Dartford Women defeated Fulham FC Women to make it two wins from two at the start of their London and South East Regional Premier Division season – but their winner had more than a whiff of controversy about it.
The Darts dominated from outset, penning the visitors back inside their own half at Princes Park as they looked to build on an impressing win over Dulwich Hamlet last Sunday. Fulham failed to match their opponents’ intensity or sense of adventure and it was little surprise when the hosts went in front on twelve minutes. Nicha Dyett punished the Fulham defence for failing to clear their lines by racing in on goal and fired past Libby Stratton to score her second goal in two games. Fulham almost hit back immediately when summer signing Sasha Adamson struck the bar with a dipping drive from nearly 30 yards that had Jade Charlton rooted to the spot, before their hopes of getting back into the contest were dealt a devastating blow just after the half hour.
The dangerously Dyett turned provider this time, playing in Emily Vaughan, who found the bottom corner with a low effort despite being yards offside. Fulham’s three centre halves had pushed up to the edge of the penalty area and waited for a flag that never was never raised. Referee Alex Stacchini allowed the goal to stand after a lengthy consultation with his assistant on the far side – much to the visitors’ fury.
Steve Jaye’s side seemed stunned by being two down in such contentious circumstances and were fortunate not to be further behind at the break. Stratton saved well from Gemma Shepherd, whilst the Darts defence were largely untroubled as Fulham’s front two were horribly isolated during the first period. The visitors, playing in their pink away kit for the first time this term, were much more ambitious after the interval and almost forced their way back into the contest when Sophie Manzi saw a snapshot saved and Becky Stormer’s follow-up was blocked behind for a corner.
The ensuing set-play did bring a goal, although there was confusion about the identity of the scorer. Tia Foreman’s devilish delivery caught out Charlton and could have crossed the line after whacking the woodwork but Ella Tagliavini stabbed home from close range to make absolutely certain. Fulham looked a more formidable attacking force after Georgia Heasman, Edie Buchele and Mary Southgate came off the bench but couldn’t find an equaliser despite piling on the pressure in the closing stages. Foreman flashed a drive fractionally over the bar, whilst Adamson and Stormer shot wide in stoppage time.
Fulham, who probably paid the penalty for a poor half hour before the Darts’ controversial second goal, will hope to hit back by registering a first win of the season against Aylesford at Motspur Park next Sunday afternoon.
DARTFORD FC WOMEN: Charlton; Read, Davis, Hinds, Wason; Woodgates, Adams, Griffiths; Dyett, Shepherd, Vaughan; Subs: Shurtey, Howell, Hawkins, Torry.
BOOKED: Shepherd.
GOALS: Dyett (12), Vaughan (31).
FULHAM FC WOMEN: Stratton; Tagliavini, Stormer, Dale; Mendes, Foreman, Hill, Barron-Clark, Huntrods; Adamson, Manzi. Subs: Parker, Southgate, Parsonson, Heasman, Buchele.
BOOKED: Dale.
GOAL: Tagliavini (54).
REFEREE: Alex Stacchini.
