Dartford are up against newly promoted and surprise league leaders Brentwood Town this weekend in the Isthmian Premier.
The Darts face a tough task if they want to record their first win on the road this season. Adrian Pennock’s side will need to end the Blues perfect home start and eight game winning streak in the league.
Another Cup Exit
For the second time in four seasons Dartford have exited the F.A Trophy, F.A Cup and Kent Senior Cup at the first hurdle. The Darts are now under pressure to pick up results after their disappointing trophy defeat to Hadley. Olly Box continued his good goalscoring form with an early strike making it three goals in his last three appearances. Even though injuries within the squad have cleared up, Michael Olarewaju and Dan Smith made their first starts since August, Dartford still let a lead slip. Hadley turned the tie on its head to become the fourth team from a lower division to knock the Darts out of the competition in the last six years.
Too Many Draws
Only four sides in the Isthmian Premier League have lost fewer matches than Dartford. The problem is those sides are in the top four and the Darts are down in thirteenth. Drawing over half of their league games has contributed to this season’s frustration which has seen the Darts post just two wins on the board, both at Princes Park.
Burgess Hill Town were the latest club to hold back Pennock’s side having come from behind twice. Box and Callum Jones got Dartford off to a great start and the performance in the first half deservedly had the home side ahead. After the break, the Darts were caught out immediately when Marcus Allen pulled a goal back, then equalised with twenty minutes to go. Sam Odaudu scored a deflected free-kick late in the game, but another free-kick from Chris Whelpdale caught out goalkeeper Jonny Henly during injury time to level for the Hillians.
Whilst the Darts are now six unbeaten in the Isthmian Premier they have only picked up ten points from those games.
New Signing
Dartford could give a debut to 21-year-old Jacob Bland, a new signing from Isthmian Division One North side Bowers and Pitsea. The midfielder spent a month with the Darts during the summer. After getting regular games with Bowers, Pennock feels Bland is now a good addition to the squad.
Noble Shines and Signs
Highlights courtesy of sonytino
Brentwood’s Brilliant Start
The Blues have been perfect since the season opening draw at Aveley. Former West Ham United defender and Northern Ireland international, Keith Rowland guided Brentwood Town to their first Isthmian Premier point in nine years. Summer signing Charlee Hughes scored against his former club in the 1-1 draw.
Since then, Brentwood Town have been unstoppable with maximum points in their last eight outings. At home, the Blues have beaten St Albans City, Burgess Hill Town, Carshalton Athletic, Canvey Island and Billericay Town. All opponents Dartford have already played home or away this term with the Darts picking up six points from those teams.
Top Scorers
Rowland’s team have been potent in attack helped by last season’s Player’s Player and Supporters’ Player Of The Year, Danny Ogunleye. He is already on five league goals and sparked interest from Colchester United over the summer. Hughes is just one goal behind in all competitions joint with Louie Johnson, who netted 18 last season to pick up annual awards at Walthamstow.
Manager’s View
The shock defeat at Hadley led to an honest discussion in the Dartford camp. Pennock spoke to www.dartfordfc.com this week and said: “We had a good chat after the game. It was an open floor. I said what I thought and I let them all speak and they gave their opinions. There was no shouting, but we all took things on board and we will see an improvement on Saturday”.
Dartford’s boss felt let down and urges his team to ‘play for the shirt’ and get a good result against the league leaders this weekend, he commented: “I want a reaction and a better performance”, he added: “I want us to bounce back and put in a proper performance against a team that is flying”.
Looking forward to the trip to Essex, Pennock is confident fortunes will improve if the players perform to the levels he demands, he said: “I know we will turn it round. But this week, I want to see energy and players that want the ball. The players know they will need to up the intensity that we have seen in the past few games, but if we can do that, it will be a cracking game”.
Team News
Dartford will be without their creative spark, Olly Box who is suspended for the red card picked up against Burgess Hill Town. However, Ikechi Eze returns after serving his ban. Defender, Ben Frempah has been out of the squad since the draw at home to Canvey Island in early September. Both Sammie McLeod and Dean Nayler have yet to feature this term as they recover from long term injuries.
Current Form
| Dartford (DDDWDL) | Brentwood Town (WWLWWW) | ||||
| Hadley (FAT) | A | 1-2 | Westfield (FAT) | A | 2-1 |
| Burgess Hill Town | H | 3-3 | Dulwich Hamlet | A | 2-1 |
| Cheshunt | H | 2-0 | Billericay Town | H | 3-0 |
| Erith Town (CC) | A | 1-1* | Royston Town (FAC) | A | 0-1 |
| Aveley | A | 1-1 | Canvey Island | H | 1-0 |
| Canvey Island | H | 2-2 | Carshalton Athletic | H | 3-2 |
(FAC – F.A Cup / CC – County Cup / FAT – F.A Trophy / * – lost 3-4 on penalties)
Head to Head
Dartford wins: 3 / Brentwood Town wins: 2 / Draws: 2
Previous Meetings
Brentwood Town 1 – 2 Dartford (25/11/2017 – F.A Trophy)
Dartford 0 – 1 Brentwood Town (29/03/2008 – Isthmian Division One North)
Brentwood Town 2 – 2 Dartford (05/02/2008 – Isthmian Division One North)
Brentwood Town 2 – 1 Dartford (08/03/1969 – Southern League First Division)
Dartford 1 – 1 Brentwood Town (15/02/1969 – Southern League First Division)
Dartford 2 – 0 Billericay Town (15/04/1968 – Southern League First Division)
Statistics
- Dartford are four games without a league win against Brentwood Town (D2, L2)
- The Darts are five league games without a win on the road from the start of the season for the first time since 2019
- Neither side have scored more than two goals in this fixture
On This Day
It’s been 11 years since Dartford played on 11 October and that was the 1-1 draw at home to Macclesfield Town. The National Premier game ended all square thanks to two late goals. Ryan Hayes looked to have won it for the Darts with five minutes to go, but Matthew Barnes-Homer levelled.
The last six Dartford fixtures on this day have all been at home with just two victories recorded. Ilford were beaten 3-1 in the Southern Premier Division One East back in 2005. Whilst in 1988, the Darts won a Southern League first round cup tie 1-0 versus Hastings United.
On the road, the Darts are unbeaten in four on this day with three draws. The last away day on 11 October was in 1986 against Bedworth United, a Southern Premier League match that ended 1-1. Dartford’s last win on their travels on this day was in 1975 when they defeated Waterlooville 2-1 in the Southern League Division One South.
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