One of the oldest football clubs in the world, Cray Wanderers were formed in 1860. The Wands won consecutive Kent League titles before promotion 21 years ago. Since then they have had two spells in both the Isthmian Division One and Premier. Cray Wanderers won the Isthmian South East in the last full season before covid. Two years ago, they missed out on a National South spot after a semi-final playoff defeat.
2024/2025 Season Isthmian Premier: 10th F.A Cup: 4th Qualifying Round F.A Trophy: 3rd Qualifying Round Kent Senior Cup: 2nd Round London Senior Cup: 2nd Round Top League Scorer: Nyren Clunis (11 goals)
It was all about the new Flamingo Park and Cray Wanderers’ first competitive game in their new ground. Unfortunately, the Wands lost their home opener. It took until 2 November to see a first league win on their own patch. After ten matches the Wands were bottom. However, Cray Wanderers really started making progress from Decemeber. The Kent side lost once in the league in ten and that was versus an in-form Dartford. As they found more consistency, the Wands hovered around the top ten for the rest of the campaign.
Manager – Tim O’Shea
Over the last seven Isthmian Premier League matches of the 2024/2025 campaign, Tim O’Shea impressed enough to turn an interim role into a permanent job. He was assistant to the previous manager Neil Smith, so is familiar to the current squad. As a player he made a few appearances for Tottenham Hotspur before playing for Leyton Orient and then Gillingham. He represented both Farnborough Town and Welling United in non-league prior going into management. Tim O’Shea managed Grays Athletic, Croydon Athletic and Lewes before having a long break as a first team boss.
Summer Transfers
Midfielder, Luke Allen had five years at Dartford and made 123 appearances for the club. After a spell at Aveley he joins the Cray Wanderers. Former academy left back with the Wands, Frankie Morgan is back after signing from Folkestone Invicta. Striker, Alex Hernandez will be hoping to impress at his new club. He scored 21 goals in 38 appearances for Tilbury last season.
Tyrese Briscoe signs from Welling United having represented Wingate and Finchley as well as Hastings United last term. Goalkeeper, Harry Seaden comes in from Concord Rangers. Known as ‘Bobo’, Nodirbek Bobonurodov is familiar with non-league football having played for Worthing, Kingstonian, Chatham Town, Littlehampton Town and Three Bridges. The Uzbek now adds the Wands to his career path. Part of the Billericay Town side that came within a whisker of the title, Ashley Nzala also joins the Wands. After impressing on trial Prosper Keto has joined from Potters Bar Town. Management Player of the Season Remi Sutton is retained.
After three seasons, two supporter’s Player of the Year and almost 150 games, Shaun Peart-Rowley swaps one Cray for another by joining Cray Valley Paper Mills. Charlie Edwards departs for newly promoted Brentwood Town. Top scorer, Nyren Clunis has decided to return to Dulwich Hamlet. Jack Leahy will join his brother at Welling United. Player’s Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year, Darion Dowrich has earned a move to Hemel Hempstead Town. Ike Orji has joined Billericay Town.
Dartford can clinch the Isthmian Premier title against Cray Wanderers in their first ever visit to Flamingo Park on Easter Monday.
Adrian Pennock’s side will need to be fully focussed in the Kent derby, but there is no doubt the travelling fans will also be tuned in to events elsewhere. For the Darts to secure promotion back to the National South they will need to beat the Wands and hope their closest rivals fail to win.
On paper Dartford have the toughest fixture against a Cray Wanderers side in tenth, a side who have only lost four at home in the league all season. The remaining two title challengers are on the road. Billericay Town face an already safe Canvey Island, whilst Horsham take on relegated Bognor Regis Town. It’s likely the title is going right down to the wire for a final day showdown next weekend.
Dartford will take plenty of confidence from their Good Friday Kent derby victory over rivals Dover Athletic. The influential Samir Carruthers was able to start after a short but affective cameo at Whitehawk. Olly Box returned to the first eleven and defender Luther Williams was back in the matchday squad after injury.
The Darts made a tricky looking game feel comfortable and any nerves were settled with a wonderful free-kick from Carruthers after quarter of an hour. The midfielder curled his shot from out wide into the far top corner to give the hosts the lead. A second arrived through the tireless Denzelle Olopade, who pounced on a flick on for his seventh goal of the season. Early in the second half Box showed his skill by beating his man and putting in a perfect cross for captain Josh Hill to nod home. Dover Athletic pulled one back with almost ten minutes remaining when Ruben Soares-Junior scored from just outside the box to make the final score 3-1.
After the important win assistant manager, Roland Edge spoke to Dartford FC TV and said: “It had to be a brilliant performance. I have to be honest I thought Dover were excellent. They had great creativity up front, but I thought we matched them”, he added: “We knew the improtance of the game, the lads came out from the very first kick of the ball to the last ball focussed, winning their battles and I thought we deserved it, even though it was really, really tight”.
Looking forward to the week ahead and the different challenges left to face Edge commeneted: “Cray are a good side as well. They have gone on a great run recently. We know what we’ve got to do, we’ve just got to prepare ourselves correctly…what will be will be”.
Dartford have now won five of their last six taking 16 points from the 18 available in that time. It’s been a good response to the consecutive away defeats to Cheshunt at the end of February and Lewes at the beginning of March. In that time the defence have been resolute with four clean sheets in the victories against Hastings United, Bognor Regis Town, Dulwich Hamlet and Whitehawk. The side has shown character by coming from two down to draw 2-2 with Folkestone Invicta and secured an important three points against Dover Athletic.
Standing in Dartford’s way on Monday will be Cray Wanderers and former Darts skipper Tom Bonner. Now captain for the Wands, the defender played over 450 times for the Darts and helped the club earn promotion to the National League and win two Kent Senior Cups. However, the former Dartford man didn’t have a good Friday when his side lost 3-0 to Horsham, a result Pennock and company weren’t hoping for. To compound matters Bonner became the second Wands player to be sent off that afternoon following an earlier red card to Ezechukwu Ebuzoeme. The pair will face suspension which normally occurs a week later, so should be available for the Kent derby.
Earlier this season Dartford won this fixture 2-1 at Princes Park on Boxing Day. After half an hour Josh Williams put the visitors in front. The second-half became Olly Box’s day with two very well taken strikes to secure maximum points. First, he smashed home an equaliser on 58 minutes and four minutes later he cut inside and found the top corner.
Last time Cray Wanderers played hosts in the league to the Darts was 15 years ago when Dartford ran out 2-1 winners. Lee Burns made up for his red card in the reverse fixture, a 1-1 Boxing Day draw in 2009. Burns popped up with the opening goal and James White added another four minutes later to take the Darts into the break with a two-goal advantage. The Wands hit back in the second half with Colin Luckett’s penalty, but the hosts couldn’t find an equaliser.
Since that league meeting Dartford have faced Cray Wanderers on the road a further five times all in cup competitions. The Darts won twice 2-1, in the F.A Cup in 2011 and five years later in the Kent Senior Cup. The Wands got revenge in the county cup with a 4-2 triumph a year later. Dartford have won the previous two cup ties knocking out Cray Wanderers 3-1 in the F.A Trophy four years ago. Last season the Darts won 2-1 in the London Senior Cup.
The Wands are guaranteed Isthmian Premier football next term, but they will have their sights on finishing strongly and improving their tenth place position. Only four sides have beaten Cray in the league at Flamingo Park, three of those defeats came in the first four matches in their new ground. In fact it took until their seventh home match to record a first Isthmian Premier win at thier new home.
The win in November sparked an unbeaten home run of 12 until defeat at the end of March to Dover Athletic, but they bounced back with a pair of impressive wins. Years ago, Cray Wanderers helped out Dartford by sharing their old ground at Oxford Road. Just over a fortnight ago they did another favour by winning 2-0 at Billericay Town meaning the Darts extended their lead to the two point margin it is today. In their last home game the Wands comfortably won 4-1 against Wingate and Finchley.
In the league Dartford have lost just once against Cray Wanderers in the last 20 outings (W15, D4)
The Darts have won 18 of the last 22 away matches against Cray Wanderers in all competitions (D1, L3)
Dartford have kept three league clean sheets in a row away from home for the second time this season. The last time they managed four consecutive away cleans sheets in the league was in March/April 2018
On This Day
Danny Mills and Alfie Pavey made sure the title race went down to the final day of the season on this day in 2018. The pair scored the two goals enough to beat Bath City 2-0 at Princes Park to set up a tense finale. The Darts rounded off their home campaign in 2009 with an entertaining 4-2 win over Ashford Town (Middlesex). Goals from Lee Noble, Jay May, Adam Flanagan and Jamie Coyle secured victory. Dartford’s last eight games on 21 April have all been at home including a 6-2 thrashing of Gloucester City in the Southern Premier League back in 1990.
Even further back, Dartford collected some silverware when they beat Sheppey United 2-0 in the 1930 Kent Senior Shield final. On the same day, the Darts also lost 5-2 to Grays Thurrock United in the Southern League Eastern Section.
Dartford host a former landlord in a Kent derby against Cray Wanderers on Boxing Day.
It’s been 15 years since the Darts hosted this fixture back when they won the Isthmian Premier League. Adrian Pennock’s side top the form table and are currently on an unbeaten run of 11 games in the Isthmian Premier. The upturn in performances and efficiency in front of goal has seen the Darts rise from the lower half of the division to fourth place in the space of two months. Without a defeat in five, Cray Wanderers have also improved recently helping the Wands progress upwards and away from the relegation zone.
An unchanged Dartford side secured a third consecutive away victory on the weekend when they beat Folkestone Invicta by a single goal. Pennock named the same side for a fifth match in a row and managed to give some game time to defender Michael Olarewaju, who made his first appearance, as a substitute, since the start of November. In tough conditions Callum Jones scored his second in three matches putting his barren streak well behind him. Victory on the road extended Dartford’s unbeaten league run on their travels to six, their best sequence since 2018.
In front of goal Dartford have now scored in their last ten league matches, doubling the longest goalscoring run under Pennock. Olly Box has chipped in with six in his last eight starts and hopefully Jones will keep adding to his recent tally. Yet the triumph on the weekend owed just as much to the defensive display. Assistant manager, Roland Edge spoke to Dartford FC TV after the game and explained: “For an away performance we were so solid and that was down to our defence and midfield. It wasn’t a smash and grab, we played some good football in tough conditions”.
At Princes Park, Dartford are currently five without defeat. Not only do they want to keep that record intact, they also want to add to the ten points collected from a possible 15 in Kent derbies this term home and away. Standing in their way will be Cray Wanderers and potentially former captain, Tom Bonner. The defender made 456 appearances for the Darts, won two Kent Senior Cups and the National South playoffs whilst at Princes Park. He featured in the weekend draw against Billericay Town.
The Wands included Bonner in the team and Remi Sutton was also given a start with Quade Taylor and Frankie-Jay Moralee missing out. Two goals inside the final ten minutes saw the spoils shared at Flamingo Park. Cray Wanderers took the lead with seven on the clock through Josh Williams, but Ashley Nzala equalised for Ricay in injury time.
Billericay Town’s late strike denied Cray Wanderers a fourth straight 1-0 win. The Wands began the month with maximum points at Bowers and Pitsea, won at home against Chichester City then defeated league leaders Dover Athletic at the Crabble. Although down in sixteenth place, Cray Wanderers are only six points from a playoff place, but just six points clear of the drop.
The two previous fixtures at Princes Park both ended in a draw with the last on Boxing Day 2009. Just over 1300 turned out for that fixture. Mark Willy gave the visitors a lead after 29 minutes, heading in Ross Lover’s free-kick. Dartford equalised eight minutes later, with substitute Danny Harris on hand to score. In the second half Lee Burns was sent off for the Darts in the 1-1 draw.
The reverse meeting a week later saw the Darts run out 2-1 winners. Burns made up for his red card with the opening goal and James White added another four minutes later to take the Darts into the break with a two-goal advantage. The Wands hot back in the second half with Colin Luckett’s penalty, but the hosts couldn’t find an equaliser.
Cray Wanderers have played host in the last six meetings, including the league clash in January 2010. The Darts have come out on top five of those matches, the most recent a 2-1 London Senior Cup triumph in April this year. The quarter-final tie was a welcome escape for the Darts who had just confirmed their relegation back to the Isthmian Premier.
Early pressure from the Wands was rewarded as early as the second minute. Former Dart, Ellis Brown scored to put the hosts ahead at Hayes Lane. Jordan Greenidge used his strength to create an opportunity with half hour played and he took full advantage to level. As the tie approached the prospect of penalties, Dartford managed to force an own goal for the winner.
Three years earlier the Darts won in the F.A Trophy third round. Tyrique Hyde set up Jake Robinson for the first and won the penalty for Robinson’s second. Danny Leonard added a third goal before Jai Reason scored a consolation for the Wands. Sandwiched between a pair of 2-1 Dartford victories in a 2011 F.A Cup third qualifier and a 2016 Kent Senior Cup first round tie, Cray Wanderers did claim a win seven years ago. In another Kent Senior Cup first round match, the Wands progressed with a 4-2 victory. Dartford’s goals came from Toby Ajala and Warren Mfula.
There is a history between Dartford and Cray Wanderers, who first played each other 136 years ago. Yet it wasn’t until the 2006/2007 season that the pair met in a league other than a local county division or a cup fixture. However, in recent times both clubs have gone through a similar journey. When the Darts lost their Watling Street home and reformed in the nineties, they shared Cray Wanderers’ ground at Oxford Road. Dartford didn’t find a permanent place until they moved in at Princes Park in 2006. Likewise, the Wands left Oxford Road in 1998 and after many years at Hayes Lane, Bromley they finally moved into their new stadium Flamingo Park this season.
In the league Dartford have lost just once against Cray Wanderers in the last 19 outings (W14, D4)
The Darts have lost just once in the last 17 at home versus the Wands in all competitions (W11, D5)
This will be only the third time Dartford have played Cray Wanderers on Boxing Day. The first meeting was in 1901 when the Wands won 4-0 in the Kent League. The last was the 1-1 draw in the Isthmian Premier League 15 years ago.
Dartford have won 41, drawn 23 and lost 26 games on Boxing Day (Home record – W28 D15 L15)
On This Day
Dartford have won six of the last seven Boxing Day matches with three of those against Welling United. All seven of those games were in the National South and it was a year ago when Richard Chin scored the winner against the Wings at Park View Road. The Darts also won at Welling United 3-0 in 2019 and 3-2 in 2017 with Alfie Pavey’s stunning last minute scissor kick.
Two years ago, Dartford blew rivals Ebbsfleet United away at Stonebridge Road with four first half goals. Luke Allen, Luke Coulson and Maxwell Statham all netted inside 11 minutes. Alex Wall added a fourth with five minutes left of the first-half in a 4-1 victory over the then league leaders and eventual champions. The last Boxing Day fixture at Princes Park was in 2016 with Dartford beating Ebbsfleet United again. Duane Ofori-Acheampong scored the decisive goal in a 2-1 victory.
Dartford’s biggest triumph on this day was a 6-1 win at Canvey Island in 2007 with goals from Steve Norman, Ryan Hayes, Brendon Cass, Jay May, Eddie McClements and Jamie Coyle. At Watling Street in 1989, a team led by Peter Taylor beat Gravesend and Northfleet 5-0 in the Southern Premier League.
One of the oldest football clubs in the world, Cray Wanderers were formed in 1860 and entered the Isthmian League in 2004. The Wands won consecutive Kent League titles before promotion 20 years ago and have since had two spells in both the Isthmian Division One and Premier. Cray Wanderers won the Isthmian South East in the last full season before covid and missed out on a National South spot after a semi-final playoff a year ago.
2023/2024 Season Isthmian Premier: 17th F.A Cup: 2nd Qualifying Round F.A Trophy: 2nd Round Kent Senior Cup: 2nd Round London Senior Cup: Quarter-Final Top League Scorer: Gary Lockyer (11 goals)
A dreadful start to last season had Cray Wanderers on the back foot from the off. The Wands lost their opening five games with just one goal to show. Then they hit five against title challengers Chatham Town to get off the mark. Points were picked up in the middle third of the football calendar with February being the most productive period. Despite a late slump in form, Cray Wanderers finished on a high with a 6-2 win.
Manager – Neil Smith
It was a proud moment when Neil Smith led his Bromley side out at Wembley in the F.A Trophy six years ago. Although it ended with a runner up medal, his time with the Ravens as assistant, then manager, saw the club promoted and become a solid National League team. In March 2022, Smith switched to Cray Wanderers and led them to a playoff campaign. Now the former Gillingham midfielder is at the helm for the Wands homecoming to Flamingo Park.
Dartford v Cray Wanderers – Thursday 26th December 2024 Cray Wanderers v Dartford – Monday 21st April 2025
Statistics
In the league Dartford have lost just once against Cray Wanderers in the last 19 outings (W14, D4)
Dartford last hosted Cray Wanderers in a 1-1 on Boxing Day 2009. The Darts have lost just once in the last 17 at home versus the Wands in all competitions (W11, D5)
The Darts have won 18 of the last 22 away matches against Cray Wanderers in all competitions (D1, L3)
Dartford will need to pick themselves up against Cray Wanderers in the London Senior Cup quarter-final on Tuesday night.
Relegation back to the Isthmian Premier League was confirmed at the weekend with a loss at newly crowned National South champions Yeovil Town. The Darts will be meeting the Wands next season as they return to the third tier of non-league for the first time in 14 years.
Needing at least a point to potentially take their campaign to the last day, Adrian Pennock stuck to the same side that beat Havant and Waterlooville, but lost to Worthing. In the end nothing more than a victory was required as their closest rivals claimed three points on Saturday. All that was immaterial though because the Darts finished their travels in the league with a 3-1 defeat.
Yet Dartford did have the smallest glimmer of hope when they took a shock lead through top scorer Luke Coulson. The captain netted his eleventh in all competitions in the fifth minute. Yeovil Town we’re back on level terms just three minutes later through Sam Pearson and before half-time Dylan Morgan put the champions ahead. In the second-half, Rhys Byrne saved Frank Nouble’s penalty and Alex Fisher added a third for the Glovers.
The Darts have negotiated their way through two rounds of the London Senior Cup so far starting out in September. Drawn against Harrow Borough of the Isthmian Premier League, Dartford won 1-0. Despite the low scoreline the Darts were dominant, but still had to rely on an own goal by Borough’s Henry Lukombo. In the second round the tie went all the way to penalties against Queens Park Rangers U23’s. Oliver Box scored the equaliser that forced spot-kicks and then netted the winner in the shootout.
Dartford’s last four meetings against Cray Wanderers have been in cup competition and on three occasions the Darts have progressed to the next round. The most recent of those ties came in December 2021 in the F.A Trophy third round. A Jake Robinson brace and a Danny Leonard goal in the space of five first-half minutes earned a 3-1 victory. Cray Wanderers came out on top in the previous county cup clash though. In the Kent Senior Cup the Wands won 4-2 in round one back in September 2017. At the same stage a year earlier Andy Pugh and Duane Ofori-Acheampong helped Dartford to a 2-1 triumph. The same score in the 2011 F.A Cup third qualifying clash saw the Darts progress with goals from Ryan Hayes and Danny Harris.
Former Dartford captain Tom Bonner could feature for the Wands. The defender come out of retirement and after a spell with Havant and Waterlooville, he signed for Cray Wanderers in November. Bonner made 456 appearances for the Darts and won two Kent Senior Cups and the National South playoffs whilst at Princes Park. David Ijaha and Ellis Brown are also part of the Wands squad, Ijaha played 12 games for Dartford and Brown started just six and made 15 appearances from the bench.
Neil Smith’s team have secured a sixth season in the Isthmian Premier league and are currently in 16th place. The Wands had a slow start to their campaign losing their opening five whilst scoring just once. Then they went to promotion contenders Chatham Town and won 5-1. Inconsistency and a glut of draws from November to January left the Wands’ season in the balance. A positive period in February saw Smith’s side take 17 points from 21 available making life more comfortable. Since then form has taken a dip and they have won just one league fixture in their last nine outings.
Cray Wanderers’ London Senior Cup journey began in November at home against Tooting and Mitcham United. The Wands beat the Combined Counties Premier South side 4-2. Yahya Bamba, who scored twice against the Darts for Eastbourne Borough just over a fortnight ago bagged a brace, while Gary Lockyer and Nyren Clunis added a third and fourth. In round two Cray Wanderers defeated Fisher 3-0 to move into the last eight. Tayo Oyebola, Alfie Evans and Anthony Cook all scored to overcome their Southern Counties East Division opponents.
Some silverware for Dartford will provide a small amount of consolation and victory on Tuesday night will set up a semi-final against Hendon of the Southern Premier League South.
Dartford have won 17 of their last 22 away games against Cray Wanderers (D2, L3)
In county cups (all Kent Senior) the Darts have progressed on eight occasions when drawn against the Wands (W8, D3, L2)
Dartford have a 72.5% win rate versus Cray Wanderers over the last 40 meetings in all competitions (W29, D6, L5)
On This Day
On the penultimate game of the 2012/2013 National League campaign the Darts enjoyed a 3-2 win against Forest Green Rovers on this day. Victory lifted Dartford into seventh place with goals from Danny Harris and a brace from Elliot Bradbrook. Although Tony Burman’s side dropped one place on the final day they were crowned the best part-time team in the country. After a mediocre season in the Southern Division One East, Dartford recorded a 6-2 triumph over basement boys Tilbury in 2005. The last fixture on this day for the Darts ended 0-0 versus Basingstoke Town in the National South eight years ago.
The F.A Trophy returns this weekend as the Darts look to move beyond the third round for the first time since their run to the semi-finaleight years ago.
Standing in Dartford’s way are former landlords Cray Wanderers, who caused a shock in the previous round by beating Ebbsfleet United on penalties. The Wands are currently at the wrong end of the Isthmian Premier League, but have made trophy history already setting their best ever run in the competition.
This fixture is steeped in history dating back to the year the Darts were formed in 1888. The two sides formed a close bond in the early nineties when Cray Wanderers offered Dartford a home, playing their part in keeping the Darts alive. The Wands now know what it’s like to be homeless currently playing their fixtures at Bromley’s Hayes Lane and hope to be moving to a new stadium.
The last three meetings between Dartford and Cray Wanderers have all been cup ties, the Wands knocked the Darts out of the Kent Senior Cup in 2017, whilst Dartford beat their opponents in the same competition the season before. In 2011, Ryan Hayes and Danny Harris helped the Darts win the F.A Cup third qualifying round tie 2-1. Dartford have dominated this fixture with Cray Wanderers winning just six of the last 43 meetings, but that will count for nothing come Saturday.
Dartford enter this weekend’s fixture after a tough 4-0 defeat against rivals Maidstone United. Rubbing salt into the Darts wound, Jack Barham took home the match ball with a hat-trick against his former club. The loss ended a seven match unbeaten run in all competitions toppling Steve King’s side off the top of the National South table, but they are level on points with leaders Oxford City. The Dartford boss spoke to Dartford FC TV after the derby defeat, he commented: “We’ve got to get over it and take our medicine, when you lose it’s how you react and it’s how we react next week that is important. There are a lot of tough games to come and we will be ready for the challenges”.
Watch post match interviews and highlights at Dartford FC TV
King tweaked the starting line up opting for wingers rather than the narrow formation he played against Billericay Town. Luke Wanadio and Danny Leonard started instead of Ronnie Vint and Tyrique Hyde and George Porter was in for the injured Jake Robinson. Some good news saw the return of Jack Jebb who featured as a substitute and made his first appearance for almost a month. Luke Allen remains a long term injury and Jordan Wynter has also been sidelined.
Dartford have only managed to progress through two rounds in any one season over the last five campaigns. In fact, the Darts have to go back to 2017 for their last victory in the competition in normal time when they beat Brentwood Town.
Cray Wanderers have already made it through three rounds and in the last they caused an upset at Danny Kedwell’s former club. The Wands boss guided his side to a penalty shoot-out victory over Ebbsfleet United. In that trophy triumph Cray Wanderers had two Dartford connections and a recent signing makes it three. Dartford midfielder, Cameron Brodie is currently on a season long loan with the Wands and has featured in most of their fixtures this season. The young prospect has made 13 appearances for the Darts since coming through the academy system. It was just seven months ago when striker Chris Dickson lifted the F.A Trophy at Wembley with seventh tier side Hornchurch, the striker was on dual registration with Dartford scoring three goals in eight appearances including a brace on his debut. Former goalkeeper, Bailey Vose signed for the Wands just last week after leaving Billericay Town, the shot stopper played 32 times for the Darts over two loan spells.
Kedwell’s side are currently fourth from bottom in the Isthmian Premier League, three points clear of last place. On the weekend they were beaten 1-0 at home against Bishop’s Stortford but grabbed an important victory three days earlier beating Horsham 3-1. Former West Ham United prospect and an experienced football league winger, Kyel Reid opened the scoring, Dickson made it 2-0 and Jamie Yila netted the third. The Wands also have experience with players who have been around the higher divisions of non-league in Dean Beckwith, Jai Reason, their top scorer Anthony Cook and 38-year-old Andy Drury.
The Wands previous best run in the trophy was to the second round and on both occasions they went out to St Albans City in 2005 and again last season. They have made it through three rounds before in 2015 and 2018 going out at the third qualifying round stage.
F.A Trophy story so far…
Third Qualifying Round Cray Wanderers 4-1 Kings Langley The scoreline suggests the Wands breezed through, but in truth two late goals secured their passage into round one. Anthony Cook won and scored a penalty for Cray Wandreres to open the scoring only for Alfie Williams to level. The Wands got off to a great start in the second half with a goal from Dean Beckwith, then two goals in the final minute secured the win. Former Dart, Chris Dickson and Daniel Ucheci made sure of a 4-1 victory.
First Round Cray Wanderers 2-1 Bedfont Sports Three more late goals made for an entertaining finish to this first round tie. Adam Coombes scored a decisive brace giving Cray Wanderers the lead then netting the winner. Bedfont Sports earlier equalised through Joe Jackson with all three goals coming in the final eleven minutes.
Second Round Bath City 0-0 Dartford (Dartford won 5-3 on penalties) A tight affair at Twerton Park ended with no goals scored after normal time and so the tie went straight to penalties. The Darts scored all five of their spot kicks and after two penalties each gained an advantage when Dan Wilks saved from Alex Fletcher. The Darts kept their heads and with Tyrique Hyde last to go for the visitors, the midfielder slotted home.
Cray Wanderers 2-2 Ebbsfleet United (Cray Wanderers won 5-3 on penalties) Up against his former side, manager Danny Kedwell caused a cup upset beating higher league opposition. Cray Wanderers went two up when Jamie Yila scored twice in three first half minutes. Ebbsfleet United hit back with two goals in the final fifteen minutes, first Rakish Bingham then Will Wood’s last minute equaliser forced the tie into penalties. After Michael West missed for the Fleet, Chris Dickson stepped up and scored the winning spot kick.
The two sides have met 21 times in cup football with Dartford winning 12 to Cray Wanderers’ six, there have been three draws.
After scoring in each of their opening twelve games in all competitions, Dartford have failed to score in six of the last eleven
The Darts have scored twice in each of their last four visits to Cray Wanderers winning three and losing one.
On This Day
The Darts met Cray Wanderers on this day back in 1993. The Kent League First Division fixture ended with Dartford winning 1-0, their last victory on the 18 December. In fact, Dartford have not scored on this day for 25 years. To be fair that spans just two matches, the last of which took place in 2004 when the Darts drew 0-0 with Leighton Town in the Southern League Division One East. Five years before that goalless draw, Dartford lost 1-0 at home to Bashley in the Southern League South. The last away fixture and last Dartford goal on this day came in 1996, however it was St Leonards who won the Southern League South match 3-1. The only F.A Trophy tie the Darts have been involved in on the 18 December ended in triumph back in 1976. Dartford beat Ashford Town 2-1 in the third qualifying round.
