Dartford will be searching for a much needed home win in the league when they host Aveley on Tuesday night.
It’s been three months since the Darts won at Princes Park in the National South. However they did manage to pick up a draw in their last outing on their own patch. In his fourth spell in charge, so far Tony Burman has stopped a losing streak and picked up four points in his last three matches. Yet those points are all Dartford have to show from the last 24 available.
Aveley are dreaming of a third consecutive promotion and are hanging just outside the playoff places. The Essex club won the Isthmian Division One North title, the Isthmian Premier playoffs and are now a point from the top seven. Danny Scopes has masterminded the Millers rise and they have lost just once in their last nine league matches.
During the Bank Holiday August weekend, Dartford played Aveley for the first time since 2010 and came home with a 1-0 win. The Darts had enough chances in the first-half, but the Millers came closest when they hit the crossbar from a free kick. In the second-half Dartford persisted and after a penalty decision was overturned and a goalmouth scramble wasn’t converted they finally broke the deadlock when Harvey Bradbury headed a last minute winner.
Aveley’s last visit to Princes Park was almost 14 years ago. On a day when Dartford were presented with the Isthmian Premier League trophy, the Darts played out a 2-2 draw. Rob Howarth headed in the opener on ten minutes, but the visitors were soon level through Ryan Edgar. Dartford went back in front thanks to a well taken Billy Burgess volley. Aveley found themselves level again seven minutes from time when Sherwin Stanley scored.
In a relegation six pointer on the weekend Dartford could only manage a home draw on Saturday against Taunton Town. New signing Ibby Akanbi made his debut replacing Olly Box in the starting lineup, who had scored three in his first two senior league starts. Tom Clifford kept his place in the side for his home debut. Tyrell Miller-Rodney was back in the squad after serving a one match ban. Elliott Romain made his 50th Dartford appearance in his second spell with the club.
The Darts were on the wrong end of a chaotic few minutes in the first-half. Akanbi was felled in the Taunton Town box, but claims for a penalty were waved away. The visitors went on a counter attack which resulted in Maxwell Statham conceding a spot kick, which Nick Grimes scored. Dartford struggled to get a grip on the game, however against the run of play Luke Coulson put in a cross for Fumnaya Shomotun to level at the far post, his first goal for the Darts. It remained level in the second-half and in the closing stages Alex Wall went close before Grimes was sent off right at the end.
Tony Burman spoke to Dartford FC TV after the game and said: “We haven’t lost and we’ve gained a point, which is a good thing. I thought we played alright again to be fair”, the Dartford boss felt his side could have played with more tempo as the home side and found it hard to breakdown a five man Taunton Town defence. Burman believes the character of his side was a positive from the games, he added: “We’ve gone a goal down and we’ve come back, and that’s a good sign for the future. I’m pleased with the effort again, I can’t fault that, and we have just got to keep believing and get confidence and I’m sure that things will be okay”.
Since Burman’s return to the dugout, the Darts have failed to win at home in the league and on Tuesday night he will be hoping to break that duck, he commented: “It’s very important because we have got to get points. We’ve got two very good sides coming up as well, but they are at the better end of the table, so hopefully the supporters and the team will be up for the game”. Focusing on the fixture against Aveley he added: “It’s going to be a tough game. We’ve got to have an attitude where we have to be nice and positive”.
Brandon Barzey may be in contention to return after recovering from a hamstring injury. Tommy Block and Luke Allen are possibly a week a way from a comeback. Sam Odaudu will be out for a few weeks and Joash Nembhard is facing a suspension for the red card against Slough Town last week.
Aveley have been the surprise package of the National South this season taking some scalps along the way. By early November the Essex side were in second and three points behind league leaders Yeovil Town winning ten of their opening 16 fixtures. After a fantastic start to life in the National South, Aveley went through a sticky spell failing to win any of their next nine picking up just three points in the process. However, the Millers have showed character to get out of a barren run and since Boxing Day they have restored their early season form.
Fresh off the back of beating playoff contenders Hampton and Richmond Borough and Maidstone United, the Millers also faced a West Country side in a spot of bother off the field. News of Torquay United entering into administration and manager Gary Johnson departing wasn’t the ideal preparation for the Devonshire club as they hosted Aveley on the weekend. Yet it was the Gulls who went 2-0 up against Danny Scopes’ side with goals from Aaron Jarvis and Bradley Ash. The Millers were given hope just before half-time when Siju Odelusi pulled a goal back. The visitors were level early in the second-half after Eduino Vaz hit a stunning volley.
Current League Form
| Dartford (LLLWLD) | Aveley (WDLWWD) | ||||
| Taunton Town | H | 1-1 | Torquay United | A | 2-2 |
| Slough Town | A | 2-3 | Maidstone United | H | 2-0 |
| Dover Athletic | A | 2-1 | Hampton & Richmond | A | 1-0 |
| Chippenham Town | H | 0-1 | Worthing | H | 0-3 |
| Bath City | A | 0-1 | Taunton Town | A | 2-2 |
| Farnborough | A | 1-2 | Eastbourne Borough | A | 2-1 |
Head to Head
Dartford wins: 6 / Aveley wins: 2 / Draws: 3
Last Six Meetings
Aveley 0 – 1 Dartford (26/08/2023 – National South)
Dartford 2 – 2 Aveley (17/04/2010 – Isthmian Premier League)
Dartford 4 – 5 Aveley (15/12/2009 – Isthmian League Cup)
Aveley 1 – 4 Dartford (24/10/2009 – Isthmian Premier League)
Aveley 2 – 2 Dartford (29/12/2007 – Isthmian Division One North)
Dartford 3 – 0 Aveley (13/11/2007 – Isthmian League Cup)
Statistics
- Dartford are unbeaten in the league at home against the Millers (W2, D2)
- The Darts have lost just one league game versus Aveley (W5, D3) back in 2005
- In the 11 previous meetings, an average of 4.18 goals a game have been scored in this fixture
On This Day
Danny Harris took home the match ball after bagging a hat-trick on this day in 2012. The Darts recorded a comprehensive 4-1 victory over Basingstoke Town in the National South. Harris scored either side of the interval to give the hosts a two goal lead. The deficit was halved when Stuart Lake netted for the visitors. Tony Garrord added a third for the Darts and Harris completed his treble. Two years earlier Dartford came home with a rare away win at Boreham Wood, Elliot Bradbrook scoring the decisive goal. In 1973, the Darts cruised to the Kent Senior Cup final with a 6-1 triumph over Canterbury City. Dartford went on to win the two legged final beating Folkestone Town 10-4 on aggregate.