Dartford are one game away from the Kent Senior Cup final when they host Maidstone United for a second time in three days.
The two most decorated sides in the competition go head to head for the seventeenth time in the county cup. Dartford are looking to close the gap in terms of lifting the cup having done so on thirteen occasions compared to Maidstone United’s eighteen.
Since 2011, the Darts have won the Kent Senior Cup four times and that was after a 23 year wait. The Stones have had a similar story and have been triumphant twice since 2018 having not featured in a final for 28 years.
Ady Pennock will give a chance for those who didn’t feature in the weekend loss against Maidstone United as he concentrates on keeping the Darts in the National South. The Stones are in a similar position but at the other end of the table. They are pushing for a playoff place and a return to the National League.
Although the Darts remain focused on the league, a cup final will bring some cheer during a difficult campaign. Currently in the relegation zone Dartford will need to overcome a Maidstone United side who have already beaten them three times this season, a fourth win in a single campaign in this fixture will set a new record.
Just three days ago the Stones claimed Kent derby honours in a 2-0 National South win at Princes Park. Dartford made four changes to the side that also lost 2-0 at Braintree Town a week ago. Pennock brought back Paul Rooney, Jordan Wynter, Taylor Maloney and Brandon Barzey to replace Tyrell Miller-Rodney, Manny Adebowale, Jack Smith and Ibby Akanbi, who was unavailable due to illness.
Once again the Darts put in plenty of effort and after a promising first half they still went in at half-time a goal down. Luke Coulson and Jordan Greenidge tested the Stones goalkeeper and Barzey also came close. Billy Terrell was called into action saving Muhammadu Faal’s effort, but as the interval approached the Stones led through Liam Sole’s injury time goal. Terrell’s afternoon worsened when ten minutes into the second-half he was red carded, Dartford’s seventh sending off this season and second in the last two outings. Maidstone United went on to control the match for last half an hour and Matt Rush secured the away win.
The reverse fixture in the National South was Alan Dowson’s final game in charge of the Darts. Coulson gave Dartford the lead from the penalty spot. However, the Kent derby turned in the space of five second-half minutes. Harry Kyprianou and Rush scored for the Stones to hand the hosts the three points. The two sides also met in the F.A Trophy second round back in November and Levi Amantchi’s last minute winner sent the Stones into the next round.
Dartford won the last Kent Senior Cup tie against their Kent rivals back in 2020. Like this season, the pair had already met three times two months earlier with a draw in the league and a week later a stalemate in the F.A Trophy. The Stones went on to win the replay, but the Darts avenged defeat in the county cup with a 1-0 victory in January. Ky Marsh-Brown scored the decisive goal to take a Steve King side to the last eight. Dartford ended up going all the way winning the delayed final 6-1 against Whitstable Town.
A year earlier midfielder Ben Greenhalgh ended up in goal as the Darts almost held out for a quarter-final win. Maidstone United were holders at the time and fell behind when Charlie Sheringham scored a penalty. The Stones won a spot kick shortly afterwards, which Bailey Vose saved. However, his evening was cut short when he was sent off early in the second half. Greenhalgh almost kept a clean sheet until former Dart, Elliott Romain scored a late equaliser. After an incredible 15 successful penalties, Dan Johnson had his effort from 12 yards saved and Maidstone United progressed with a 8-7 shoot-out win.
Despite such success in this competition by both clubs they have only met in the semi-final once. In 1989, a 0-0 draw sent the tie into a replay and the two couldn’t be separated after a 1-1 draw at Watling Street. Once again it was Maidstone United who went through on penalties.
Story so far
Round Two
Dartford 5 – 1 Bromley
All level at the interval, the Darts ran riot in the second-half. Sheringham scored from the spot, but a poor defensive error gifted Bromley an equaliser. Luke Allen put the hosts ahead soon after the break. A third goal involvement from Sheringham arrived when he finished Alex Wall’s cross and Barzey wrapped things up with a brace.
Maidstone United 2 – 0 Gillingham
The Stones took on a young Gills side that featured Matty MacArthur, who was on loan at the Darts earlier in the season. Sole was brought down to earn a penalty in the first-half, which Devonte Aransibia dispatched. Five minutes before the break Sol Wanjau-Smith-Smith doubled the lead.
Quarter-Final
Dartford 3 – 2 Sevenoaks Town
The Darts ended the evening with a win and a new player. Whilst Olly Box ended with a first start for the club and his first goal. Box scored the opener and Matthew Attenborough-Warren equalised in the first-half. Manny Adebowale put Dartford back in front in the second-half and Coulson’s penalty extended the lead. Attenborough-Warren scored a late consolation, but it was Fumnaya Shomotun who impressed and the winger signed for the Darts.
Maidstone United 0 – 0 Punjab United
Up against a Southern Counties East side, the Stones, like the Darts made hard work of reaching the last four. No goals in normal time sent the tie to spot kicks. Harley Earle saved two to avoid an upset and send Maidstone United through 4-3 on penalties.
Current Form
| Dartford (LDLLLL) | Maidstone United (LWDLWW) | ||||
| Maidstone United | H | 0-2 | Dartford | A | 2-0 |
| Braintree Town | A | 1-2 | Chelmsford City | H | 2-0 |
| Torquay United | A | 1-4 | St Albans City | H | 1-2 |
| Aveley | H | 1-2 | Bath City | H | 2-2 |
| Taunton Town | H | 1-1 | Dover Athletic | A | 1-0 |
| Slough Town | A | 2-3 | Coventry City (FAC) | A | 0-5 |
Head to Head
Dartford wins: 46 / Maidstone United wins: 50 / Draws: 19
Last Six Meetings
Dartford 0 – 2 Maidstone United (16/03/2024 – National South)
Maidstone United 2 – 1 Dartford (09/01/2024 – National South)
Dartford 0 – 1 Maidstone United (18/11/2023 – F.A Trophy)
Dartford 0 – 1 Maidstone United (18/04/2022 – National South)
Maidstone United 4 – 0 Dartford (11/12/2021 – National South)
Maidstone United 0 – 3 Dartford (02/10/2021 – F.A Cup)
Statistics
- Dartford have lost just once in the last nine Kent Senior Cup ties against Maidstone United in normal time (W5, D3)
- The Stones have knocked the Darts out of the competition in their last three visits to Watling Street/Princes Park (1981, 1989 and 2019)
- Dartford have had a different manager for each Kent Senior Cup tie this season. Alan Dowson was in charge against Bromley, Tony Burman was in the dugout versus Sevenoaks Town, now Ady Pennock is at the helm.
On This Day
Dartford reached the Kent Senior Cup final on this day in 1955. The Darts beat Dover Athletic 2-1 in front of 3668 fans. In 1990 they beat Welling United 2-1 in a quarter final replay. You have to go back six games to 1994 for Dartford’s last win on this day. In the Kent League the Darts beat Tunbridge Wells 1-0. The last two fixtures on 19 March have been against Havant and Waterlooville. In 2022, Kory Roberts scored in a 1-1 draw at Princes Park. Six years earlier the Darts lost 2-0 at Westleigh Park.
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