Dartford cross the bridge to face Aveley in the Isthmian Premier this weekend at Parkside.
The Darts have been in cup action this past week with successful results. A win at home over Three Bridges put Ben Greenhalgh’s side into the second round of the F.A Trophy. Three days later Dartford knocked out League One side Bromley in the Kent Senior Cup to reach the quarter-final.
Aveley are at the opposite end of the table to where they were last season. Having missed out on promotion straight back to the National South, the Millers have struggled this term. The Essex club will be hoping fortunes change under new manager Alex Akrofi after just one win in their previous seven outings.
Joe Returns
The Darts got back to winning ways in two cup competitions this week and on Tuesday evening Joe Tennent returned to action. The defender has been out for a lengthy nine weeks recovering from a fractured cheekbone. The club’s vice captain provided the experience to a youthful looking Dartford side that beat a Bromley under 21’s team 4-1 in the Kent Senior Cup.
Greenhalgh welcomed back Ashdon Day on a dual registration from Sutton Athletic. The striker, who came through Dartford’s academy opened the scoring with a well taken lob. Nine minutes later the hosts were three up after Tyler Ibe added the second and new signing George Brooke a third, the 18 year-old joins the Darts from Cray Wanderers. A fourth followed with Louie Atkins scoring from long range, the youngster then missed a penalty. Bromley grabbed a second half goal to prevent Victor Anjorin a clean sheet, but the Darts emphatically reached the last eight.
Highlights courtesy of Dartford FC TV
Darts Hang On
George Whitefield and Tyler Ibe were the only players to have taken part in both cup wins. Last weekend Dartford stormed to a three goal lead before conceding twice and making through the next round of the F.A Trophy.
Vladimir Paternoster opened his Dartford goalscoring account by scrambling home Greenhalgh’s corner. Max Fiddes then scored twice to take his tally to 12 for the season. Three Bridges set up a nervy finish with goals from Noel Leighton and Ade Adeyinka.
Ten Aside at Parkside
Tennent made his debut in the away fixture against Aveley last season. However Dartford’s defence were unable to hold out long enough by conceding four minutes into second half stoppage time. Albie Armin was sent off for Aveley, but Ikechi Eze was also dismissed for the reaction that followed, leaving both sides down to ten men. Callum Jones put the Darts in front and the visitors looked good for the win until Jayden Gipson levelled.
Darts End Millers Run
In January, Dartford put an end to Aveley’s 16 match unbeaten away record in the league. Denzelle Olopade scored in the ninth minute, the midfielder set the hosts on their way to three points. In the second half, Harry Critchley was sent off for the Millers with fifteen minutes remaining and five minutes later Joe Tennent made it 2-0.
Highlights courtesy of Dartford FC TV
All Change at Aveley
Last season’s runners up and playoff semi-finalists have had their squad picked off mainly due to the fact Brett Munyard left for Brentwood Town. Several players followed the former manager including last season’s top scorer Ollie Peters and the impressive Toby Aromolaran. The pair shared 12 goals in Aveley’s opening 11 fixtures in all competitions.
Alex Akrofi is now in charge at Parkside where he was also a player for the club The former forward made 134 appearances and scored 72 goals for the Millers. He won the Isthmian North with Aveley as well as promotion with Brentwood Town and Maidstone United as a player. Since taking over, Akrofi has guided Aveley through two rounds of the F.A Trophy. A 3-1 home win against Ware in the qualifying round was followed up with a 2-1 triumph over Carshalton Athletic in round one.
Millers Make it Through
Aveley progressed to the F.A Trophy second round for the fifth time in eight seasons and took the lead inside ten minutes. Giovanni Palmer from out wide sent the ball over former Dartford keeper, Ben Dudzinski and in off the far post. In the second half, Harry Critchley headed in number two from a corner. Carshalton Athletic pulled a goal back in stoppage time through Seydil Toure.
Featuring for Aveley was former Dart, Malachi Napa. The winger played under Alan Dowson in the 2022/2023 campaign and made 22 appearances for Dartford.
Battle at the Bottom
This weekend will be Akrofi’s sixth league game in charge and so far, he’s only picked up a maximum against Chatham Town. Francis Mampolo scored five minutes from time to claim a 1-0 win a fortnight ago. The new Aveley boss started his managerial role with consecutive defeats versus Dulwich Hamlet, then Cheshunt. The first point arrived in the 1-1 draw at Burgess Hill Town before the Millers defeated the Chats.
Aveley’s previous league game saw the Essex side lose 2-1 to newly promoted Maldon and Tiptree. Kymani Thomas may have equalised for the Millers after Jamie Bennett put the Jammers ahead, but Tom Eastman scored the winner late on. Aveley are now one place above the relegation places.
Management’s View
Player Manager, Ben Greenhalgh spoke to Dartford FC TV after Tuesday’s game and highlighted the opportunities the Kent Senior Cup gives the academy players, he said: “It was good to give the younger players the chance again. I think it shows the quality and strength that we’ve got coming through”.
First Team Coach, Elliot Leveson was delighted with how the youngsters performed against Bromley, he commented: “The four goals were really high quality, some good combinations and a few long shots. It’s impressive that young players are stepping up and doing that”, he continued: “They’re not showing any fear. They’re going out there and they’re giving a really good account of themselves and that’s what we want”.
Leveson is looking forward to the away trip to Aveley after Dartford’s back-to-back victories, he said: “We’re really excited to go there. It’s good to get that winning feeling back within the group in the last two matches and we’ve just got to go there on Saturday full of confidence”, he added: “They’ve signed a lot of new players recently and they’ve sort of started to bond and gel as a team. It’ll be a tough match, but hopefully we can go there and get the three points”.
Interview courtesy of Dartford FC TV
Team News
Joe Tennent’s return is much welcomed, but it may be a while longer before he can complete a full ninety minutes. Ben Greenhalgh is expecting Dan Smith to be available, but also stated that George Whitefield will be suspended for picking up five cautions this season. Sam Odaudu was set to be captain last weekend, but pulled out through injury. The defender is hoping to return and so is Adrian Gyamera. Meanwhile, there is no further news on Luke Exal and Ben Swift, who have been out for sometime and continue to regain fitness.
Current League Form
| DARTFORD (WWLWLL) | AVELEY (LLLDWL) | ||||
| Brentwood Town | A | 0-3 | Maldon & Tiptree | H | 1-2 |
| AFC Whyteleafe | A | 1-2 | Chatham Town | H | 1-0 |
| Wingate & Finchley | H | 2-1 | Burgess Hill Town | A | 1-1 |
| Ramsgate | H | 1-2 | Cheshunt | A | 1-2 |
| Whitehawk | H | 2-1 | Dulwich Hamlet | A | 0-2 |
| Enfield Town | A | 2-0 | Wingate & Finchley | A | 3-4 |
Head to Head
Dartford wins: 7 / Aveley wins: 3 / Draws: 4
Previous Meeting
Dartford 2 – 0 Aveley (17/01/2006 – Isthmian Premier)
Aveley 1 – 1 Dartford (20/09/2025 – Isthmian Premier)
Dartford 1 – 2 Aveley (27/02/2024 – National South)
Aveley 0 – 1 Dartford (26/08/2023 – National South)
Dartford 2 – 2 Aveley (17/04/2010 – Isthmian Premier)
Dartford 4 – 5 Aveley (15/12/2009 – Isthmian League Cup)
Statistics
- Dartford have lost only one of the last ten in all competitions against Aveley (W6, D3)
- The Darts are unbeaten in their last five trips to Aveley (W3, L2)
- Dartford have scored in each of their last 12 games against the Millers. The Darts have only once failed to score versus the Essex club in 14 meetings.
On This Day
Dartford have a frightfully good recent record on Halloween winning the last four. The last of those victories was three years ago when the Darts beat Weston-super-Mare 4-2 in the National South. Alex Wall scored twice and got sent off after Paul Rooney and Luke Coulson had already netted for the hosts. Goalkeeper, Mitchell Beeney made a big contribution saving a penalty at 1-0 down.
Jack Barham grabbed a brace in 2020 in the 2-1 home win over Havant and Waterlooville. The Bradbrook brothers were both on the scoresheet five years earlier in a 2-0 victory over Hayes and Yeading at Princes Park. Having already thrashed Chipstead in the F.A Cup a month before, the Darts beat them again in the F.A Trophy. The second qualifying round tie in 2009 finished 3-0 with Jamie Day, Danny Harris and Ryan Hayes finding the back of the net.
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