they continued their winning momentum despite the four-month break.
But they didn’t have it all their own way at Arbour Park as the hosts enjoyed the better of the first-half.
Slough’s Josh Jackman headed onto the roof of the net from a Matty Lench cross before Ryan Bird angled a free header just over from a Lench corner.
They were the two best chances in a tight opening period with Dartford rarely seeing a sight of goal and when they did, Tyrique Hyde’s volley sailed harmlessly over.
However, they were much more threatening in the second half and striker Charlie Sheringham put them ahead two minutes after the restart with a tap-in from Jordan Wynter’s low cross.
Eight minutes later it was two, as Sheringham pounced again to turn in the rebound from Elliott Romain’s effort which was deflected onto a post.
From there, it seemed an almost impossible task for Slough to get back into the game against a stubborn Dartford defence.
Romain shot over when well-placed but substitute Luke Wanadio made sure of the result five minutes from time, cutting in from the left and shooting low past Jack Turner.
It could have got worse for the Rebels but Hyde shot off-target following good work from sub Ky Marsh-Brown.
Defeated Slough Town co-boss Neil Baker said: “In any play-off game you need to get in front and I thought we competed well in a scrappy first half.
“Second half we got caught out five minutes in. They went up a gear from there and we dropped down a gear.”
STAR MAN: Charlie Sheringham (Dartford) ENTERTAINMENT: ★★★★★