4:05pm Sunday 11th April 2010
By Phil Windeatt
A sparking tour de force display of ruthless attacking football saw Darford rightfully pick up the Ryman Premier crown but leaves Kingstonian with a dent in their play-off aspirations.
A week is a long time in Ryman Premier football.
Last Saturday, with their last gasp victory over local play-off rivals Sutton United, the Ks were well on-track for a second-placed finish.
But disaster struck on the road midweek with defeats at basement boys Bognor and Waltham Abbey.
Unfortunately, the ultimate challenge of the best team in the league proved to be just too big.
The Darts, who needed just two points to take the championship, looked like winners from the off and were 2-0 up after just 13 minutes.
Ks were always second-best although a brave headed goal from Simon Huckle kept his side in the hunt.
A third goal for the Darts just before the break and a fourth goal just after the break saw the game move well away from Ks.
Striker Bobby Traynor grabbed a second goal and the Ks had good chances for a third, but two further Darts strikes, exploiting some hesitant Ks defending, saw the visitors coast home.
On the final whistle, the jubilant Darts fans invaded the pitch to swamp their victorious squad.
Ks' last away game is as tough as they come next Saturday against fellow play-off hopefuls Hastings United. Ks' final game of the season is Saturday, April 24 when they entertain strugglers Maidstone United.
Buoyed up by large contingent of their fans from north Kent it was winger Elliot Bradbrook who whipped the ball away from Ks skipper Adam Thompson in the very first minute but his cross was gathered by keeper Rob Tolfrey.
Two minutes later, striker Danny Harris found winger Ryan Hayes on the edge of the Ks box but his powerful rising drive was pushed out by a full-stretch Tolfrey.
On five minutes, the Darts went one better when defender Adam Gross set Billy Burgess down the right flank and his pinpoint cross deep in the Ks goalmouth saw ELLIOT BRADBROOK sweep the ball past Tolfrey from close range.
In the 13th minute, the Darts did it all again when a Tolfrey punch wasn't cleared allowing RYAN HAYES to let loose a sweet volley that flew home.
On 20 minutes, a besieged Ks tried to rally when Matt Gray sent a long, high free-kick into the Darts box which was headed on by Huckle but Bradbrook cleared.
On 28 minutes, consecutive corners from Hayes out on the left saw shots from Danny Dafter and Michael Shinn blocked.
Back came the Ks on 31 minutes when Darts keeper Andrew Young tipped over a looping header from Huckle.
Two minutes later, the Ks were back in the game when a Gray corner from the right found Traynor who drove the ball goalwards where SIMON HUCKLE dived into a crowd of players to nod the ball past Young, getting a whack for his troubles.
But, on 38 minutes, the Darts turned the screw again when Gross took off unchallenged down the left and his dangerous far-post cross was headed home by DANNY HARRIS into the roof of the K's net.
Four minutes into the second half, the Darts made it four when Tolfrey was caught in possession on the edge of his box.
Darts striker Rob Haworth casually crossed the ball into the empty Ks goalmouth where ELLIOT BRADBROOK slotted home his second of the afternoon.
Ks then had their best spell of a difficult day.
Sub Dean Lodge found Gray out on the right, he cut in and his shot from the edge of the box beat a full-stretch Young but struck the inside of the near post, Bashiru Alimi made it to the follow-up but he struck the ball over.
On 56 minutes, Gray pushed a ball up to Thompson who prodded a through ball for BOBBY TRAYNOR down the right and entering the away box he fired the ball into the far corner past a full-stretch Young.
A Gray cross looked promising forcing centre back John Beales to head over his own bar.
Just before the hour mark a Gray far post cross from way out on the left found Thompson but he could only head over.
Then a Mo Harkin cross from the left was touched on by striker Carl Wilson-Denis but was wide of the far post. The K's purple patch evaporated on 70 minutes when a Bradbrook cross from the left was spilled by Tolfrey allowing RYAN HAYES to pounce and score again.
Nine minutes later it was six and out when more hesitancy in the Ks backline allowed Hayes to cross from the right finding sub LEE BURNS who volleyed the ball home past a stranded Tolfrey.
With a minute to go Huckle released Lodge down the middle of the park but he sliced his drive wide which seemed to sum up Ks afternoon.
Ks. 1. Rob Tolfrey 2. Matt Gray 3. John Fletcher 4. Adam Thompson (capt) 5.. Max Hustwick 6. Simon Huckle 7. Bashiru Alimi 8. Mo Harkin 9. Bobby Traynor 10. Carl Wilson-Denis 11. Christian Jolley (sub Dean Lodge, 46mins).
Subs: 12. Dean Lodge 13. Luke Garrard (G/k - not used) 14. Lee Hall (not used) 15. Francis Duku (not used) 16. Grant Kerr (not used).
K's Yellow Cards: Huckle.
Attendance: 929
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