FULHAM 0-0 DARTFORD

[Ajaxman DFC]

Motspur Park Arena. Training ground of Premiere League Fulham. Standing room only behind one goal obscured by sky high netting, the supporters might just as well be watching from behind bars. The only other option was to be housed in the main stand with a great view of the pitch, providing you had a pair of binoculars. And even then, depending on where you were seated, you wouldn't have had a clear view of both goals. Not with the bloody floodlights in the way. But that's because it's a training ground and not fit for paying supporters.
This certainly shouldn't be permissible in the National League
IF THEY WIN THIS LEAGUE. We'll come to that shortly.
Try and watch from anywhere else and there was no shortage of stewards or other jobsworths, armed with two way radios, to follow you around the ground and move you on.
They couldn't wait to get us out of the ground at the final whistle either.
The catering facilities were first class though. Served out of the back of a van. Hot drinks and sweets available. Anything else, forget it.
Premiere League Fulham. Ok. Whatever.
There was a rumour that Fullham had been giving their ladies team more financial support this season. But I'm not so sure.
They've brought one or two in yes, but they haven't replaced forward Sophie Manzi, whose injury last year ruled her out for the rest of the season.
I read a nice post from someone from Fulham after the game on their twitter page, complimenting our number 4, the one and only Chana Hinds, for her sound performance at the back while also stating she expected more from Dartford as League leaders.
I'm not sure if she realises how many games her team has in hand on us but what I saw today was a dogfight. A scrap for the title between the two best sides in the league.
A summary of the game would be, I felt we were the better side over all. Fulham had the best chances in shots on target but the excellent proactive Paris Smith was equal to them everytime. Going in 0-0 at half time after playing against the wind showed great promise for the second half and I do feel we could have nicked it today.
I won't go into into great detail about the goal attempts themselves. Connor Brennan has covered that well enough on twitter. Today's stalemate would have required just one goal to be otherwise. Very likely coming from a mistake rather than a flash of individual brilliance. That's the kind of game it was. Three players I can nominate for player of the match. Paris Smith for her decisiveness when her goal was under threat. Chana for her composure under pressure. As I took my seat on the train at Motspur Park for the journey home, a female Fulham supporter started enthusing about our number 4 and asked me who she was. I told her Chana wasn't for sale! And then there's Ellie Dolby's amazing goal line clearance when everyone thought it was in.
But to add to Connor's excellent match updates I'd also like to highlight the two penalty shouts.
In the first half Lizzie Adams was manhandled and hauled to the ground on atleast one occasion by Olivia Dale.
In the second half Brionne Fowle was unceremoniously taken out by keeper Frankie Gibbs.
On the whole we've had a lot worse than today's officials but both of these incidents were missed.
No doubt Fulham will be disappointed with the scoreline but I felt we could have had them and taken all the points.
But here's the thing. Fulham still have to go to Dorking who are probably playing better now than they did on the opening day of the season. They also have yet to play Ebbsfleet home and away. The very same fixtures where we've dropped points too. Should Dorking win and the Fleet get anything out of those two games could see us either needing to draw or win at Princes Park against Fulham for the title.
Oh and there's another interesting stat from an unexpected quarter. Saltdean beat Haywards Heath by just 1-0 at home today.
Could this mean Heath have suddenly been able to put a team together to compete in this league? If so, Fulham still have to go there too. What an amazing twist to the season that could turn out to be! Then let Fulham take up any discrepancies regarding goal differences or points awarded, with the L&SER league at the end of the season.
Player of the match Ellie Dolby. Yes I know the vastly experienced Ellie Olds had the beating of her a couple of times. But how on earth did she keep that ball from crossing the line?
That was the moment in the game where one mistake would have been the winner.

[Ring of fire]

Thanks for a full picture. Feel I was there but rather not be, with the poor facilities, viewings and welcome...

There's still hope...
Wonder if H.Heath can gather few ewes (Nickname only) together, only when they play at home, or locally??

[TonyDart]

Well done ladies on a good job well done, and a great point earned. And well done to James too on a another great report and interesting read.

Here are a couple of shots from our photographer, Taur Everard and I've dug out two photos of players whom James has highlighted in the game.

Chana and Paris, with the ball safely in her arms. With Em looking to make a breakaway

Ellie Dolby

[Ajaxman DFC]

I've just been looking at Haywards Heath's current team. 9 of their players who were in the side who lost 6-0 at home to Sutton earlier in the season did not feature in the squad of 15, who narrowly lost 1-0 at Saltdean yesterday.
They lost 6-1 to Millwall at the end of October with only two subs on the bench.
7 of those did not feature in Sunday's squad either. Their last league game before yesterday was a 3-1 defeat away to Sutton 3/11/24. The rest have been cup games or postponements, including their only scheduled league match away to Fulham 9/2.
And now two weeks later they field a 15 woman squad and give Saltdean a run for their money.
It's increasingly looking like Haywards Heath, relegated from the National League South East Division 1 last season, may just finally be getting their act together.
Is Sunday's encouraging scoreline the beginning of a mini revival leading to the great escape?
They have games in hand on their relegation rivals and sit 9 points behind 10th placed Sporting Benfica with two games in hand on them.
It they are serious about putting the brakes on free fall it's not too late to save their necks.

[TonyDart]

Another one of Taur's great shots from Sunday's match away at Fulham.

Midfield tussle: The Girls in Blue are Abbey Davies, furthest from camera, then left to right:
Xayla-rae Alberts, Emily Woodhouse and Beth Powell

Photo by Taur Everard.

[Ajaxman DFC]

Another one of Taur's great shots from Sunday's match away at Fulham.

Midfield tussle: The Girls in Blue are Abbey Davies, furthest from camera, then left to right:
Xayla-rae Alberts, Emily Woodhouse and Beth Powell



2024-2025 v Fulham away 0-0 midfield battle.jpg


Photo by Taur Everard.

No one gets past Beth. Looks like she's got one in each hand there!