Dartford return to Isthmian Premier action this weekend with a road trip to second place Carshalton Athletic.
The Darts can go level on points with the Robins with a win at Colston Avenue, which would cap off a good fortnight for Ben Greenhalgh’s side. After a Bank Holiday Monday derby day victory, Dartford also progressed to the next round of the F.A Cup.
Carshalton Athletic stayed in this division with a final day win back in April. Under Steve Bates, the Surrey side have been quick out of the blocks, winning five consecutive league games to become one of the early pacesetters. However, the Robins have failed to win their last three fixtures in league and cup.
Dan-cing in the Cup
Although Dartford required a replay to knock out Isthmian South Central side Westfield, they managed to reach the second qualifying round of the F.A Cup last time out. Greenhalgh made four changes to the team that drew in Woking last weekend. Emmanuel Oke returned from suspension, Gianluca Botti replaced Dan Smith up front, whilst Jordan Higgs and Jez Pinder were also named in the starting eleven.
Any nerves around Princes Park settled in the opening 15 minutes when Greenhalgh’s cross was met by Max Fiddes. The striker moved on to four goals for the season to put the hosts in front. In the second half, Dan Smith was introduced and with his first touch added a second of the evening. With cup progression almost secured, Greenhalgh brought on Sonny Smith for his senior debut.
Highlights courtesy of Dartford FC TV
Aiming High
If results go their way this weekend, the Darts could join a number of teams on 15 points at the summit. With an upcoming fixture against league leaders Enfield Town on the horizon there is opportunity to make an early statement. Ryan Sandford kept his second clean sheet in three games on Tuesday night and his defence will need to be on high alert against the top two.
Quickfire Treble
Just over a year ago, the Darts netted three goals in 12 second half minutes to beat Carshalton Athletic 4-1 at home. The result avenged the last day of the season reverse by the same score four months earlier.
The Robins led via a Tommy Bradford penalty, but the hosts were level before the break through Olly Box. A first goal for the club from Dan Smith turned the game around and gloss was added by Pinder and another for Box.
Highlights courtesy of Dartford FC TV
Drama at Both Ends
The two sides had to wait until April for the return fixture, just when both clubs had something riding on the result. A 2-2 draw dented Dartford’s playoff hopes whilst boosting the Robins’ survival ambitions.
Again, Dartford fell behind and changed the narrative with two quick goals. Robert Huke scored for Carshalton Athletic, but the Darts hit back when Sam Odaudu and Rohan Vaughan netted within six minutes of each other. In injury time, the hosts found a leveller through Fabio Saraiva.
Robins Flying
Carshalton Athletic won their opening five games scoring twice in each outing. The Surrey side have yet to take on a team in the upper half of the table in the early stages of the season.
A pair of 2-0 victories kickstarted their campaign against newcomers AFC Whyteleafe and then Wingate and Finchley. Former Dartford midfielder Jack Jebb scored the second in the season opener, one of two he has scored this term. Jebb played for the Darts between 2019 and 2022 and scored nine times in 67 appearances.
Cray Wanderers became the first side to breach Carshalton Athletic’s defence. Even though the Wands put one past Ben Dudzinski, they still lost 2-1. The goalkeeper is another to have represented Dartford making 13 appearances in the 2022/2023 campaign keeping five clean sheets. Stanway Rovers and Brentwood Town were the next victims, leaving Steve Bates and company sitting pretty at the top of the division.
Surprise Defeat and Cup KO
On Bank Holiday Monday, Three Bridges picked up their first win in the Isthmian Premier by inflicting a first defeat on Carshalton Athletic. In a game that saw both sides reduced to ten men, Renedi Masampu getting sent off for the Robins, Bates’ side fell to a 3-2 defeat.
After finding themselves two down, Carshalton Athletic pulled a goal back when Tope Fadahunsi scored. Three Bridges restored the two goal cushion before a late Nathan Young-Coombes consolation.
Last weekend, Young-Coombes found the net again in the F.A Cup at Chertsey Town. However, the Robins were unable to hang onto the lead with the tie needing a replay. Chertsey Town proved too much for Carshalton Athletic winning 2-1 at the second attempt.
Manager’s View
Ben Greenhalgh was relieved the Darts progressed in the cup after the club falling short in recent years. The player manager felt his side should have been more ruthless in front of goal, he spoke to Dartford FC TV after the replay win and said: “First half we created a lot of chances, we got in behind them, we used our width well and should have scored more”. In the end the result was important, something he stressed to the players, he added: “All that mattered and what we said before the game was, in the F.A Cup get through”.
Interview courtesy of Dartford FC TV
Team News
Greenhalgh confirmed the squad has struggled with illness this last week. Although Emmanuel Oke and Dan Smith were two of the players that have suffered, they took to the field on Tuesday night to play a part in the victory. Ben Swift will need assessing, but Greenhalgh is hoping the defender will be available and back in action in one of the next two league games.
Ikechukwu Orji was left out of the squad in mid-week, possibly another suffering with illness. Joe Tennent remains out for the long term and there has been no further updates on Hugo Taylor and Luke Exal.
Current League Form
| DARTFORD (WWWWLLW) | CARSHALTON ATHLETIC (WWWWWL) | ||||
| Chatham Town | H | 1-0 | Three Bridges | A | 2-3 |
| Burgess Hill Town | A | 1-2 | Brentwood Town | H | 2-0 |
| Welling United | H | 0-3 | Stanway Rovers | A | 2-1 |
| Maldon & Tiptree | A | 2-1 | Cray Wanderers | H | 2-1 |
| Brentwood Town | H | 1-0 | Wingate & Finchley | H | 2-0 |
| Three Bridges | A | 3-2 | AFC Whyteleafe | A | 2-0 |
Head to Head
Dartford wins: 5 / Carshalton Athletic wins: 2 / Draws: 4
Previous Meetings
Carshalton Athletic 2 – 2 Dartford (04/04/2026 – Isthmian Premier)
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)
Statistics
- Dartford have lost just one of their last seven against Carshalton Athletic (W4, D2)
- Last season, the Darts became the first home side to win this fixture in the tenth meeting between the two sides (Total – Home wins 1, Draws 4, Away wins 6)
- Dartford are unbeaten in all six away games versus Carshalton Athletic (W4, D2)
- After failing to score in the first ever meeting against the Robins in 1991, the Darts have scored in each of the last ten matches in this fixture.
On This Day
Dartford have rattled in ten goals in their last two outings on this day. Nine years ago, Ryan Hayes made his 400th start in a 4-2 win over Eastbourne Borough. Alex Brown, Alfie Pavey, Elliot Bradbrook and Tom Murphy all found the back of the net.
Eight years earlier, Dartford brushed aside Chipstead in the F.A Cup first qualifying round. The Darts ran out 6-2 winners with goals from Hayes, Lee Burns, Billy Burgess, Adam Gross, James White and Rob Haworth.
The Darts have won six of their last eight on 12 September and even the draw resulted in a penalty shoot out win over Folkestone Invicta. The Isthmian League Cup tie in 2006 finished 1-1 with Dartford winning 5-3 on penalties.
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