A former manager returns to Princes Park when Dartford’s Kent Senior Cup campaign gets underway against Ramsgate on Tuesday night.
The Darts are hoping to extend their unbeaten run to seven games and progress to the last sixteen. Standing in their way is Adrian Pennock and his Ramsgate side packed with former Dartford players.
Cup Brace for Max
Dartford already had cup success this week with a 4-2 win over Hayes and Yeading United on Saturday. Ben Greenhalgh’s team navigated through the F.A Cup second qualifying tie despite falling behind. The player manager put the hosts ahead finishing off a fine team move. Greenhalgh timed his run to perfection to get on the end of Max Fiddes’ cut back. Hayes and Yeading United went in at the break level after a well worked counter attack saw Amari Fashanu equalise.
United took the lead in the second half when Kurtis Cumberbatch hit a long range effort past Ryan Sandford. The Darts were back level after Scott Wagstaff’s persistence won the ball close to goal and the midfielder set up Fiddes to level. Jordan Higgs opened his account in style with a wonderful volley on the edge of the box and Fiddes completed his brace from close range.
Highlights courtesy of Dartford FC TV
Momentum Building
Since Bank Holiday Monday, the Darts have won six of their last seven in all competitions. The 1-0 home win in the Kent derby against Chatham Town was followed up with a draw in the F.A Cup. Dartford overcame Westfield in the replay before beating early Isthmian Premier pacesetters Carshalton Athletic and Enfield Town. Victory over Hayes and Yeading last time out is one of three consecutive cup games for the Darts.
Ravens Await
Now Greenhalgh’s side turn their focus to the Kent Senior Cup, a competition the Darts have won 13 times. The last time they drew out Ramsgate in the county cup was in the 2011 semi-final. A brace from Charlie Sheringham and a goal from Ryan Hayes led Dartford to the final, which they won 4-1 against Bromley. The winners of Tuesday night’s tie will face the Ravens in the next round.
Familiar Faces
Last season Adrian Pennock was sitting in the home dugout as manager of Dartford. The league fixture in March was decided by Denzelle Olopade in 1-0 triumph for the Darts. Three of the starting line up followed Pennock to the Rams over the summer. Callum Jones spent two seasons at Princes Park scoring 24 goals in 93 games. Goalkeeper, Jonny Henly made 45 appearances and kept 12 clean sheets in his only season. Dave Winfield played four times for Dartford last term and is now the Ramsgate’s captain.
Highlights courtesy of Dartford FC TV
Another three former Darts are also part of Pennock’s squad. Midfielder, Jacob Bland appeared 22 times in a Dartford shirt scoring once. Rowan Liburd recorded just three games during the 2019/2020 season. Tom Clifford made seven appearances whilst on loan in 2023/2024.
Angels KO Rams
All six former Darts were on display in Ramsgate’s F.A Cup tie on the weekend. The Rams were knocked out by National South side Tonbridge Angels. Pennock’s side went in front when last season’s top scorer Alfie Paxman scored a penalty. Angels pegged the visitors back with a Jephte Tanga equaliser. The winner came from Bunmi Babajide to send the Angels through.
Steady Start
Saturday’s defeat ended a run of four games unbeaten in all competitions for Ramsgate. After defeat at Welling United, the Rams thrashed AFC Whyteleafe 5-1 with Paxman grabbing a brace. Liburd, Jones and Solomon Ogunwomoju also found the back of the net.
Last season Pennock was knocked out of the F.A Cup at Dartford against Bracknell Town. This time the Rams boss avenged defeat with Jones scoring the decisive goal in a 1-0 win. Over the next two fixtures, Billy Munday netted three times, once in the 2-2 draw with Burgess Hill Town and twice in the 2-0 victory against Maldon and Tiptree.
Pennock will be hoping to become the second ever Ramsgate manager to lift the Kent Senior Cup. The club’s only triumph in the competition was in 1964 when they were known as Ramsgate Athletic, they beat Maidstone United 3-1 in the final.
Manager’s View
Although Dartford made it through the F.A Cup second qualifying round, the win was not without it’s challenges. Ben Greenhalgh spoke to Dartford FC TV and said: “We achieved what we set out to do. There was a little bit of a hiccup along the way. I think we can use excuses because we got to the final 30 minutes and we’re playing with one conventional defender, and that’s George Whitefield”. The player manager explained he’d rather not risk further injury to the likes of Tyler Ibe and Emmanuel Oke, hence their afternoon being cut short.
At 2-1 down Greenhalgh was pleased with his team’s response, he commented: “We showed great character because from there we had a lot of the ball, we moved the ball well enough and we were patient”.
Interview courtesy of Dartford FC TV
Team News
A mixture of senior and academy players will feature in the Kent Senior Cup. A packed schedule and lack of defenders will impact Greenhalgh’s selection. Ben Swift is out through injury for longer than expected and Joe Tennent continues his recovery from surgery. Tyler Ibe, Emmanuel Oke and Adrian Gyamera are unlikely to feature, the trio are nursing minor hamstring injuries.
Current Form
| DARTFORD (WDWWWW) | RAMSGATE (LWWDWL) | ||||
| Hayes & Yeading Utd (FAC) | H | 4-2 | Tonbridge Angels (FAC) | A | 1-2 |
| Enfield Town | A | 2-0 | Maldon & Tiptree | H | 2-0 |
| Carshalton Athletic | H | 3-0 | Burgess Hill Town | A | 2-2 |
| Westfield (FAC) | H | 2-0 | Bracknell Town (FAC) | H | 1-0 |
| Westfield (FAC) | A | 1-1 | AFC Whyteleafe | H | 5-1 |
| Chatham Town | H | 1-0 | Welling United | A | 0-1 |
FAC – F.A Cup
Head to Head
Dartford wins: 22 / Ramsgate wins: 15 / Draws: 9
Previous Meetings
Dartford 1 – 0 Ramsgate (03/03/2026 – Isthmian Premier)
Ramsgate 4 – 4 Dartford (25/08/2025 – Isthmian Premier)
Ramsgate 0 – 3 Dartford (05/04/2011 – Kent Senior Cup)
Ramsgate 2 – 2 Dartford (10/11/2009 – Isthmian League Cup)*
Dartford 4 – 0 Ramsgate (18/04/2009 – Isthmian Premier)
Ramsgate 0 – 1 Dartford (30/12/2008 – Isthmian Premier)
*Dartford won 5-4 on penalties
Statistics
- Dartford are unbeaten in their last six matches against Ramsgate (W4, D2)
- The Darts are unbeaten in seven at home against the Rams (W5, D2)
- If selected, Sam Odaudu will make his 150th appearance for Dartford (142 starts, 7 sub, 8 goals) and Jez Pinder his 100th (60 starts, 39 sub, 9 goals)
- In the Kent Senior Cup, Dartford lead the head to head record over Ramsgate 3-2 with one draw.
On This Day
Dartford escaped an early F.A Cup upset on this day seven years ago. The away trip to AFC Uckfield Town went down to the final nine minutes before the Darts turned the tie around. The Southern Combination League side led through Callum Smith, but goals from Tom Murphy, Charlie Sheringham and Elliot Bradbrook made sure Dartford beat the side three divisions lower than them.
Lee Noble scored a last minute equaliser to claim a draw against Wrexham 14 years ago. Danny Harris had given the Darts a fourth minute lead at the Racecourse Ground, but the Welsh side went ahead after goals from Danny Wright and Rob Bishop. Noble’s free-kick went all the way in from long range to rescue a point.
Dartford also won on this day during their last two title winning campaigns. In the Isthmian North, current assistant manager Adam Flanagan scored the only goal at home against AFC Sudbury in 2007. Two years later, the Darts beat Sutton United 3-0 on their way to the Isthmian Premier title. A Rob Haworth brace and an own goal on the road earned Dartford maximum points.
Leave a Reply