Dartford will be determined to end a run of three straight defeats when they visit Lewes on Tuesday night.
The Darts promising September seems a distant memory after four defeats in their last five league matches in October. Ben Greenhalgh’s side have slipped off the pace and now have to test their character with fixtures against two of the top four.
Lewes are one place and three points ahead of Dartford in the Isthmian Premier. The Rooks are unbeaten in five and their only league loss at home was on the opening day. Craig Nelson’s team occupy fourth place and will be hoping to overtake their rivals, and Dartford’s next opponents Eastbourne Borough in third.
Fiddes Brace Not Enough
Dartford suffered a third consecutive league loss for the first time in just over two years on the weekend. Greenhalgh has been unable to name a consistent defence this season, but one consistency in the side is the goalscoring ability of Max Fiddes. The striker scored another couple of goals to take his tally to 14 in all competitions. However, his efforts were in vain as the Darts went down 4-3 at Aveley.
The visitors led after half an hour when Fiddes got on the end of Greenhalgh’s cross. Just before the break Aveley were level with Romeo Royal equalising. The Millers scored twice in quick succession in the second half. Former Dart, Malachi Napa put the hosts ahead, then Francis Mampolo added a third. Dartford threatened to come back when Fiddes netted again, but the two goal cushion was restored immediately through Alejandro Machado. Finally, Dan Smith completed the scoring with a consolation, his first league goal from open play since the second game of the season.
October Blues
October wasn’t great for the Darts despite progression in two cup competitions. From eyeing up top spot at the beginning of month to keeping an eye on those behind them, Dartford are now in fifth place, ten points behind the leaders and just a couple of points clear of eighth spot. Their current run of defeats have all come against teams that started the day in the bottom seven.
Late Un-win for Rooks
A new month brings new optimism and Dartford will be desperate to restore early season form. The Darts go to the Dripping Pan aiming for all three points, something they have never achieved there in three previous attempts.
Match Highlights courtesy of Lewes FC
A 95th minute Bobby Unwin strike prevented the Darts from getting anything from their last visit back in December 2025. Six months earlier in the season before Dartford lost 3-1 in Sussex. Danny Bassett netted to give the Rooks a lead, but that was cancelled out through Michael Olarewaju. Lewes pulled away in the second half with two goals from Marcus Sablier.
Dan Downs Lewes
Although Dartford have lost in their previous two visits to the Dripping Pan, they did enjoy a big victory the last time the two sides met. Dan Smith got the Darts off to a perfect start with a goal in the opening minute. The striker then added another with just over ten minutes on the clock. Devonte West halved the deficit for the visitors, but two more unanswered goals from Denzelle Olopade and Olarewaju made sure of a 4-1 triumph.
Highlights courtesy of Dartford FC TV
Strong Start
It took until the 21st minute of the third game for Lewes to score their first goal of the season. They suffered their only home loss on the opening day 4-0 to Enfield Town and were held 0-0 on the road at Whitehawk.
Since then the Rooks have netted in every league game, put a winning streak of four together, which included a derby win over rivals Eastbourne Borough and are currently on an unbeaten run of five in the league. Ex-Dartford defender, Tom Bender took part in the derby day win, his last league appearance for Lewes.
Lewes Simmering at the Pan
On their own patch Craig Nelson’s side have been strong and they have not tasted defeat in the Isthmian Premier in six home games. The last two have been draws with the most recent on the weekend against Wingate and Finchley.
In a match that featured former Dart, Tyler Christian-Law as a used substitute, Lewes led through Charlie Walker, went a goal down before Jack Enkh squared the game up. Christian-Law played 42 times for the Darts scoring once.
A week earlier, the Rooks let a goal lead slip against Maldon and Tiptree in a 1-1 draw. Prior the two stalemates, Lewes had won three in a row with a pair of 2-1 away wins over Cray Wanderers, then Three Bridges. Their current unbeaten run started at the beginning of October with a triumph against Whitehawk.
Player Manager’s View
Ben Greenhalgh spoke to Dartford FC TV after defeat in Essex on the weekend and believed the late change to the defence after Vladimir Paternoster pulled out didn’t help the performance, he explained: “I thought we were really disappointing in a lot of areas. It’s tough to take because I thought we didn’t start the game very well. We felt flat in the warm up, it’s hard not to feel flat when everything’s changed again”. In addition to the defender’s withdrawal, the Darts were also missing the suspended George Whitefield as well as the injured Ben Swift and Sam Odaudu from the backline.
The Darts will need to work on preventing counter attacks, the Dartford manager commented: “A lot of goals we’ve conceded at the moment are from us having a chance, from us losing the ball going forward and that’s not the team we built at the start of the season and that’s not the team we want to build on”.
Interview courtesy of Dartford FC TV
Team News
Joe Tennent managed to finish the match on the weekend, but with a lack of fit central defenders it wasn’t an ideal situation. Emmanuel Oke and Adrain Gyamera have not been 100% fit according to the Dartford boss. At least George Whitefield will return from suspension, but Ben Swift remains out and Vladimir Paternoster withdrew prior the game on Saturday with a groin injury. Richie Atkins has gone out on loan to Hashtag United.
Current League Form
| DARTFORD (WWLWLLL) | LEWES (LWWWDD) | ||||
| Aveley | A | 3-4 | Wingate & Finchley | H | 2-2 |
| Brentwood Town | A | 0-3 | Maldon & Tiptree | H | 1-1 |
| AFC Whyteleafe | A | 1-2 | Three Bridges | A | 2-1 |
| Wingate & Finchley | H | 2-1 | Cray Wanderers | A | 2-1 |
| Ramsgate | H | 1-2 | Whitehawk | H | 1-0 |
| Whitehawk | H | 2-1 | Cheshunt | A | 1-3 |
Head to Head
Dartford wins: 4 / Lewes wins: 2 / Draws: 2
Previous Meeting
Dartford 4 – 1 Lewes (21/03/2026 – Isthmian Premier)
Lewes 1 – 0 Dartford (06/12/2025 – Isthmian Premier)
Lewes 3 – 1 Dartford (08/03/2025 – Isthmian Premier)
Dartford 2 – 0 Lewes (23/11/2024– Isthmian Premier)
Dartford 3 – 0 Lewes (26/03/2011 – National South)
Lewes 1 – 1 Dartford (30/10/2010 – National South)
Statistics
- The home side has won each of the last five fixtures between Dartford and Lewes.
- Dartford are winless in all three league visits to the Dripping Pan, losing their last two (D1).
- The Darts last won at the Dripping Pan 43 years ago in the F.A Trophy. The 1983 first round tie finished 2-0 to Dartford.
- Dartford have let in seven goals in their last two away games in the league. The same number of goals conceded in their opening six matches on the road in the Isthmian Premier.
- The Darts have been stuck on 99 Isthmian Premier wins since victory against Wingate and Finchley on 10 October.
On This Day
Ben Greenhalgh scored the winning goal on this day in 2018 as the Darts beat Gloucester City in the National South. Dartford scored either side of the break to come from behind after Sam Avery put the hosts ahead. Charlie Sheringham scored on the stroke of half time and three minutes after the interval Greenhalgh struck the winner.
In 2007, the reliable strike partnership of Brendon Cass and Jay May secured a 2-0 win over Wingate and Finchley in the Isthmian Division One North. The Darts also won 6-0 against Sittingbourne in a Kent Senior tie back in 1999.
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