Playoff chasing Dartford hit the road on Saturday with a trip to a Carshalton Athletic side looking to move a step closer to safety.
The Darts narrowed the gap on the top five last time out with their biggest league win in 39 years. Pennock’s side are now unbeaten in four and an away victory will put more pressure on those above them in the Isthmian Premier.
The Robins picked up an excellent point last weekend against champions elect Folkestone Invicta. The Surrey side had an excellent March with three wins from four to help them move out of the relegation zone.
Jez’s Treble at the Darts
Dartford made the most of Hashtag United’s recent decision to request voluntary relegation last weekend. The Darts handed out a 7-0 thrashing, which included a Jez Pinder first half hat-trick. The Darts went in at the break five up and it all started with a couple of blistering counter attacks.
Pinder put in the rebound from Dan Smith’s saved effort, then he was on the end of Dan Carter’s excellent low cross to double the lead. Smith took advantage of a defensive lapse by pouncing on a mistake and calmly rolling the ball beyond Jack Giddens in the visitor’s goal. Olly Box scored from the spot and then Pinder completed his first senior hat-trick. An indirect free kick was awarded when the Hashtag United goalkeeper picked up a back pass. The midfielder waited on the edge of the box, received the ball and placed his effort into the net. In the second half, Michael Olarewaju headed in his second in as many games and Denzelle Olopade made it seven.
Highlights courtesy of Dartford FC TV
Chasing Down the Top Five
Victory put the Darts four points shy of the playoff places after Brentwood Town dropped points. Pennock’s side have now lost just once in their last eight games and they could go three unbeaten on the road by avoiding defeat in the first set of Easter fixtures.
In the attacking third, the Darts have vastly improved their goal difference over the last two games with the 4-1 win over Lewes and the 7-0 triumph against Hashtag United. Contributing to the attacking input Smith, Olarewaju and Olopade all scored in both of those matches. After racing into a big half time lead on Saturday, Pennock was also able to rest the entire frontline of Callum Jones, Smith and Box in the second half. The Dartford boss introduced new signing Evans Kouassi, loanee Rohan Vaughan as well as Eddie Dsane. Defensively the Darts have kept four clean sheets in the last seven.
Playoff Picture
This weekend could set up the playoff race nicely for the remainder of the campaign. Burgess Hill Town need a win to keep their slim playoff hopes alive and host Brentwood Town, who the Darts are chasing down. Chatham Town in third take on second place Aveley and Cray Wanderers in seventh are on home soil against Billericay Town.
| Position | Team | Pld | Pts | GD |
| 2 | Aveley | 37 | 71 | +33 |
| 3 | Chatham Town | 37 | 70 | +39 |
| 4 | Billericay Town | 37 | 69 | +28 |
| 5 | Brentwood Town | 37 | 68 | +14 |
| 6 | DARTFORD | 37 | 64 | +22 |
| 7 | Cray Wanderers | 37 | 61 | +8 |
| 8 | Burgess Hill Town | 37 | 58 | -6 |
Box’s Brace
Back in August, the Darts came from behind to beat Carshalton Athletic 4-1 at Princes Park. The Robins went ahead through Tommy Bradford’s penalty. Box levelled just before the interval. Dan Smith put the hosts in the lead and Pinder scored his only other goal this season increase the advantage. Rounding of the win, Box netted another in a good team performance.
Highlights courtesy of Dartford FC TV
Eddie Opens His Account
The last time Dartford visited Colston Avenue, Eddie Dsane scored his first goal for the Darts in a 1-0 win. The striker joined the club from Kingstonian in the summer of 2024 and is now on 24 goals for the club. The visitors held on to their 18th minute lead and needed an inspired Matt Kerbey in goal to keep the Robins out.
Carshalton Fight for Survival
Carshalton Athletic spoilt Dartford’s party once before and will be hoping to do the same again to help themselves reach their goal of safety. On the final day of last season the Robins finished off any hope of a Dartford Isthmian Premier title with a 4-1 win at Princes Park.
With the likelihood of Hashtag United getting relegated and the high chance of Potters Bar Town and Canvey Island going down, Carshalton Athletic are in competition with a few clubs to stay up. The Robins went over three months without a league win, spanning 16 matches until the end of February. In that time they picked up just seven points and saw the departure of Peter Adeniyi as boss.
Robins Revival
Steven Bates was named the new manager in time for the Ramsgate game and although he lost his first three in charge, Bates has led the Robins to a revival. Carshalton Athletic’s home record this season is marginally better than Dartford’s away record. Despite the 11 places between the two clubs, the Robins should pose a challenge for the Darts. It’s at home where Bates’ side have won their last two.
Both of those victories were over teams involved in the relegation battle. To kick start March, the Robins hosted Canvey Island and came from a goal down to win 3-1. Bryan Ifeanyi, who scored at Princes Park on the final day of last season, equalised before Tolu Ladapo and Charlie George secured maximum points.
Nathan Young-Coombes scored the only goal of the game at Cheshunt for an away win for the Robins, then another three home points came their way against Wingate and Finchley. This time the Surrey side racked up four goals with Young-Coombes opening the scoring, Denzel Akyeampong doubling the lead and Fabio Saraiva making it three. The visitors pulled one back before Ladapo made it 4-1.
To cap off a good month for the Robins they put three past champions elect Folkestone Invicta to deny them the title last weekend. The only disappointment would be that Carshalton Athletic were 3-1 up at one stage. Despite falling behind, Ryan Huke, Ladapo and Young-Coombes all found the back of the Invicta net, but the league leaders found a way back in the 3-3 draw.
Relegation Battle
As it stands it looks like there is one relegation place to be decided with Canvey Island and Potters Bar Town needing a lot to go their way and Hashtag United requesting demotion. That leaves Cray Valley Paper Mills and Welling United as Carshalton Athletic’s main concerns. The Robins will be hoping to move away from both Kent clubs and catch the likes of Wingate and Finchley as well as Lewes.
| Position | Team | Pld | Pts | GD |
| 15 | Lewes | 37 | 42 | -34 |
| 16 | Wingate and Finchley | 37 | 41 | -8 |
| 17 | CARSHALTON ATHLETIC | 37 | 39 | -10 |
| 18 | Welling United | 36 | 35 | -25 |
| 19 | Hashtag United | 37 | 35 | -27 |
| 20 | Cray Valley Paper Mills | 37 | 34 | -27 |
| 21 | Canvey Island | 37 | 26 | -37 |
| 22 | Potters Bar Town | 36 | 26 | -38 |
Assistant Manager’s View
Roland Edge spoke to Dartford FC TV and praised the attitude of the team in light of the recent happenings at Hashtag United, he commented: “It was quite tough because of the stuff that was being put out about Hashtag. That could have distracted our boys and taken their mind off of what they had to achieve, but they were brilliant from the start”.
Edge was delighted for Pinder to get a hat-trick and how that contributed to Dartford’s objective, he added: “We know we have got to win, but not only win, we have to get goals. The goal difference is going to be important, it was last year and I think it is this”.
Carshalton Athletic’s form has picked up of late and Edge knows their league position doesn’t tell the current story, he said: “It’s going to be very tough, they’re around the relegation zone but don’t be fooled by that. Any team on its day can get three points. We’ve got to go there fully focussed, show them respect and work hard to try and get the victory”.
Interview courtesy of Dartford FC TV
Team News
Jacob Bland has been recovering from a broken nose since mid-February. The midfielder has missed the last eight games. Samir Carruthers has a knee injury that is likely to keep him out for the rest of the season.
Current League Form
| Dartford (WWLWDW) | Carshalton Athletic (LLWWWD) | ||||
| Hashtag United | H | 7-0 | Folkestone Invicta | A | 3-3 |
| Lewes | H | 4-1 | Wingate & Finchley | H | 4-1 |
| Folkestone Invicta | A | 2-2 | Cheshunt | A | 1-0 |
| Cheshunt | A | 1-0 | Canvey Island | H | 3-1 |
| Wingate & Finchley | A | 1-3 | Potters Bar Town | A | 1-2 |
| Ramsgate | H | 1-0 | Welling United | A | 1-2 |
Head to Head
Dartford wins: 5 / Carshalton Athletic wins: 3 / Draws: 3
Previous Meetings
Dartford 4 – 1 Carshalton Athletic (23/08/2025 – Isthmian Premier)
Dartford 1 – 4 Carshalton Athletic (26/04/2025 – Isthmian Premier)
Carshalton Athletic 0 – 1 Dartford (24/08/2024 – Isthmian Premier)
Dartford 1 – 1 Carshalton Athletic (23/01/2010 – Isthmian Premier)
Carshalton Athletic 0 – 4 Dartford (19/09/2009 – Isthmian Premier)
Carshalton Athletic 0 – 2 Dartford (20/12/2008 – Isthmian Premier)
Statistics
- Dartford are unbeaten in all five away games versus Carshalton Athletic and have won their last four (W4, D1)
- The Darts have kept clean sheets in all three league visits to Carshalton Athletic.
- The Robins’ last goal at home against Dartford was in January 1991, a F.A Trophy first round second replay tie. In the original match, the Darts kept a clean sheet in that too, a 0-0 draw.
- The Darts are second in the eight game form table having picked up 17 points, four fewer than in form side Billericay Town.
On This Day
Dartford lifted the Kent Senior Cup for the seventh time on this day in 1973. The Darts clinched a 4-2 victory over Folkestone Town to win 10-4 on aggregate. In Dartford’s last away game on 4 April, Jordan Chiedozie equalised with eight minutes to go against Torquay United. The 2015 National League fixture finished 1-1. Chiedozie suffered life changing injuries in a non football related incident just over a year ago resulting in a leg amputation. The last time Dartford won on this day was in 1994 when they beat Folkestone Invicta 2-1 in the Kent League.
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