Easter weekend could be pivotal in the Isthmian Premier with Dartford facing Kent rivals Dover Athletic as the title race heats up.
The Darts will be determined to stay on top on Good Friday and avenge their humbling dished out by the Whites earlier in the season. If Adrian Pennock’s side claim victory in the local derby at Princes Park, it will mathematically end Dover Athletic’s hopes of the title. Should the visitors win, and results go their way elsewhere, Jake Leberl’s team will be guaranteed a playoff spot.
Dartford hold a two point advantage heading into the final three games and are unbeaten in five, whilst Dover Athletic have won their last four. Last weekend the top six all triumphed and with second place Billericay Town hosting mid-table Folkestone Invicta and third place Horsham at home to Cray Wanderers in tenth, the Darts are likely to need a positive result on Friday.
Dover Athletic beat the Darts comfortably in the reverse fixture back in September. Since then, Pennock has seen his team develop since the 5-1 loss. At the Crabble, costly mistakes helped the hosts race into a half-time lead with goals from Ruben Soares-Junior, George Wilkinson and Luke Baptiste. Early in the second half Alfie Matthews added another, then Dartford’s Jez Pinder scored his first senior goal. There was still time for Soares-Junior to get his second of the afternoon for the Whites.
Match highlights courtesy of DAFCtv
However, the landscape has changed since that meeting. Dover Athletic started the season in excellent form scoring goals for fun. On the opening day they racked up eight and by the time November came around they were already top of the table, 14 points ahead of Dartford in fifteenth and had a superior goal difference of 29 compared to the Darts. Now it’s Dartford at the summit eight points clear of fourth place Dover Athletic.
Aside from the heavy defeat earlier in the campaign, the Darts were on a hot streak against their Kent rivals winning the previous six in all competitions. Dartford completed a league double over the Whites in the last two seasons recording a 2-0 win at Princes Park last term. Luke Coulson set up James Golding and Lewis Manor for their first competitive Dartford goals. The scoreline could have been more, but Coulson blasted his penalty over the crossbar.
Highlights courtesy of Dartford FC TV
On the weekend the return of Olly Box was crucial in Dartford’s 1-0 win at Whitehawk. Out with injury for the draw against Folkestone Invicta, the forward was named as a substitute, came on in the second half and popped up with the all important goal. Box and Samir Carruthers were deemed not fit enough to play the full ninety minutes, but both made an impact. Although Carruthers was introduced in the second half, he had to be replaced 25 minutes later due to a rib injury. The midfielder still had enough time to drive forward and make a key pass to Sam Odaudu, who set up Box for his 14th goal of the season.
As Dartford’s creative pair were named on the bench that meant Duane Ofori-Acheampong was given his first start since December, this weekend the striker could face one of his former clubs. Whilst defender, Luther Williams was missing from the matchday squad with injury for the third match running.
The Whites looked in control of Isthmian Premier at the turn of the year leading the way with 15 wins from 23 outings. However, from January to mid-March they picked up just three victories all against sides currently in the relegation zone. Leberl’s side have since rallied winning four in a row and are beginning to display their firepower again. The division’s top scorers, the Whites have a golden boot contender in George Nikaj, who has netted 21 league goals and is currently four off the lead. Both Baptiste and Soares-Junior have notched 19 league goals this term.
Dover Athletic’s current run began with a gritty home win against Dulwich Hamlet in which Luca Cocoracchio scored the only goal of the game, the Whites went on to record consecutive 2-1 victories. The Whites came out on top in the Kent derby with Cray Wanderers by coming from behind. Joshua Williams opened the scoring for the Wands at Flamingo Park, but George Nikaj and Soares-Junior handed the away side maximum points. A week later, the scoring took the same pattern as the whites went a goal down at home to Cheshunt. This time Baptiste equalised and Nikaj was the match winner.
Last weekend it was a bit more commanding for Dover Athletic as they defeated Hendon 4-2 at the Crabble. The Whites went ahead when goalkeeper Matteo Salamon scored an own goal and a second followed through Baptiste. The visitors halved the deficit when Kofi Anokye-Boadi was at the back post to score. A seven minute second half spell pulled Dover Athletic further away when Baptiste netted his second and Ryan Hanson go in on the act. Late on, Tope Fadahunsi grabbed a consolation for the Greens.
|
Team |
Played |
Points |
GD |
|
DARTFORD |
39 |
80 |
+29 |
|
Billericay Town |
39 |
78 |
+34 |
|
Horsham |
39 |
78 |
+33 |
|
Dover Athletic |
39 |
74 |
+35 |
|
Cray Valley (PM) |
39 |
71 |
+21 |
| Dartford (LWWWDW) | Dover Athletic (LLWWWW) | ||||
| Whitehawk | A | 1-0 | Hendon | H | 4-2 |
| Folkestone Invicta | H | 2-2 | Cheshunt | H | 2-1 |
| Dulwich Hamlet | A | 3-0 | Cray Wanderers | A | 2-1 |
| Bognor Regis Town | A | 2-0 | Dulwich Hamlet | H | 1-0 |
| Hastings United | H | 2-0 | Chatham Town | H | 0-1 |
| Lewes | A | 1-3 | Cray Valley (PM) | A | 1-2 |
Head to Head
Dartford wins: 18 / Dover Athletic wins: 12 / Draws: 12
Previous Six Meetings
Dover Athletic 5 – 1 Dartford (07/09/2024 – Isthmian Premier)
Dover Athletic 1 – 2 Dartford (17/02/2024 – National South)
Dartford 2 – 0 Dover Athletic (28/08/2023 – National South)
Dartford 2 – 1 Dover Athletic (10/04/2023 – National South)
Dover Athletic 1 – 3 Dartford (13/09/2022 – National South)
Dartford 2 – 1 Dover Athletic (08/03/2022 – Kent Senior Cup)
Statistics
- Dartford have lost just once at home in the league versus the Whites (W6, D4) and have won the last five.
- Substitutes have contributed to 14 league goals for the Darts this season earning 10 points from losing positions.
- Josh Hill celebrated his 100th start for the club last weekend by contributing to a fourth clean sheet in five for the Darts
On This Day
Dartford hit Truro City for five for a second time in a season on this day in 2017. Ofori-Acheampong was awarded Player of the Match, but it was Andy Pugh who scored a brace in an entertaining 5-3 win. Andrew Neal put the Cornish side ahead until Pugh levelled. Elliot Bradbrook unleashed a 25-yard effort to put the Darts in front before Neal got Truro City back on level terms. Luke Wanadio made it 3-2, but Truro City couldn’t be shaken off as Jamie Richards equalised. Finally, the Darts wrapped things up with goals from Pugh and Tom Murphy.
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