Dartford welcome Bowers and Pitsea to Princes Park for the very first time on the weekend in the Isthmian Premier.
The new look Darts started promisingly this season winning four of their opening five games before progress was curtailed in their last league outing. A heavy defeat at Kent rivals Dover Athletic may have been a setback, but the Darts bounced back in the F.A Cup last Saturday reaching the third qualifying round for the first time in three years.
This weekend’s opponents, Bowers and Pitsea were promoted via the Isthmian North playoffs returning to the Premier at the first time of asking. The Essex side have picked up a solitary draw this term, are searching for their first points on the road and suffered a cup exit last time out.
A home victory was just the tonic for the Darts when they took on Isthmian South Central side Leatherhead a week ago. Adrian Pennock made three changes to the team that were beaten at Dover Athletic bringing in Jacob Marsden, who made his long awaited debut and kept his first clean sheet since joining from Chelmsford City in the summer. The goalkeeper picked up an injury in pre-season resulting in loanee Matt Kerbey’s selection for the opening seven games. Samir Carruthers made his first start since following Marsden over the Thames and returning to Princes Park, whilst Mert Apat was also back in the side. Former Bowers and Pitsea striker Duane Ofori-Acheampong is still yet to feature this season after his pre-season injury.
It was another of the former Chelmsford City players who got Dartford on the move against Leatherhead. Goalkeeping errors played a part in the Kent derby loss seven days earlier, but it was Dartford’s turn to benefit from a costly error. Leatherhead’s Sonny Wheeler spilled Eddie Dsane’s long range effort and Callum Jones followed up the rebound. Heading towards the break Carruthers displayed his creativity with a precise through ball to Dsane who calmly added another, his fourth in his last five matches. The strike duo have both netted in each of their last three home appearances.
Roland Edge felt Dartford deserved the win and was particularly pleased with Carruthers who he described as ‘class’. He also praised the patience of Marsden after recovery from a pre-season groin injury and biding his time since. The assistant manager was delighted with the team’s mindset, which was completely different to a week earlier. The strike partnership of Jones and Dsane impressed and the pair drew plaudits for the work off the ball as much as their current scoring form.
Dartford now return their focus to the league before their third qualifying tie away at National South side Worthing. Edge looked ahead to this weekend’s home game and told Dartford FC TV: “First and foremost you know the league is what you want to win. You want to get into at least the playoffs and push for success. We’re looking forward to getting Bowers and Pitsea here and putting on a show”.
Meanwhile, Bowers and Pitsea were knocked out of the F.A Cup against Southern Premier Central side Biggleswade Town. Bowers were slow out of the blocks and after just two minutes found themselves a goal down. A failed clearance fell to Marcus Gouldbourne who fired in the top corner to put the Waders ahead. It looked like the Essex club rescued the tie with Jacob Brand heading an equaliser four minutes from time. However, the hosts dusted themselves down and from a corner Cyrus Babaie provided the sucker punch with a header sending Bowers out of the competition.
So far this season, Bowers and Pitsea’s only victory on the road was an impressive scalp in the previous round at Billericay Town. Whilst Bowers approached the game winless, Ricay were unbeaten. Rohdell Gordon opened the scoring in the first-half for the visitors. Former Dartford midfielder Tyrell Miller-Rodney equalised on his Billericay Town debut. The tie was decided ten minutes from time when Valckx Fernandes headed home the winner.
In the league, Bowers and Pitsea’s only point was picked up in their first home game. Having lost the opening fixture of the campaign 2-1 at Hendon, Bowers drew 1-1 with Cheshunt. Since then they have lost four consecutive matches in the Isthmian Premier to Chatham Town, Whitehawk, Canvey Island and most recently Potters Bar Town.
New signing Alfie Evans made his debut as a substitute in the 1-0 loss at Potters Bar Town. The former Dartford academy graduate was a promotion winner with Phoenix Sports before moving to Cray Wanderers almost a year ago, then on to Bowers and Pitsea. Former Chatham Town boss James Collins made more moves in the transfer market prior their defeat to the Scholars. Former Hashtag United striker, Alex Teniola arrived from Walthamstow after a very short spell with Cray Wanderers and Jack Turner has arrived on loan from Chelmsford City.
Current League Form
| Dartford (WLWWWL) | Bowers and Pitsea (LDLLLL) | ||||
| Dover Athletic | A | 1-5 | Potters Bar Town | A | 0-1 |
| Chatham Town | H | 3-1 | Canvey Island | H | 1-2 |
| Carshalton Athletic | A | 1-0 | Whitehawk | A | 1-2 |
| Canvey Island | H | 2-0 | Chatham Town | H | 0-2 |
| Potters Bar Town | H | 0-1 | Cheshunt | H | 1-1 |
| Cray Valley Paper Mills | A | 2-1 | Hendon | A | 1-2 |
Statistics
- Dartford have won their last four home games in all competitions
- The Darts have kept two clean sheets in the last two home matches having kept just one in the previous 17.
- Callum Jones and Eddie Dsane are the first players to score in three consecutive home games for the Darts since Jake Robinson (November 2021 to January 2022)
On This Day
Dartford have won their previous three games at home on this day without conceding. The last outing on 21 September on their own patch was a 3-0 victory over Kidderminster Harriers in the National League. Jason Prior netted from close range, Elliot Bradbrook slotted home a second and Danny Harris sealed all three points.
Watling Street was the venue for the previous two home fixtures with the Darts beating Burton Albion 2-0 in the Southern League back in 1991. Whilst 56 years ago Dartford won 4-0 in the F.A Cup first qualifying round against Hornchurch.
In the same competition the Darts progressed under Tony Burman to the third qualifying round five years ago. Winning on the road at Horsham, Darren McQueen scored late in the first-half and Luke Allen in the final minute of the tie.
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