Dartford aim to finish the evening back on top when they welcome Ramsgate to Princes Park on Tuesday night.
The Darts were in F.A Cup action on the weekend and suffered an upset, bringing their outstanding run of seven straight wins to a crashing halt. At the same time they slipped off the summit in the league due to results elsewhere. However, Ben Greenhalgh’s side will be desperate to return to winning ways and claim a fifth consecutive victory in the Isthmian Premier.
Ramsgate manager Adrian Pennock returns to Princes Park with a number of former Darts looking to avenge the Kent Senior Cup defeat a fortnight ago. The Rams are outside the playoff places after a defeat on the weekend.
They Think It’s Call-eva
For the fourth time in eight years Dartford bowed out of the F.A Cup to lower league opposition on Saturday. The Darts visited Tadley Calleva in the third qualifying round and despite leading through an early George Whitefield goal, the hosts came from behind with a late winner.
Greenhalgh made four changes to the side that beat Whitehawk with Adrian Gyamera, former Ramsgate loanee Jordan Higgs, Lorenzo Duncan and Jez Pinder returning to the starting eleven.
Whitefield scored his first of the season heading the Darts in front from a Greenhalgh cross after four minutes. In the second half, Ryan Sandford saved Kieran Rodgers’ penalty. Tadley Calleva equalised with 15 minutes left, Charlie Barlow levelling. The Romans caused a shock in the 88th minute with Brad Passfield netting the decider.
Defence v Attack
Although disappointing to have fallen to defeat on Saturday, Dartford have been in great form. After consecutive losses leading up to the Bank Holiday, the Darts have shown before that they can bounce back. Greenhalgh’s side went on their seven match winning streak across four separate competitions.
Four of those wins have been in the league with the Darts overcoming Chatham Town, Carshalton Athletic, Enfield Town and Whitehawk. In those fixtures only the Hawks have managed to breach Dartford’s defence, the joint best backline in the league.
However, the defence will be tested against Ramsgate, the division’s second highest scorers. Former Dartford striker Callum Jones has scored six of those goals and sits joint top in the league’s goalscoring charts.
Future Darts Shine
Dartford have successfully kept Ramsgate out already this season beating them 2-0 in the Kent Senior Cup. Both teams made plenty of changes with the Darts displaying a youthful side. Greenhalgh handed six debuts to academy players during the 2-0 win. Lorenzo Duncan netted the opener and his maiden Dartford goal. Wrapping up the win, Louis Atkins celebrated his first senior start with a first senior goal for the club.
Narrow Kent Derby Win
Pennock was in the Dartford dugout in the last league meetings between the two sides. The former Darts boss claimed a home win when Denzelle Olopade scored the only goal of the game. Also lining up for Dartford that day was Jonny Henly, Callum Jones and Dave Winfield. The trio followed a Pennock to Ramsgate over the summer. A further three have also represented the Darts in the past, Jacob Bland, Rowan Liburd and Tom Clifford.
Highlights courtesy of Dartford FC TV
Eight Goal Thriller
The reverse fixture on the Kent coast was a more dramatic affair. Nine man Dartford earned an entertaining 4-4 draw helped by an Eddie Dsane hat-trick. The Darts came back from 3-1 down at half time, then after falling behind again they needed a stoppage time strike from Dsane to take a point. The Rams also ended the game one player short due to a red card.
Ram Raided
Ramsgate were in league action on Saturday and lost 3-2 to Carshalton Athletic. The Robins led twice in the first half yet still went in at the break all square. Nathan Young-Coombes put the Surrey side ahead only for Alfie Paxman to equalise. Carshalton Athletic went in front again through Tope Fadahunsi, but this time Cameron James pegged the visitors back. Finally, the Robins edged into the lead once more and this time they made it stick after Hani Hechachena scored five minutes from time.
Ady’s Familiar Woes
Pennock’s poor cup and away record last season with Dartford has seemed to have resurfaced on the Kent coast at Ramsgate. Winless in their previous four outings, the Rams have already exited the F.A Cup, the Kent Senior Cup and F.A Trophy.
The former Darts boss may have gone one better in the F.A Cup by beating Bracknell Town, the side he lost to a year earlier at Dartford, but Ramsgate were beaten in the next round against National South side Tonbridge Angels. In the F.A Trophy his side lost to Leatherhead on penalties.
Away from Southwood Stadium, the Rams won their first road trip of the season against newly promoted Stanway Rovers. Since then, they are winless in six attempts in all competitions.
Manager’s View
A disappointed Ben Greenhalgh spoke to Dartford FC TV after Saturday’s cup upset, he said: “The second half was inexcusable. We didn’t show enough energy, we didn’t win enough second balls and we didn’t battle enough. We got beaten up”.
By contrast the first half was better for the Darts, but missed opportunities cost the side especially after a poor performance in the second half, the player manager added: “I said at half time, I was happy with where we were at because we needed to be patient and we were creating loads of chances. I believed if we had continued in that manner we’d have won the game, but looking back now we have got to score those chances”.
Greenhalgh does not want to see a repeat of what happened after the interval, he continued: “We’ve been on a brilliant run, so I’m not going to question too many things, but that can’t be seen again”.
Interview courtesy of Dartford FC TV
Team News
Emmanuel Oke was a late withdrawal on Saturday and will need to be assessed to see if he can take part on Tuesday. Ben Swift and Joe Tennent remain out injured.
Current League Form
| DARTFORD (LLWWWW) | RAMSGATE (WLWDWL) | ||||
| Whitehawk | H | 2-1 | Carshalton Athletic | H | 2-3 |
| Enfield Town | A | 2-0 | Maldon & Tiptree | H | 2-0 |
| Carshalton Athletic | A | 3-0 | Burgess Hill Town | A | 2-2 |
| Chatham Town | H | 1-0 | AFC Whyteleafe | H | 5-1 |
| Burgess Hill Town | A | 1-2 | Welling United | A | 0-1 |
| Welling United | H | 0-3 | St Albans City | H | 4-0 |
Head to Head
Dartford wins: 23 / Ramsgate wins: 15 / Draws: 9
Previous Meetings
Dartford 2 – 0 Ramsgate (22/09/2026 – Kent Senior Cup)
Dartford 1 – 0 Ramsgate (03/03/2026 – Isthmian Premier)
Ramsgate 4 – 4 Dartford (25/08/2025 – Isthmian Premier)
Ramsgate 0 – 3 Dartford (05/04/2011 – Kent Senior Cup)
Ramsgate 2 – 2 Dartford (10/11/2009 – Isthmian League Cup)*
Dartford 4 – 0 Ramsgate (18/04/2009 – Isthmian Premier)
Statistics
- Dartford are unbeaten in their last seven matches against Ramsgate (W5, D2)
- The Darts are unbeaten in eight at home against the Rams (W6, D2)
- Dartford have won the last four home games against Ramsgate without conceding (an aggregate score of 10-0)
- Dan Smith could make his 50th Dartford appearance. The striker has scored 16 goals in 39 starts and ten substitute appearances.
On This Day
Dartford’s first ever fixture took place on this day in 1888 at Brent Recreation Ground, a 3-1 friendly defeat at home to Erith. Alf Mace made history as Dartford’s first ever goalscorer.
The latest ever opening league game took place on this day six years ago. Covid delayed the start of the 2020/2021 season and when the campaign finally got underway, the Darts beat Chelmsford City at Princes Park. Lockdown prevented any supporters from attending the 1-0 win, Kyjuon Marsh-Brown scoring the only goal of the game.
In 2012, the Darts claimed a memorable victory over Grimsby Town in the National League. Dartford went up to Blundell Park and came home with all three points thanks to goals from Tom Champion and Adam Birchall.