Two in form teams of the division will go head to head hoping to continue with their playoff push. Unbeaten in 13 league fixtures, the Darts are on their best run since their Isthmian Premier title winning season in 2010. Chatham Town have climbed to fifth in the table right behind Dartford and aim to close the seven point gap.
Adrian Pennock has guided Dartford to a strong fourth place to end 2024 and will be wishing for momentum to carry on starting on New Year’s Day. A busy festive fixture schedule saw the Darts boss make six changes on the weekend at Canvey Island to a side that had remained unchanged for the previous six league games. Dartford have benefitted from a settled starting eleven recently, but on Saturday they displayed what the rest of the squad can achieve.
Pennock rested captain Josh Hill, top scorer Olly Box and playmaker Samir Carruthers as well as Sam Okoye, Louis Dunne and Callum Jones. The Dartford manager introduced Michael Olarewaju for his first start since 5 November, Tyler Christian-Law, Hayden Bullas, Jez Pinder, Duane Ofori-Acheampong and Eddie Dsane.
Even with those changes, the Darts came away with a fourth straight victory on the road, something the club last achieved at the beginning of 2021/22 campaign. Two of the alterations had an impact in the only goal of the game in Essex. On the stroke of half-time, Hayden Bullas skipped down the byline and his dangerous cross saw Eddie Dsane react fastest to a loose ball and find the back of the net. The 1-0 win keeps Dartford’s perfect league record over Canvey Island taking their run against the Gulls to eight consecutive victories.
Interview courtesy of Dartford FC TV
At the other end of the field in goal, stand in captain Jacob Marsden kept a third away clean sheet in four. The goalkeeper admitted it wasn’t the best performance by his side, but at this stage of the season it’s the points that matter, he explained to Dartford FC TV: “The run continues and that is important for us to keep climbing the table. The wins are not always going to be pretty, particularly in the winter months due to the pitches and weather and whatever else, it’s needs must really”.
The stand in skipper was pleased with the attitude and application of his team mates and how that affected support from the fans, he added: “I thought the boys showed so much endeavour, work rate and heart, which is why the fans feed off us so much and we feed of their support. It helps us go and push through those barriers whether the football is pretty or not”.
Dartford won their last Kent derby by coming behind against Cray Wanderers on Boxing Day. Pennock’s side have now taken 13 points from 18 available in Kent derbies this season. One of those triumphs was the reverse fixture versus Chatham Town, which closed out August on a Bank Holiday afternoon. Jamie Yila put the visitors ahead and almost doubled the lead before the interval.
Sam Odaudu’s 25 yard drive put Dartford on level terms early in the second half. With six minutes to go Callum Jones fired a shot off the underside of the crossbar to put the Darts ahead. The deal was sealed in stoppage time when Eddie Dsane was fouled in the Chatham Town box. The striker took his chance from the spot to secure a 3-1 win.
Match Highlights courtesy of Dartford FC TV
Dartford’s last away trip to Chatham Town was 18 years ago on Boxing Day in the Isthmian Division One South. Tony Burman’s side won 3-2 thanks to goals from Ryan Hayes, Jay May and Lew Watts.
Chatham Town have been on a similar trajectory to the Darts. After the defeat in reverse fixture the Chats were 12th at the end of August. One point from the next nine available saw them slip five more places. Since mid-October they have lost just once in 14 league games. Starting with a win at Cray Wanderers and then a handful of draws, Chatham Town have claimed seven victories in that time to climb into the playoffs. They have started to rack up goals as well beating Whitehawk by five, hitting seven against Bognor Regis Town and they also stuck four past Folkestone Invicta.
On Boxing Day, they faced second placed Cray Valley Paper Mills and even that featured plenty of goals. Aiming to put the 2-0 away defeat versus Carshalton Athletic behind them, the Chats picked up a point in a 3-3 draw. Jordy Mongoy scored the first of the afternoon, but two former Dartford players Andre Coker and Fumnaya Shomotun gave the Millers the lead. Simon Cooper levelled the game before another former Dart, Jack Evans put the Chats back in front. Evans made 16 appearances for Dartford in the 2012/2013 season scoring twice. With five minutes remaining Tom Beere made sure the points were shared.
Kevin Hake’s side added another three to the goals for column on Saturday with a 3-1 win against struggling Bowers and Pitsea. Their opponents were without a permanent manager after the resignation of James Collins on Christmas Eve. Former Dartford academy player John Ufuah returned to the Chatham Town lineup and was back to scoring ways after seven minutes. Ufuah made two substitute appearances for Dartford’s senior team during the 2017-2018 campaign. Another ex Dartford player, Rowan Liburd featured just three times for the Darts whilst on loan in 2019/2020. The striker made it two just before the half hour mark. The Chats extended their lead further before the interval with Cooper scoring on the stroke of half time. Bowers and Pitsea pulled one back with 20 minutes remaining through Alex Teniola
At home the Chats have been strong tasting defeat just once to a Canvey Island side back in September. They have drawn with the current top two, Billericay Town and league leaders Dover Athletic and have scored 12 in their last three home matches in the league. Former Premier League striker Freddie Sears is top scorer with 14 goals in all competitions followed by the former Dartford trio Evans on eight goals and both Liburd and Ufuah on seven.
| Dartford (WDWWWW) | Chatham Town (WWWLDW) | ||||
| Canvey Island | A | 1-0 | Bowers and Pitsea | H | 3-1 |
| Cray Wanderers | H | 2-1 | Cray Valley (PM) | A | 3-3 |
| Folkestone Invicta | A | 1-0 | Carshalton Athletic | A | 0-2 |
| Horsham | A | 3-1 | Folkestone Invicta | H | 4-1 |
| Dulwich Hamlet | H | 2-2 | Cheshunt | A | 1-0 |
| Bognor Regis Town | H | 4-0 | Bognor Regis Town | A | 7-1 |
Head to Head
Dartford wins: 31 / Chatham Town wins: 40 / Draws: 11
Previous Meetings
Dartford 3 – 1 Chatham Town (26/08/2024 – Isthmian Premier)
Dartford 1 – 3 Chatham Town (09/04/2007 – Isthmian Division One South)
Chatham Town 2 – 3 Dartford (26/12/2006 – Isthmian Division One South)
Dartford 3 – 1 Chatham Town (15/04/2006 – Southern League Div One East)
Chatham Town 1 – 0 Dartford (27/09/2005 – Southern League Cup)
Chatham Town 1 – 0 Dartford (20/09/2005 – Southern League Div One East)
Statistics
- Dartford have won three of the last four league games against the Chats (L1)
- The Darts have won four of their last seven league matches at Chatham Town (D1, L2)
- An average of 4.25 goals per game have been scored in the last three meetings with the winning side scoring three on each occasion (W3, L1)
- Dartford have won 4, drawn 1, lost 1 in Kent derbies this term compared to Chatham Town who have won 2, drawn 2 and lost 1
On This Day
Dartford brushed aside local rivals Ebbsfleet United for a second time in under a week on this day in 2023. Having already secured a 4-1 win at Stoembridge Road, the Darts went one better at Princes Park scoring four unanswered goals. Alex Wall, Malachai Napa, Charlie Sheringham and Connor Essam all netted against the eventual National South champions. Two years ago they brushed aside eventual National South champions and rivals Ebbsfleet United 4-0.
Previously, the Darts were triumphant against Welling United in three consecutive years between 2018 and 2020. Jacob Berkeley-Agyepong, an Elliott Romain brace and Darren McQueen penalty earned a 4-0 win over the Wings. The season before the score was 1-0 thanks to a late Ronnie Vint goal. In 2018, the Darts won 4-1 after Ryan Hayes, Andy Pugh and two from Alfie Pavey secured all three points. Dartford have won their last four fixtures on New Year’s Day all at home with an aggregate score of 13-1
However, on the road Dartford are winless in six on this day with the last victory in 2001 against Sittingbourne 5-2 in Southern League Division One East. That is only one of two away wins ever on New Year’s Day, the other was against Cambridge City in the 1988 Southern Premier season
New Year’s Day away record W2, D5, L9
New Year’s Day overall record W13, D8, L14
