Dartford manager Steve King reacts to 1-1 draw with Havant in National League South
Published: 05:00, 20 March 2022
Updated: 08:47, 20 March 2022
Dartford boss Steve King admitted the conditions spoilt their game with Havant on Saturday - but it was still a match they should have won.
The Darts missed a first-half penalty along with some guilt-edged chances against the Hawks in National League South.
A strong wind going straight down the pitch meant pretty football was never likely, especially against a combative Havant side.
“It was a poor game but the conditions spoilt it, it was a farce really,” stated King.
“Having said that, we should have won the game with the chances we had.
“Ade (Azeez) should have scored a hat-trick, Marcus (Dinanga) went through in the first half and Kristian Campbell in the second half.
“I’m disappointed we haven’t won the game as we deserved to win it on the chances created. It wasn’t a good game of football to watch.
“In the first half against the wind, we created far more chances than what we did with the wind.
“They were slowing it down (in the second half) and taking their time so they were happy to get a point and get out of here, 100 per cent.
“We should have been better in our finishing, had we been more clinical we would have won the game.”
On Azeez’s penalty miss, King added: “The way he grabbed the ball, he was confident that he wanted to take it and we let him do that.
“Any goalkeeper that saves a penalty you’ve got to give him credit for it.
“We should have taken our chances and then we win the game quite comfortably and don’t end up getting in the battle.
“The conditions killed the game, long ball, long ball, we don’t want to play long ball but you get drawn into it.”
Dartford are now nine points behind new leaders Maidstone but King’s men still have a game in hand.
The two teams are also due to meet at Princes Park on Easter Monday, with King expecting a near sell-out.
Dorking lost ground after being held by Hampton, a side that King takes his Dartford team to next weekend.
“We can only gather the points we get, it’s another point for the total and we can’t win them all,” said the Dartford boss.
“Other results around us went okay, you’re in it until you’re not in it.
“There’s 27 points to play for, you’re in it until you’re not mathematically. They’re all going to have different wobbles at different times.
“Maidstone are doing ever so well now but they’ve got to come here – we’ll probably get 4,000 here for that game.”
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Matthew Panting