The Darts begin their London Senior Cup campaign on Tuesday night when they host Tooting and Mitcham United for the first time in almost thirteen years.
Dartford crossed paths with the Terrors during the Isthmian League days meeting twice in the Division One South then four times in the Premier Division. These two sides have cup history between them as well with previous in both the F.A Cup and F.A Trophy during the seventies, eighties and nineties.
The last time Dartford hosted their round one opponents was the year the Darts clinched the Isthmian Premier League title, but the Terrors gave the league leaders a fright going two goals up through defender Jamie Byatt and striker Paul Vines. Before the interval, Ryan Hayes marked his 150th starting appearance in style bending a free-kick past Dave King in the Tooting and Mitcham United’s goal. Hayes was at it again with another fine finish early in the second-half to level the match, then late on substitute Rob Howarth scored the winner.
In the reverse fixture, Tooting and Mitcham United inflicted one of only seven defeats Dartford suffered that season. At the Imperial Fields, Simon Parker coolly finished early on to put the hosts in front. The Terrors had to wait until the final ten minutes for their second when Vines got on the end of a long ball. Three minutes later Vine scored again, but there was still time for Allan Tait to grab a consolation for the Darts.
A win a piece sums up the head to head between these two sides. In cup competitions it’s all level with two victories each and a stalemate. In league fixtures the Darts just edge it with three wins, two defeats and a draw. Out of the eleven meetings over the years this game has often produced plenty of goals averaging just under four a game.
Last season Dartford participated in the London Senior Cup for the very first time and reached the last eight losing to Brentford B. In the two rounds leading up to the quarter-final, the Darts racked up 14 goals beating Athletic Newham 5-2 and Cockfosters 9-0. Although Dartford entered the competition in 2020/2021 they were forced to pull out before playing their first round tie, Tooting and Mitcham United went on to win the competition that season for the eighth time beating AFC Wimbledon in the final. Last term the Terrors went out in the second round in their attempt to retain the cup, they beat Redbridge 4-1 at the first hurdle before losing 2-1 against Haringey Borough.
After Saturday’s triumph, Alan Dowson has now guided the Darts to six straight league victories, however the last cup outing during that sequence ended in a cup upset. On the weekend, goals from Samir Carruthers, his sixth of the season and Pierre Fonkeu, the striker’s fifth goal of the campaign gave the Darts a 2-0 derby day win over Tonbridge Angels to leave them third and four points from the top. The National South fixture saw the return of Sam Odaudu after a six week absence.
Tooting and Mitcham United lost 2-0 to Westfields on the weekend conceding just past the hour when John Adebiyi scored. Then in the last minute Troy Walters clinched the win for the visitors. The result leaves the Terrors down in 16th place in the Isthmian Division One Central. In cup competitions the London based club won their extra preliminary tie against Cobham before being knocked out by VCD Athletic. In the F.A Trophy the Terrors fell at the first hurdle on penalties against Kent club Corinthians. Finally, leading up to their last league outing Tooting and Mitcham United lost a third consecutive cup match in the Isthmian League Cup. A 2-1 defeat at Sevenoaks Town halted their progress in the second round of the competition.
The Terrors now have the league and London Senior Cup to concentrate on. Without a win in September and October, Tooting and Mitcham United are winless in six attempts. The last time they tasted victory was away at Guernsey at the end of August and their only other victory was at the beginning of that month, the extra preliminary F.A Cup triumph.
Head to Head
Dartford wins: 5 / Tooting and Mitcham United wins: 4 / Draws: 2
Current Form (all competitions)
| Dartford (LWWWWW) |
Tooting & Mitcham United (DDLDLL) |
||||
| Tonbridge Angels | H | 2-0 | Westfield | H | 0-2 |
| Dulwich Hamlet | A | 2-1 | Sevenoaks Town (LC) | A | 1-2 |
| Hungerford Town | H | 2-0 | South Park | H | 1-1 |
| Eastbourne Borough | H | 2-1 | Hanworth Villa | H | 0-3 |
| Hampton & Richmond | H | 2-1 | Southall | A | 1-1 |
| Beckenham Town (FAC) | H | 1-2 | Corinthian (FAT)* | H | 0-0 |
FAC – F.A Cup / FAT – F.A Trophy / * – lost 7-6 on penalties / LC – League Cup
Last Six Meetings
Tooting and Mitcham United 3 – 1 Dartford (13/03/2010 – Isthmian Premier)
Dartford 3 – 2 Tooting and Mitcham United (24/11/2009 – Isthmian Premier)
Dartford 3 – 1 Tooting and Mitcham United (28/02/2009 – Isthmian Premier)
Tooting and Mitcham United 0 – 2 Dartford (25/10/2008 – Isthmian Premier)
Dartford 2 – 2 Tooting and Mitcham United (27/02/2007 – Isthmian Division One)
Tooting and Mitcham United 2 – 1 Dartford (17/10/2006 – Isthmian Division One)
Statistics
- There has been 3.72 goals a game in the 11 meetings between Dartford and Tooting and Mitcham United.
- The Darts have won three of the last four meetings against the Terrors, however they lost last time they met
- Dartford have never failed to score against Tooting and Mitcham United.
On This Day
Ryan Hayes scored his 50th Dartford goal on this day in 2008 which turned out to be the winner in a F.A Trophy tie against Harlow Town. The Darts have won each of their last five cup games on this day and Hayes’ goal came after Adam Flanagan’s superb volley from outside the box. Harlow Town pulled a goal back, but it was Dartford who progressed into the next round. Three years earlier the Darts beat Kent rivals Dover Athletic in a five goal thriller. The F.A Trophy first qualifying round replay ended 3-2 to Dartford after the sides played out a 1-1 draw. In 1988, Dartford won a Southern League cup fixture against Hastings United and in 1983 beat Sittingbourne 4-1 in the F.A Cup third qualifying round after a replay. In the less prestigious Eastern Floodlit Cup back in 1977, the Darts beat Maidstone United 2-1 in the semi-final, but went on to lost the final to Chelmsford City.
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