Dartford target promotion to the National South in a big Kent derby playoff final against rivals Dover Athletic on Bank Holiday Monday.
A return to the National South at the first attempt awaits the winners in what will be Josh Hill’s final game. The Dartford skipper will want to hang up his boots in style by captaining the Darts to victory. Dover Athletic will arrive at Princes Park wanting to spoil the party after claiming the final playoff place on the final day.
Dartford were seconds from bowing out on Wednesday and seeing their season come to an end. Set pieces were the Darts downfall with two identical corners by Cray Valley Paper Mills in each half. Danny Waldren got on the end of both to give the visitors a 2-0 lead and leave Pennock’s side on the brink.
Highlights courtesy of Dartford FC TV
The hosts were handed a lifeline with 20 minutes to go when Cray Valley’s Crossley Lema was red carded for an off the ball incident in the penalty area. The match official awarded the hosts a penalty, which Samir Carruthers stuck away. In post match interviews, Dartford assistant manager, Roland Edge and Cray Valley boss Steve McKimm both acknowledged the dismissal as the turning point in the game. After hitting the woodwork and throwing everything at the Millers, a free kick was given for one final chance. Sam Odaudu went for goal with the last kick and his shot deflected into the net.
The turnaround was complete in extra time when Hayden Bullas swept home a third. Then it got better with George Whitefield netting his tenth of the season. However, the ten men of Cray Valley threatened another twist when Adam Coombes pulled a goal back.
Pennock made three changes to the starting lineup. Luther Williams replaced the suspended Michael Olarewaju. At full back Sam Okoye returned, whilst Jez Pinder came in for Samir Carruthers, who has been struggling to play a full ninety minutes due to injury. Carruthers was later substituted in extra time.
Interview courtesy of Dartford FC TV
Dover Athletic also needed an additional half hour in their win over league runners up Billericay Town. Striker, Alfie Matthews was the hero scoring an extra time brace. Manager, Jake Leberl named the same team that clinched the playoff place with a win against Chichester City. After a goalless ninety minutes, the Whites came from behind to reach the final and set up a Kent derby. Billericay Town took the lead early in extra time when former Dart, Femi Akinwande scored. The visitors fought back immediately when Matthews equalised. Then with the match heading to penalties, Matthews netted the winner late in the second period.
Match highlights courtesy of DAFCtv
Home advantage counted in the two league meetings between Dartford and Dover Athletic this season. At the Crabble, the Darts were made to pay for defensive errors by their rival’s potent strike force. George Nikaj, Ruben Soares-Junior and Luke Baptiste have all scored over 20 goals this season totalling 69 between them. Soares-Junior grabbed a brace in the 5-1 win over the Darts by starting and finishing the scoring. George Wilkinson and Baptiste had the hosts three up before half-time and Matthews added another five minutes into the second half. Pinder pulled one back for Dartford, but Matthews wrapped things up.
The Good Friday reverse match over a fortnight ago went Dartford’s way, demonstrating how far the side has progressed this season. Chasing the league title, any derby day nerves for the Darts were settled on quarter of an hour when Carruthers brilliantly curled in a free kick. The lead was doubled when Denzelle Olopade pounced on a flicked header. In the second half a third arrived with Hill heading home at the far post after great work from Olly Box to get in the cross. Dover Athletic managed to get one back through Soares-Junior.
Highlights courtesy of Dartford FC TV
For both teams this is their seventh playoff campaign, and the two clubs have experienced plenty of heartbreak in the past. Although the Darts won the 2012 National South final in another Kent derby at home against Welling United, they have lost three penalty shootouts including the final versus Weymouth five years ago.
The Darts have looked down and out a couple of times this season. Most notably back in October when they were in 15th spot. A club record equalling 21 matches unbeaten put Dartford in the title race, but they fell short on the final day.
Defensively the Darts have generally been solid. Only champions Horsham kept more clean sheets this term and Dartford conceded the fourth fewest. However, they have conceded nine in their last three outings. Attacking wise the goals have been shared out with five players hitting double figures in all competitions.
Dover Athletic’s solitary playoff winning campaign also resulted in a Kent derby triumph when they beat Ebbsfleet United 4-2 to reach the National League in 2014. Like the Darts they have also had five failed attempts, including one chance to make it to the Football League nine years ago. The Whites have been losing finalists on two occasions. In 2006 they were beaten by Tonbridge Angels in the Isthmian Division One South and in 2013 by Salisbury City in the National South.
The Whites grabbed the final playoff spot with a winner takes all showdown against Chichester City on the last game. Failure to cement a playoff spot would have been disastrous for Dover considering they were the early front runners to win the league. The Whites were top from October to the New Year then they lost form for a couple of months. The Whites had a strong enough finish to the campaign to hold on to fifth place.
| Dartford (WDWWLW) | Dover Athletic (WWLDWW) | ||||
| Cray Valley PM | H | 4-3 | Billericay Town | A | 2-1 |
| Carshalton Athletic | H | 1-4 | Chichester City | A | 2-1 |
| Cray Wanderers | A | 2-2 | Hastings United | H | 1-1 |
| Dover Athletic | H | 3-1 | Dartford | A | 1-2 |
| Whitehawk | A | 1-0 | Hendon | H | 4-2 |
| Folkestone Invicta | H | 2-2 | Cheshunt | H | 2-1 |
Head to Head
Dartford wins: 19 / Dover Athletic wins: 12 / Draws: 12
Previous Six Meetings
Dartford 3 – 1 Dover Athletic (18/04/2025 – Isthmian Premier)
Dover Athletic 5 – 1 Dartford (07/09/2024 – Isthmian Premier)
Dover Athletic 1 – 2 Dartford (17/02/2024 – National South)
Dartford 2 – 0 Dover Athletic (28/08/2023 – National South)
Dartford 2 – 1 Dover Athletic (10/04/2023 – National South)
Dover Athletic 1 – 3 Dartford (13/09/2022 – National South)
Statistics
- Dartford have lost just one of their last 16 home matches (W11, D4)
- In all competitions the Darts have won their last four home games against the Whites and are unbeaten in six (D1)
- Dover Athletic have won six of their last eight matches
- The Whites have won three of their last four on the road
- Dartford are the only side to have beaten the Whites in the last eight fixtures