Dartford kept their hopes of retaining the trophy intact

Tonbridge Angels 2 Dartford 4

Defending champions Dartford came from two goals down to book a place in the Kent Senior Cup semi-finals after extra time against Tonbridge Angels.

Richard Graham and Lee Burns struck in the final eight minutes to seal a victory which set up a meeting with Charlton Athletic in the last four at Princes Park next month.

It looked an unlikely result as the Angels moved into a 2-0 lead shortly after half-time. Chris Piper opened the scoring on 13 minutes, pouncing on indecision in the Darts’ back four to smash a finish past Deren Ibrahim in the highlight of a forgettable first half.

Piper laid on the second goal three minutes after the restart, squirming into space before picking out an unmarked Nathan Korenteng to score with ease.

The two-goal cushion lasted just six minutes, as Jack Pallen pulled a goal back from close range. With the momentum suddenly with Dartford an equaliser looked only a matter of time and on 66 minutes a burst from Burns set up Graham, who stylishly finished past Lee Worgan.

Neither side could find a winner in normal time, so the tie went to extra time at a freezing Longmead.

Jon Main, on as a second half substitute for his first appearance since a long-term absence recovering from a knee injury, had a good chance to put the Angels back in front, but he curled a shot just past the post.

Dartford finished the stronger and they avoided a penalty shootout with two late goals. Graham grabbed his second goal of the night by turning in a low cross and Burns sealed the victory by running on to Jon Wallis’ pass and finishing past Worgan.

In the other semi-final Hythe Town produced a shock as they dumped out a youthful Ebbsfleet United at Stonebridge Road. A 90th minute Nathaniel Pinney penalty cancelled out Nick Reeves’ opener to send the tie into extra time, but the Ryman South side bounced back to win 4-1 thanks to goals from Kieran Byrne, Ronnie Dolan and Craig Thompson and book a last four meeting with Dover Athletic.

Attendance: 380

Angels: Worgan, Beecroft, Walder, Piper, Judge, Miles, Benjamin (T Olorunda 30), Browning, A Olorunda (Main 51), Collin, Korenteng

Unused subs: Hagan, Heath, Crimmen

Darts: Ibrahim, Jones, Green, Champion, Bonner, Burns, Hayes (Wallis 106), Rogers (Bradbrook 106), Pallen (Harris 74), Garrod, Graham

Unused subs: Wells, Erskine

Photo by SPORTSHOTZ.CO.UK