Match Report by Steve Cantle
Injury-hit Fleet Town had to settle for a share of the points after an entertaining, but score-less battle with Kent side Dartford in front of another good Saturday afternoon crowd at Fleet's Calthorpe Park ground.
It was a game dominated by the defences right from the off. The visitors created their best chances in the first half, but each time were let down by some poor finishing. Dartford's best chance fell to mid-fielder, Tommy Martin on 32 minutes, but a great block from Fleet keeper, Calvin Sparshatt kept the scores level.
Sparshatt was one of two changes forced on Fleet boss, Mick Catlin, after injuries to players in the midweek game against Newport IoW. Signed from Havant & Waterlooville in midweek to replace the injured Steve May, Sparshatt brought off several more great saves one in the first half from striker, Dave Hassat, and an even better one halfway through the second half after being grounded making the initial stop.
For their part Fleet played their normal attractive passing game, without initially being able to put the Dartford keeper, Jimmy Simpson under any real pressure. Things changed for the home side after the break when strike pair, Craig Leworthy and new signing, Steve Whitcher, were given more of the ball and linked up well to put the Dartford goal under serious pressure.
In for the injured Shea Saunders, it was Whitcher who created Fleet¹s best chances late on, but each time Simpson was able to save. Fleet went all out for the winner in the final 20 minutes, and although the Dartford defence held firm, they had to survive a string of penalty appeals from an increasingly frustrated home side.
FLEET TOWN: Sparshatt, Buckland, Blakely, (sub, Millerick, 18 mins), Hare, Jeffrey, Saunders, Black, Anstey, Whitcher, Leworthy, (Parker, 85), Proctor. Subs not used: Tiller, Ryan. Attendance: 163