MATCH REPORT | HASHTAG UNITED 2 DARTFORD 2

Jay Devereux’s Tags started brightly, with the lively Evans Kouassi forcing Jonny Henly into an early save (9), before Olly Box saw an effort blocked by the defence at the other end (17) during a rather quiet opening twenty minutes.

The Darts did edge ahead after 25 minutes via Callum Jones’ fifth goal of the season, after excellent work by loanee Nelson Eze to claim a worthy assist.

Jones came close to scoring again three minutes later, before George Whitefield’s header was collected by goalkeeper Jack Giddens (34).

However Dartford’s first-half efforts were undone during stoppage time at the end of the half, when Evans Kouassi picked the pocket of the visitors’ defence to race clear and fire beyond Jonny Henly (45+2).

The hosts began the restart brightly and only a fine save by Henly prevented them from turning the game around within the opening three minutes.

But Ady Pennock’s side soon began to probe once again and, after Sam Odaudu had hit the defensive wall with a well-taken free-kick following a foul on Eze (52), both Samuel Okoye and Dan Carter forced Giddens into successive saves within a matter of seconds!

Henly made another great save on the hour to keep the score level, before Jones fired narrowly wide following good work by Sam Odaudu at the other end (64).

Denzelle Olopade’s lovely strike smacked Giddens’ upright (68), before George Whitefield stepped up to head home from a Dartford corner (70) to put the visitors ahead once again.

Nelson Eze saw an effort blocked by a Tag defender (78), as the Darts looked to seal the points before Ady Pennock moved to introduce some fresh legs late on…

Jacob Bland, Samuel Okoye, and Nelson Eze were the trio to depart to be replaced by Jeremiah Pinder, Luther Williams, and Dan Smith respectively.

Then deep into stoppage time, Evans Kouassi earned the hosts a share of the spoils with a superb strike that flew into the top corner (90+6).

The result ensures that Dartford climb back into the playoff places in the Isthmian Premier League table, as the business end of the season approaches fast.

HASHTAG UNITED: Jack Giddens, Nathan Smith, Joe Christou, Jesse Ayoola, Max Cornhill (c), Luke May-Parrott, Evans Kouassi, Sam Park, Joshua Rusoke, Ben Wells, Matthew Wooldridge.
SUBSTITUTES: Jaden Brissett, Jermaine Anderson, Ziad Bakaar, Praise Ogbebor, Nathan Wilson.

DARTFORD: Jonny Henly (c), Sam Odaudu, George Whitefield, Joe Tennent, Samuel Okoye, Denzelle Olopade, Jacob Bland, Dan Carter, Olly Box, Callum Jones, Nelson Eze.
SUBSTITUTES: Samir Carruthers, Dan Smith, Eddie Dsane, Luther Williams, Jeremiah Pinder.

Chris Palmer