Victory for Eastleigh and Dartford in FA Cup First Round

Saturday 08 Nov 2014
Eastleigh boss Richard Hills celebrates

Bromley's Fortress Stadium was the hottest ticket in The FA Cup First Round, with a header-heavy seven-goal thriller in the Kent derby with Dartford.

The hosts were clearly pumped up for the game and flew out of the gates, with Moses Ademola storming free to cross for Louis Dennis, who side-footed them into a valuable early lead.

Dartford responded with an early goal of their own in the second half, as Danny Harris levelled matters with a header from a corner after putting pressure on goalkeeper Seb Brown. His goal was under siege and after doing well to hold onto an effort from Tom Bender, he was beaten by an accurate curling effort from Ryan Hayes.

The FA Cup

First Round Proper
Saturday 8 November
Winning clubs will receive £18,000
Round-up
by Andy Lloyd-Williams

Dreaming of the trip to Las Vegas they had been promised by chairmen Ashley and Derek Reading if they reach the Third Round, Bromley piled on the pressure and Ademola took advantage of a goalkeeping error to draw his side level with half an hour left to play.

But Darts were not to be deterred and their set-play expertise again shone through when Elliot Bradbrook headed a corner into the back of the net.

The massive 4,105 crowd certainly got value for the £12 entrance fee as the hosts turned copycats to score their own headed goal from a corner, Danny Waldren the man on target this time. Darts had the last laugh, however, with Tom Bradbrook heading the winning goal as the game wound down.

They will be joined in the Second Round by Conference strugglers Dover, who put league matters aside to dispatch Morecambe, thanks to Stefan Payne's first-half strike.

Chester also took a Football League scalp, winning 2-1 at Phil Brown's Southend United, thanks to goals from Ben Heneghan and Craig Mahon.

Eastleigh have made an impressive start to their first-ever Conference Premier campaign and are undefeated at home so far this season. They carried that form into The FA Cup, with goals from Craig McAllister and Ben Strevens sealing victory over Lincoln City at the Silverlake Stadium.

Basingstoke Town and Telford are another non-League ball in the hat. The pair couldn't be separated in Hampshire, needing a replay after a spirited 1-1 draw.


By FA Staff