The first of three Kent derbies is on the horizon for Dartford when they host Cray Wanderers in a playoff six pointer.

Adrian Pennock’s side have dropped out of the top five and suffered a blow last weekend versus relegation battlers Potters Bar Town. The Darts do have a strong home record though and will need to make this Saturday’s fixture count against the Wands, who have overtaken Dartford and sit just two points shy of the playoffs places.

Disappointment for Debutantes

Dave Winfield and Rohan Vaughan made their debuts as Pennock made four changes to the side that played a fortnight earlier. Michael Olarewaju and Dan Carter started, Olly Box dropped to the bench, whilst George Whitefield, Samir Carruthers and Sam Odaudu were unavailable.

Once again the Darts went behind against Potters Bar Town like they did in the home fixture back in October. However this time Dartford couldn’t overturn the deficit and fell to a disappointing 1-0 defeat. The Scholars led when Nana Kyei scored, then held out for a much needed victory to take them off the bottom of the table.

The loss is a setback for Dartford’s playoff ambitions as they slipped to seventh in the table leapfrogged by Cray Wanderers. Form at Princes Park is keeping the Darts on the fringes and victory over the Wands will see them move back above Tim O’Shea’s side.

Hernandez Hits the Spot

An 87th minute equaliser by Alex Hernandez was the goal that took Cray Wanderers above the Darts last weekend. At the same time it kept them just two points from the top five behind Chatham Town, who they drew 1-1 with on Saturday. Nile Ranger scored for the Chats, whilst Hernandez netted from the spot.

A fourth draw in five keeps the Wands in with a shout of a playoff place and on the road they are unbeaten in seven, since their heavy 8-1 reverse at Folkestone Invicta. In fact since mid November the Wands have only lost twice in the league home and away, winning six and drawing six.

Rare Away Day Win

Dartford grabbed their first away victory of the season when they visited Flamingo Park in the last meeting with Cray Wanderers. At the tenth attempt in all competitions the Darts finally took home a win on their travels, they’ve only added two more since.

Eddie Dsane followed up a hat-trick from the previous week with the opener. Dartford turned defence into attack and Box set up Dsane to calmly roll the ball into the net. The game was finished off as the hosts pushed for a leveller and against the run of play Callum Jones secured maximum points for the Darts.

Box-ing Day Win

Dartford’s record over this weekend’s opponents is exemplary and this season at home the Darts have only lost twice in the league. The Darts won the corresponding game last season when Olly Box scored two sublime goals in a come from behind triumph on Boxing Day.

The last time Dartford lost as hosts in this fixture was a Kent League Cup tie in 1995 and that is their only home defeat against the Wands spanning 18 matches since 1907.

Pennock’s side will be hoping for a fourth consecutive victory at Princes Park having beaten St Albans City as well as second and third place teams Aveley and Brentwood Town.

Cray Pushing On

The Wands are a very difficult team to beat and only the top two have lost fewer matches. The Kent side have drawn the most in the division and that is so far the difference between sitting outside the top five and breaking into the playoffs.

Cray Wanderers’ only defeat on the road was to the league leaders Folkestone Invicta and they are ranked fourth in the division for points gained away from home. If Tim O’Shea can turn some of those draws into victories then they could be looking at a shot for promotion to the National South via the playoffs.

Manager’s View

Pennock apologised to the fans after last weekend’s defeat and performance, he spoke to www.dartfordfc.com after the game and said: “The first half just wasn’t good enough. Too many players started slowly and on the back foot. There was no thought and care in our passing. The decision making was poor”.

The Dartford boss admitted that he tried something different to combat the team’s disappointing away form by starting with three at the back. That all changed when the Darts conceded and Olarewaju was cautioned. With the disciplinary issues this term, Pennock substituted the central defender to change formation and prevent any further consequences.

Despite another setback Pennock is determined to fight until the end of the season for a playoff place, he commented: “There’s still a lot of football to play, but I want to tell all our supporters that me, my staff and players will give blood sweat and tears for them and the club”.

He continued: “All our games from now on in are big games. It doesn’t matter who we play, they are big games. We need them all to keep backing us home and away. There’s a lot of games to play and it’s all still to play for”.

Team News

Samir Carruthers was nursing an injured knee last weekend and Jacob Bland suffered a broken nose during the game. Sam Odaudu will be available after serving his one match ban for the two yellow cards received against Brentwood Town.

Current League Form

 
Dartford (WDWLWL) Cray Wanderers (LDDWDD)
Potters Bar Town A 0-1 Chatham Town H 1-1
Brentwood Town H 3-2 Ramsgate H 1-1
Burgess Hill Town A 1-2 St Albans City A 3-2
Aveley H 2-0 Carshalton Athletic H 1-1
Hashtag United A 2-2 Hashtag United A 2-2
Chatham Town A 2-1 Aveley H 0-3

 

Head to Head

Dartford wins: 38 / Cray Wanderers wins: 21 / Draws: 12

Previous Meetings

Cray Wanderers 0 – 2 Dartford (25/10/2025 – Isthmian Premier)
Cray Wanderers 2 – 2 Dartford (21/04/2025 – Isthmian Premier)
Dartford 2 – 1 Cray Wanderers (26/12/2024 – Isthmian Premier)
Cray Wanderers 1 – 2 Dartford (16/04/2024 – London Senior Cup)
Cray Wanderers 1 – 3 Dartford (18/12/2021 – F.A Trophy)
Cray Wanderers 4 – 2 Dartford (20/09/2017 – Kent Senior Cup)

Statistics

  • In the league Dartford have lost just once against Cray Wanderers in the last 22 outings (W16, D5)
  • The Darts have lost just once in the last 18 at home versus the Wands in all competitions (W12, D5)
  • At home, Dartford have scored in all 15 league matches this season and only Folkestone Invicta have scored more home goals in the division

On This Day

Dartford were unbeaten in their first 13 games on 21 February, winning ten. Victories included an 8-0 humbling of Rochester in the Kent League back in 1914, a 5-0 win over Chatham in the Kent Senior Cup quarter-final in 1931 and a 4-1 Southern League Cup last eight triumph over Kent rivals Dover Athletic in 1989.

After beating Havant Town in 1998 by a single goal to nil in the Southern League South, the Darts lost three in a row on this day including a F.A Trophy replay exit at Wealdstone 14 years ago. Dartford’s last match on this day did end in victory. Keiran Murtagh scored the only goal of the game versus Slough Town in the National South three years ago.