Flashback! Hillians achieve an unwanted Darts treble

As soon as Burgess Hill Town and Dartford both successfully negotiated a passage to the Fourth Qualifying Round of the FA Cup it was almost inevitable that they would be drawn together. These two sides have history.

Back in 2014-15 Burgess Hill Town experienced the most remarkable season in their history. Winning the South Division at a canter- indeed, remaining unbeaten in the league until mid-March- they also had two magnificent cup runs, equalling their best ever performance in the FA Cup by reaching the Fourth Qualifying Round and then setting a similar milestone in the FA Trophy, negotiating five rounds before being knocked out in Round Two.

Their conquerors on both occasions? Tony Burman’s Darts.

At that point Dartford were in the national section of the National League, rather than the South Division as at present; but their cup victories were perhaps the only high points of a season which saw them relegated in 22nd place. Hill, in contrast, were on the up. Their FA Cup run saw them despatch Eastbourne Town, Croydon, Fleet Town and- famously- Sutton United at Gander Green Lane, whilst in the FA Trophy Aveley, Chesham United, Folkestone Invicta and Leatherhead were put to the sword, before they were drawn away to Conference National Aldershot Town.

Striker Rob O’Toole- who has just left Bostik South Division Horsham for County League (SCFL) Saltdean United- described that match in glowing terms in an interview on this website in July:
“That game at Aldershot is still probably my favourite football memory; they treated us really well, ordered us pizza and things for after the game, but I don’t honestly think that they ever expected to lose and they were so shocked when we turned them over 1-0. We were scheduled to have our Christmas party the same night and that was some celebration!”

Even the form of O’Toole- and strike partner Greg Luer, now at Hull City- however, couldn’t derail Dartford at Princes Park, and although Hill fought them to a standstill in the Trophy game at the Green Elephants Stadium again the outcome was the same. Three-one at Princes Park, two-one in Mid Sussex, both times it was the Dartford fans who went home happy.

Actually, happy is a relative term, they were a friendly but rather pessimistic bunch on both occasions despite the scoreline. Perhaps we should just say they went home happier?

On this occasion, however, the fine ladies and gentlemen from the neighbourhood of the Bostik League office and the most expensive river crossing in England were in good spirits, and their side were the reason. Fourth place in National League South, with six victories from their last seven games, twenty three goals scored and only eight conceded, they had a great deal to be positive about. Elliot Bradbrook, with 129 Dartford goals in 366 matches, was in good form and scored against Hill’s Sussex neighbours Bognor Regis Town last weekend, Alfie Pavey had nine in eleven matches so far, the defence was holding together well, and those in black and white exuded confidence.

Hill supporters should also have been confident, but the problem is that, so far this season, you never know which Hill is going to turn up. Were we about to witness the side who defeated Wealdstone in the last round, and who struck five past an in-form Kingstonian a few days later- or the side who conceded five at home to Lowestoft Town last weekend? Crowds have been good- 479 on Non-League Day, 590 against Wealdstone, 462 against Tonbridge Angels, 525 against Worthing- but the Hillians at the moment resemble a box of chocolates held by Forrest Gump. You never know what you’re gonna get.

That said, before the game those clad in green were not short on belief. Supporters Ryan Lang and Ashley McDermottroe, who were amongst the few not jammed like sardines inside the club bar watching Liverpool and Manchester United on a big screen, exemplified that positivity.

“The squad is better than any we’ve had before. Ian Chapman has made some excellent signings, and I expect us to finish in mid table at the very least. Ryan was focused on the league, but it was the cup that was occupying the thoughts of Ashley. “This is the biggest game of the season. We don’t want to fall at the last hurdle again, and I’m confident that we won’t.”

Both were convinced that the tie had to be won today, however.

“We don’t want a replay. We’re unlikely to go to Dartford and win. But we’re more than capable of getting the right result. We beat Wealdstone in the last round with a very late goal, but we should have won that tie by a far greater margin.”

Ryan had witnessed the last training session before today’s match. “The players were full of confidence. There didn’t seem to be any doubt amongst them that they could do it. And it would be superb to have someone like Blackburn Rovers here in the First Round.”

Ian Chapman’s team showed a number of changes from that defeat against Lowestoft. One of them was enforced- Brannon O’Neill was cup tied- but in came keeper Max Huxter, new signing Javier Faveral, James Richmond and Hakeem Adalukan with Cheik Toure- match winner against Wealdstone- Brandon Diau and keeper James Shaw dropping to the bench. Dartford saw the return of keeper Deren Ibrahim from international duty; last week he was keeping goal for Gibraltar as they lost 4-0 to Greece.

The visitors, resplendent in orange for today, got proceedings under way as they did the last time these sides met. On that occasion they were ahead after five minutes, and the home side were determined that the same wouldn’t happen today. And it didn’t- it took a whole eight minutes.

From the off, the Dartford front three of Pavey, Pugh and Murphy put the green backline under pressure, and it quickly became apparent that their best chance of success was down the left, where Murphy was up against Hill right back Ibrahim Diallo. Time and time again during the first period where the two went head to head there was only one winner, and it was this battle that led to the opening goal. Murphy managed to control a loose ball and fire goalwards, keeper Huxter got behind it but the ball squirmed from his grasp, and Pavey had a tap in to put his side ahead.

For the rest of the first half Dartford always looked likely to score again, and that they didn’t was chiefly down to the work of Gary Elphick and James Richmond. When these two were found wanting, Darts were let down by their finishing, with headers dropping wide of the posts on two occasions, and two curling shots doing the same. At the other end Pat and Lee Harding worked well together, but twice in quick succession Lee beat the full back and then overhit the ball, finding only space at the far side of the pitch rather than an onrushing team mate. Keeper Ibrahim had only one save to make before half time, and the biggest cheer the green hordes managed was when a supporter in front of the main stand delivered a pinpoint header as a wayward clearance flew out of play. It was that sort of game- if Hill were to progress, the second half had to be much better.

Whatever manager Ian Chapman said to his side during the interval, they were immediately more effective after the restart, to the delight of many of the 873 in attendance. Lee Harding beat the right back twice before letting the ball just escape him, and then Aaron Smith-Joseph had two chances, both times forcing saves from Ibrahim. The Hillians were suddenly quicker, more decisive, closing down fiercely and looking the most likely to make a breakthrough. Dartford’s supporters, occupying the small covered terrace behind the home keeper, tried to get their sides going with versions of Seven Nation Army, Sailing, Oh when the Saints and- slightly incongruously – the Pompey Chimes, and it did seem to help, Ryan Haynes poking a shot just wide. The ball was moved from end to end; the impressive Faveral testing Ibrahim before Smith-Joseph conjured another chance for the home side, a smart turn and shot deflecting for a corner. Hill were slightly on top, and skipper Elphick then had perhaps their best chance, heading a Lee Harding corner just wide of the far post in the sixty eighth minute.

Dartford began to clear the ball rather wildly, and so many of these clearances ended up in the next-door Nature Reserve that the squirrels are likely to be opening their own branch of Sports Direct in the morning, but despite the fact that the orange defence were clearly unsettled they still looked unlikely to be breached. Chapman threw on beanpole striker Brandon Diau, his side went rather direct, and this was somewhat effective- certainly the Dartford centre backs looked uncomfortable- and Hill began to press. Despite that, however, both of the best chances were to come at the other end, as the Darts broke at speed. First substitute Brown fired a shot which keeper Huxter saved brilliantly, and then deep into added time Richmond had to clear off the line with most of his team mates still in the opposition half.

After five minutes of added time the game came to an end, and we were treated to the familiar sight of Dartford supporters celebrating safe passage to the next round. They deserved their celebrations- it was quite apparent why they were riding so high in the table- but the home supporters can take much solace from their sides performance.

At the end of the month, Burgess Hill take on Aveley in the FA Trophy. The Millers last visited the Green Elephants Stadium in 2014-15, when the home side earned a victory and started a run in the competition that took them to the Second Round, when they were knocked out by- guess who? Perhaps they might yet have another opportunity to win at Darts. But, for now, it’s back to the League, and a trip to Dulwich Hamlet next weekend.