Hampton warm up for crucial Trophy clash with Dartford defeat (From Your Local Guardian)

Hampton warm up for crucial Trophy clash with Dartford defeat

9:40am Monday 23rd January 2012 in Sport By Rob Overfield

The Beavers recent form was shot down by an effective Dartford squad, though lacking any real individual stars but efficient as a unit, despite the Beavers taking the lead early on through James Simmonds.

A midweek hip complaint kept captain Matt Ruby out of the squad, leaving Billy Jeffreys in the starting lineup as Dean Inman returned from the bench with the captain’s armband in hand.

New loan signing Ryan Blake took the left back position and midfielder Esmond James made his home debut.

Friday’s late loan signing, striker Tobi Alabi could only find room on the subs bench.

Both teams took time to adjust to the blustery conditions blowing across the Beveree, but with their first proper attack the Beavers took the lead.

A free kick was swung over to the far post, from where Esmond James got a touch back into the middle, James Simmonds then latched on to the ball and finished crisply past Wells.

Dartford then began to show why they are having a good season as they sought to get back into the game. Twice they stretched the Beavers defence, Craig Ross had to act smartly to block a powerful near post shot then Dean Inman had to make a last ditch tackle to deny Harris a shot on goal.

On 24 minutes though, the Darts equalized with something of a soft goal.

A long free kick from halfway was met by Elliott Bradbrook, who despite attention from two defenders was able to guide his header over and past Ross, looping into the back of the net.

Dartford were catching the Beavers on the break far too often; Erskine was guilty of missing a simple chance, Billy Jeffreys getting back to block his goalbound shot then another long ball found Erskine in space, his tame header no trouble to Craig Ross.

It could easily have been 2-1 to the Darts at the break, as Ross could only half block a Danny Harris shot, the ball looked to be bouncing into the net but once again Billy Jeffreys came to the teams rescue, backtracking quickly enough to hack the ball clear off the line.

Once again the Beavers didn’t come out quickly enough in the second half, and the Darts made them pay on 48 minutes, Elliott Bradbrook punishing the defence with an 35 yard shot that flew past a helpless Craig Ross and his near post.

There was no question that the Beavers had been sent reeling from Bradbrook’s strike; Ross having to block a point blank drive for a corner, but on 53 minutes, former Beaver Jacob Erskine applied the knockout punch, with another looping header over Ross from about 6 yards. On 65 minutes, Dean Inman had to be substituted with what looked like a worrying foot injury, which meant Tom Hickey had to slot in at right back with Lewis Ferrell coming inside.

Now the battle was won, the Darts relaxed a little and the Beavers came back into the game; Dave Tarpey’s run from a James’ pass gave him a sight of goal, but the shot was deflected wide after Wells got a hand on it.

The introduction of Millwall loanee Tobi Alabi added a new dimension up front, and on 73 minutes, his shot from a Louie-Rae Beadle flick had to be hurriedly blocked clear by the Darts.

Sixty seconds later after a scramble in the box, his shot on the turn slid wide.

The Beavers were riding their fortune and Craig Ross had cause to be grateful on 81 minutes as a shot came back off the post, hit him, bounced back again off the post where he fell gratefully on the ball as the likes of Harris and Bradbrook dashed in.

Despite a long five minutes off added time by referee Parsons, neither side could make anything of it, and if truth be told, the Beavers were relieved when the whistle went.

Inman’s injury has left manager Mark Harper with questions he doesn’t want; it’s by no means certain if Dean will be fit in time for what could be a pivotal match in the season, in the FA Trophy replay versus East Thurrock Utd.

Let’s hope he and Matt Ruby recover speedily.

Ross, Ferrell, Blake, Jeffreys, Inman © (Hickey 65), Andrews (Alabi 64), Collier, Huggins, Tarpey, Simmonds (Beadle 58), James.

Subs: Morgan, Johnson Bookings: Simmonds 49, James 90.

Att: 656