Wednesday, July 29

Dartford-MILLWALL F.C. 1 - 4

Price marked his first pre-season start with two goals as Millwall swept aside Dartford with a four-goal show at a sell-out Princes Park on Tuesday night.
Striker Price, who was a frustrated spectator during The Lions pre-season tour of Ireland last week, hit goals on 34 and 50 minutes, whilst Neill Harris (9mins) and Danny Senda (35mins) completed the scoring for a comfortable victory.
As expected, manager Kenny Jackett made wholesale changes to the side that started at Stevenage Borough on Saturday, handing a debut to 16-year-old centre half Chris Hegarty and including Birmingham City teenage trialist Jordan Anderson on the bench.
It proved to be another solid work-out for Jackett's side, who effectively put the result beyond doubt with three goals in the opening half.
Millwall took the lead after nine minutes with a well-worked goal. Price and Lewis Grabban combined to provide an opening for Harris, and his crisp angled finish gave keeper Andrew Young no chance.
The Lions were looking comfortable in possession, and Jackett's men produced a great move out of defence two minutes later, before Jack Smith's superb forward pass to Grabban saw a linesman raise his flag for a dubious off-side.
At times some of the neat interplay created by Millwall caused all sorts of problems to the Darts defence.
On 16 minutes Scott Barron picked out Marc Laird on the edge of the area, and the latter's deft touch found Ashley Grimes, whose low curling shot through a packed penalty area nearly squeezed in at the far post.
A fine threaded forward pass by Grimes looked to have put Harris clean through for a possible second goal 60 seconds later, but keeper Young was quick off his line to thwart the danger.
Barron sent a left-foot effort narrowly wide and debutant Hegarty had a 22nd-minute header held on the line as Millwall continued to create scoring oppportunities.
A second goal always looked likely, and it duly arrived 11 minutes before the break. Barron and Grabban combined well on the left flank before Grabban's deep cross was picked up by Grimes on the right, who in turn played the ball straight back in to Harris. Although the striker's initial shot was blocked by Young's legs, Price was on hand to smash home from close-range to make it 2-0.
But the biggest cheer of the half came seconds after the game had restarted. Laird spread the ball wide to Grimes on the right, his flick picked out rampaging right-back Senda, who hit an unstoppable rocket shot into the roof of the net.
Millwall could have added a fourth on 38 minutes when Hegarty's sublime delivery found Price. The frontman controlled the ball and tried to place his effort past the keeper, who blocked. Price picked up the loose ball and produced an inviting delivery across the face of goal, inches away from the right boot of the unmarked Grimes five yards out.
At the other end a spectacular half-volley from James White (29mins) and Lee Burns glancing header (44mins) that flashed wide of the mark were the Darts best efforts on goal.
It took The Lions just five second-half minutes to increase their lead to 4-0 when Grimes' low shot was parried by Young, and Price was perfectly placed to fire home the rebound from three yards.
Former Dartford favourite Dave Martin entered the fray after 53 minutes to warm applause from the Princes Park crowd in a move that saw Millwall effectively switch to three at the back with Martin given a free role on the left flank.
The chances continued to stack up for Millwall as Harris headed wide (60mins) before Grabban then sent a low drive narrowly off-target following great work by the tireless Ali Fuseini (61mins).
Dartford reduced the arrears 17 minutes from time with a somewhat fortuitous spot-kick awarded against Hegarty, who clearly got a piece of the ball instead of the man.Unfortunately referee Ian Cooper that different and pointed to the spot. Ryan Hayes did the rest with a low finish that sent John Sullivan the wrong way in the visiting goal.
Price nearly restored Millwall's four-goal cushion on 74 minutes with a curler that was comfortably held by sub keeper Deren Ibrahim, whilst Grabban again went close as The Lions turned the screw.
The Darts PA announcer got a slice of the action too on 81 minutes when he stated: "And Millwall are making some substitutions - lots of them!" as the visitors brought on five subs for Laird, Harris, Price, Fuseini and Grabban.
Chris Hackett was denied a goal on 90 minutes with a fierce drive well held by the keeper before providing an injury-time delivery that fellow sub Gary Alexander headed on to Steve Morison, but his header flashed over with the last chance of the game

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