Dartford’s debut in the London Senior Cup continues with a round two tie against Essex Senior League side Cockfosters.

The Darts have never met Tuesday night’s opposition, but have experience of what a step five side has to offer from the previous round. Cockfosters progressed by beating a team bottom of their division.

With the fixture schedule becoming more demanding over the next week, Steve King is likely to use the opportunity to rotate his squad. In the previous round he made eleven changes and had a look at some academy prospects. The Darts beat Athletic Newham 5-2 with a goal from George Porter and braces for Emmanuel Sonupe and substitute Dan Roberts. Although Dartford hit five they were made to work for victory having gone behind twice in the tie.

On the weekend the Darts earned a point against Oxford City at Princes Park to extend their lead at the top of the National South to three points. However, in close pursuit with three games in hand and a victory behind are St Albans City and Ebbsfleet United. King was without the injured Jordan Wynter, suspended captain Tom Bonner and midfielder Noor Husin who was on international duty. Luke Allen who came in to start the match was stretchered off meaning a debut for former Tonbridge Angels midfielder D’Sean Theobalds, who has returned to the National South after a spell in Poland. Another blank in front of goal despite a strong second half means the Darts have failed to score in four of their last five games, defensively it was Dartford’s seventh clean sheet of the season.

After this second round London Senior Cup tie, Dartford are back in league action on the weekend at Hemel Hempstead Town, then in mid-week they play Whitstable Town in last season’s Kent Senior Cup final. A chance for King to win his first piece of silverware with the Darts.

Cockfosters overcame Sporting Bengal United in their London Senior Cup opener. Fosters scored one fewer than the Darts in a 4-2 win, a goal for Daniel Ungundi, two from Jack Hockney and another by Reece Barrett secured their passage to round two.

Fosters have found some form since their last defeat, to the side Dartford knocked out in the last round. Since the 4-1 reverse against Athletic Newham, Cockfosters have gone six unbeaten winning their last four games. Helping them to hit top form is their attacking duo George Beattie and Reece Mosanya. Both netted a brace on the weekend in their 5-1 victory over St Margaretsbury, taking Fosters to ninth in the Essex Senior League. Beattie is their top scorer with 14, including an opening day hat-trick and has netted six in his last five games. Mosanya has also managed six goals lately, but over his last four matches.

The London based club has had plenty of cup action this term starting in the extra preliminary round of the F.A Cup. Beattie and Mosanya were on hand to score, as well as Ryan Wade in a 3-0 win over Sawbridgeworth Town. In the next round they went out to Dartford’s conquerers AFC Sudbury. In addition to the London Senior Cup triumph in the previous round, Fosters have also began their F.A Vase campaign. beating Sawbridgeworth Town again, this time it was 3-1. In the next round Fosters saw off Whitton Town 4-2 and face Tring Athletic on the weekend.

Formerly a Hertfordshire Premier League side, Cockfosters moved to the Spartan South Midlands League in the late nineties. The club made the switch to the Essex Senior League, but their only two season’s in the division have been cut short. Whilst in the Hertfordshire Premier the club won three titles in the late seventies and early eighties.

The winners will wait to see who they will face in round three. Harrow Borough and Corinthian Casuals need to complete their first round tie, the winners will be rewarded with a tie against Brentford. If the Darts progress they will play one of those three teams in the next round.

Current Form (all competitions)

Dartford
(DDLLDL)
    Cockfosters
(WWWWDW)
   
Oxford City H 0-0 St Margaretsbury H 5-1
Chippenham Town H 3-3 West Essex A 2-0
Concord Rangers A 0-1 Sporting Bengal United H 5-0
Dorking Wanderers A 0-1 Whitton United (FAV) A 4-2
Chelmsford City A 0-0 Enfield H 1-1
AFC  Sudbury (FAC) A 1-3 Sporting Bengal United (LSC) A 4-2

Stats

  • Dartford have won their last four county cup matches, three in the Kent Senior Cup and one in the London Senior Cup.
  • The aggregate score for those four matches is 15-3 (1-0 v Maidstone United, 4-0 v Folkestone Invicta, 5-1 v Phoenix Sports and 5-2 v Athletic Newham)
  • The Darts have won nine, lost one county cup game in normal time (Cray Wanderers in 2017) and two on penalties (Welling United in 2016 and Maidstone United in 2019) in their last 13 county cup outings.

On This Day

Captain, Tom Bonner sparked a late comeback against rivals Maidstone United two years ago. Princes Park was silenced when Dan Wishart then Ibby Akanbi scored within three second half minutes of each other. The Stones leading with three minutes remaining looked destined for all three points until Tom Bonner then Darren McQueen scored late on to rescue a point.

Also on this day, the Darts beat Gillingham on their way to winning their last county cup in 2015. Tom Wynter cancelled out Brennan Dickinson’s goal and Jack Simmons netted the winner. Dartford went on to beat Herne Bay, Greenwich Borough and Charlton Athletic to lift the Kent Senior Cup.

For a second year in a row the Darts drew AFC Bournemouth in the F.A Cup. In the 1984-85 campaign the Poppies won the replay to set up a famous third round tie with Manchester United. On this day in the following campaign the teams were drawn together again in the first round. Once more Dartford drew, but history repeated itself in the replay with AFC Bournemouth winning and this time set up a match with Dagenham.

Eleven years ago, Dartford travelled to Burslem for their F.A Cup first round replay against Port Vale. The Darts had come so close in the 1-1 draw, but this time they were no match for the then League Two side losing 4-0.