Dartford 1 Hampton & Richmond Borough 1 match report: Harvey Bradbury scores first-half header in National League South but hosts pegged back as winger Brandon Barzey is sent off
Published: 21:48, 15 August 2023
Updated: 00:32, 16 August 2023
Dartford’s wait for a first National League South win this season goes on after they were pegged back by Hampton & Richmond Borough on Tuesday evening.
Striker Harvey Bradbury gave them a half-time advantage but Dean Inman equalised after the restart in the 1-1 draw, with winger Brandon Barzey sent off late on against his old club.
Borough did well to clear Tommy Block’s 10th-minute cross from the right at Princes Park in the early stages of a fairly uneventful first period before optimistic Darts penalty protests were waved away.
Visiting midfielder Rob Hall saw his attempted shot blocked for a corner, 10 minutes later, which was cleared.
Darts were dealt a blow when Sam Odaudu went down, Jordan Wynter replacing the Academy graduate in the 26th minute.
The home team created two opportunities in quick succession on the half-hour mark in front of a crowd of 879.
Midfielder Luke Allen’s shot was deflected over before Tyrell Miller-Rodney also sent a powerful volley flashing over Hampton goalkeeper Adam Desbois’ net against one of Miller-Rodney’s former clubs.
Dartford keeper Jack McIntyre got in well behind Jordan Cheadle’s long-range effort, two minutes later.
Alan Dowson's side then had a golden chance on 37 minutes as Desbois made a fine save to deny Barzey after he had been played through by captain Luke Coulson.
Six minutes later, the hosts did break the deadlock, though. Bradbury got enough power on another wonderful right-wing Block delivery to send the ball beyond Desbois’ dive.
The same player had the first opportunity of the second period on 54 minutes, only to struggle to get enough power behind his drive before he chested down for 30-year-old Allen to blaze over.
Sam Deadfield missed the target at the other end on the hour mark with his long-range attempt.
There were a couple of nervy spells midway through the half for Darts who narrowly survived after a swift short-corner routine as Hampton aimed to build-up a head of steam.
A second Dartford substitution saw Charlie Sheringham replace scorer Bradbury with 11 minutes to go.
Allen then curled wide of Desbois’ left-hand post when he should have hit the target and Inman bundled home from close range to level the scores in the 82nd minute to make Allen’s miss look even more costly.
And just as the game was about to head into five minutes of stoppage time, Barzey, who had enjoyed a good night before then, was shown a straight red card by referee Morgan Conn for a late challenge.
That left Borough looking the more likely to find a winner in the time which remained and McIntyre made a last-gasp save to deny Luis Fernandez and that block earned his team a point, as he made amends in some way for his weekend error in their 1-0 loss at Weymouth.
Manager Dowson made a single change as Baris Alintop came in for Wynter, who dropped to the bench but still ended up playing most of the match.
Accrington loanee prospect McIntrye, 20, kept his place in the home goal despite his costly first-half mistake in Dorset.
Dartford: McIntyre, Golding, Odaudu (Wynter 26mins), Block, Miller-Rodney, Altintop, Coulson, Allen, Bradbury (Sheringham 79mins), Barzey, Nembhard. Subs not used: Beeney, Herschel, Statham.
Hampton & Richmond Borough: Desbois, Thomas, Inman, Fernandez, Cheadle, Hall (Donaldson 87mins), Seymour (Whittingham 87mins) Deadfield, Wishart (Pitblado 74mins), Dunne, Bloomfield. Subs not used: Davies, Vasagkasvilki.
Referee: Morgan Conn.
Attendance: 879.
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Thomas Reeves