Tag: St Albans City (Page 1 of 2)

Dartford play their penultimate home game of the year when they host St Albans City this weekend in the National South.

The Darts had their hearts broken last time the Saints visited Princes Park. A penalty shoot-out defeat in the playoff semi-final ended any hope of promotion. This season neither side have hit the same heights, however both teams have plenty of time to make their way into the top seven.

In a tightly congested mid-table, Dartford are looking for the consistency that will give them a nudge up the table. Last weekend, their run of home matches was split up with a short away trip to Tonbridge Angels. Alan Dowson made two changes to the side, Archie Woods came in for Tyrell Miller-Rodney and Harvey Bradbury returned from suspension. Luke Coulson wasn’t available due to personal commitments.

Dowson’s unbeaten record in league Kent derbies ended emphatically at Longmead. The Dartford boss had won ten and drawn one against his local rivals in the National South. Last weekend his side were three down by half-time as the Angels scored three goals in eleven minutes. Former Dartford striker, Jordan Greenidge got the scoring underway, Lewis Gard doubled the lead and Tariq Hinds added another. To give the scoreline extra gloss for the hosts Greenidge scored again on a miserable afternoon for the Darts.

Defeat leaves Dartford five points from a playoff spot and six points above the relegation places. St Albans City are close behind trailing the Darts by a point. Last term the two sides were hardly separated in the head to head record, winning a game each and drawing the other. Latest form over the last six fixtures is also similar. Dartford may have had two excellent results over Torquay United and Yeovil Town, but they came back down to earth with last weekend’s loss.

The Saints came from behind in their last outing beating Chelmsford City. Former Dart, Ody Alfa set up Callum Watts to put the Clarets ahead. David Noble’s side were given an advantage when Luke Jenkins prevented Shaun Jeffers a goalscoring opportunity. Jenkins was dismissed and Jeffers scored the penalty. St Albans City struggled to find a breakthrough until Ryan Blackman’s late winner.

St Albans City last National South fixture on the road ended in an entertaining 4-4 draw versus Worthing. Another late goal earning the Hertfordshire club something from the game. Four points from their last two games has put behind their defeat at Truro City to start the month.

Dartford have already visited St Albans City this term back in September and lost 1-0. The squad looks stronger now with new signings and fewer players on the treatment table. Three months ago, in extremely hot conditions, Mitchell Weiss scored the winner just before the hour mark.

The Darts have won the last two league clashes at Princes Park against the Saints during the regular National South season. Weeks before that playoff exit, Dowson led his side to a 2-1 victory to secure a runner up spot. In his first spell with the Darts, Chin set up Samir Carruthers for the opener. Jeffers acrobatically equalised in the second-half before Pierre Fonkeu won it for Dartford. In April 2022, the Darts won 3-1 with Keiran Murtagh getting a brace and Marcus Dinanga adding a third.

Current League Form

Head to Head

Dartford wins: 12 / St Albans City wins: 7 / Draws: 7

Previous Meetings

St Albans City 1 – 0 Dartford (23/09/2023 – National South)
Dartford 1 – 1 St Albans City (07/05/2023 – National South Playoffs)*
Dartford 2 – 1 St Albans City (22/04/2023 – National South)
St Albans City 1 – 1 Dartford (22/10/2022 – National South)
Dartford 3 – 1 St Albans City (23/04/2022 – National South)
St Albans City 1 – 3 Dartford (14/08/2021 – National South)
* – St Albans City won 5-3 on penalties

Statistics

• At Princes Park, Dartford have won the last two in the National South against the Saints
• In this fixture, the Darts have lost just one in the last six league matches at home (W4, D1)
• In normal time at home, Dartford have fared better in this fixture losing just twice in 14 meetings (W7, D5)
• St Albans City have scored in each of their last 16 games against the Darts

On This Day

Dartford have drawn five of their last six matches on this day. Six years ago, the Darts hosted Braintree Town. Andy Pugh put the Darts in front only for Marcel Barrington to level in the second-half. In 2006, Ryan Hayes and Jay May scored in a 2-2 draw at Walton Casuals in the Isthmian Division One South. An away game at Histon ended 2-2 back 23 years ago. Dartford’s only victory in the last six on this day was in the F.A Trophy. The Darts won a replay versus Merthyr Tydfil 4-2 in 1986. Exactly 16 years earlier the same two teams had a Southern League First Division match abandoned after 37 minutes.

Dartford will be determined to put last season’s playoff defeat and current form behind them when they travel to St Albans City this weekend.

The Darts suffered heartbreak in May when they lost on penalties to a Saints side who fell short in the final. Dartford slipped down the National South standings in mid-week losing their second match in three days. St Albans City have taken four points in that time without conceding, ending their own barren spell of three defeats on the spin.

Dartford have been unable to replicate their form at the end of last year and so far in 2023 their inconsistencies have led to a slow start. On the weekend the long trip west finished in a 1-0 defeat against Taunton Town when Dave Sims-Burgess was allowed a free header at goal. Aiming to bounce back from the disappointment, Alan Dowson’s side had the chance on Tuesday night against bottom of the table Slough Town and failed to take it.

Only one change was made to the starting lineup with Dowson opting to play two strikers, Lewis Manor selected ahead of Moussa Diarra. After serving a three-match suspension, Brandon Barzey is now away on international duty with Montserrat, whilst Tommy Block, Luke Allen, Alex Wall and Sam Odaudu are recovering from injury. Charlie Sheringham returned to the squad and made a substitute appearance against Slough Town, but Maxwell Statham suffered an injury and was replaced mid-way through the first half. A lacklustre performance left the Darts pointless and after Baris Altintop’s first Dartford goal cancelled out George Alexander’s twelfth minute strike, the Rebels scored the winner courtesy of Tyrese Dyce.

Alternating wins and losses in their opening three games, St Albans City went on to lose three on the trot ahead of the weekend. David Noble’s side stopped the unwanted run with a 0-0 draw at Welling United on Saturday. Three days later the Saints took on Dover Athletic and secured a 2-0 victory. Zane Banton and George Hoddle were unavailable due to injury, Nathan Carlyle was brought in to replace Dylan Fage. Forward, Mitchell Weiss assisted and scored to inspire his side. The 30-year-old set up Andronicos Georgiou in the first half and doubled Saints’ lead in the second. Former Dartford midfielder Bobby Dunn featured coming on as a late substitute.

In the three meetings last season the honours were even with Dartford drawing in their last visit to Clarence Park. Loanee, Jack Smith scored his first goal for the Darts to open the scoring. However, Saints equalised through Shaun Jeffers. In the return fixture, despite Dartford winning 2-1, it will be the goal scored by Jeffers that sticks long in the memory. First, Richard Chin provided the pass for Samir Carruthers to finish and put the Darts in front. However, Saints were back level when Jeffers acrobatically struck the ball beyond Ben Dudzinski. The hosts found a winner thanks to a pair of substitutes. Luke Coulson’s free-kick was saved only for Fonkeu to pounce and net the winner.

The crucial playoff semi-final clash came a fortnight later and this time St Albans City prevailed in a shoot-out. Harvey Bradbury gave Dartford the advantage when his clever lob beat the onrushing goalkeeper, Dylan Berry. The Darts were five minutes away from going in at the break with a one goal lead, but a low corner was converted by Aidan Francis-Clarke to draw level. No further goals were scored in the second-half or during extra time and so it came down to the pressure of penalties. When Berry saved Carruthers’ effort from 12 yards it was an advantage the Saints wouldn’t relinquish. St Albans City went on to score all five kicks to win 5-3 and progress to the final.

Current Form

Head to Head

Dartford wins: 12 / St Albans City wins: 6 / Draws: 7

Last Six Meetings

Dartford 1 – 1 St Albans City (07/05/2023 – National South Playoffs)*
Dartford 2 – 1 St Albans City (22/04/2023 – National South)
St Albans City 1 – 1 Dartford (22/10/2022 – National South)
Dartford 3 – 1 St Albans City (23/04/2022 – National South)
St Albans City 1 – 3 Dartford (14/08/2021 – National South)
Dartford 0 – 1 St Albans City (17/11/2020 – National South)
* – St Albans City won 5-3 on penalties

Statistics

• Dartford are unbeaten in their last four league games against St Albans City (W3, D1) and have lost just once in the last eight league matches (W5, D2)
• The Darts are unbeaten in three league games at Clarence Park (W2, D1) after losing the previous four without scoring
• Both teams have scored in the previous five competitive meetings
• Dartford have gone 15 games without a clean sheet against St Albans City stretching back to February 2016

On This Day

Ryan Hayes set up two goals and scored the other in a 3-0 home win over Chippenham Town six years ago. The winger’s accurate cross was headed in by Alfie Pavey in the first-half. After the interval, Hayes picked out Andy Pugh at the far post to double the lead. To wrap things up, Hayes got his goal sweeping the ball home into the bottom corner.

In 2014, the Darts came back from two goals down to clinch a last-minute draw with Eastleigh at Princes Park in the National League. The Spitfires scored twice inside 22 minutes through Jamie Collins and James Constable. However, the hosts fought back after the break with goals from Elliot Bradbrook and a ninetieth minute equaliser by Harry Crawford.

Dartford’s last away game on this day was 23 years ago when they lost 1-0 to Spalding United in the Southern League Division One East. The last victory on their travels on 9 September came in 1998 when the Darts beat Reading Town 3-0 in a F.A Cup preliminary round replay.

Dartford have a tough final home game of the regular season when they host playoff hopefuls St Albans City this weekend.

The Darts will be hoping for another two home matches, but that depends if they can secure second place and make it through to the playoff final next month. A runners up finish will mean a home tie in the semi-final against the side who finishes in either fifth or sixth, that side could be St Albans City. The Saints have a four-point cushion over eighth place with two games remaining.

Victory will bring up 50 points at Princes Park for Dartford this term, who have the second-best home record in the league. St Alban City have fared better on their travels accumulating the second most points on the road. Little separates the two teams and that was the case back in October when they played out a 1-1 draw at Clarence Park. Jack Smith scored his first goal in a Dartford shirt and although it was an easy tap in, the Darts worked the ball forwards swiftly after gaining possession on the halfway line. St Albans City equalised after catching Dartford out with a quick throw in and when the ball fell to Shaun Jeffers, he took an air shot before drilling his second attempt beyond Joe Young. The Darts will have to keep an eye on St Albans City’s top scorer, Jeffers has managed 25 league goals this term and top scored last season with 27.

The prospect of facing St Albans City since Dartford returned to the National South used to be daunting for the Darts, the Saints won five out of six with an aggregate score of 14-2. However, the tide has turned in recent years as Dartford have lost just once in the last seven meetings, winning four of those. The last time the Hertfordshire club came to visit Princes Park was a day shy of a year. Dartford surpassed a century of goals for the season in all competitions and Keiran Murtagh scored his first two for the club. The midfielder’s glancing header from Jack Jebb’s corner set the host on their way, but Jeffers levelled for the Saints. Murtagh put the Darts back ahead when his volley beat goalkeeper, Michael Johnson at the near post. Marcus Dinanga slotted in a third to complete a double over St Albans City after the reverse fixture on the opening day also ended 3-1.

Up until the festive season the Darts were well within a chance of challenging for the National South title. After victories against Havant and Waterlooville then completing a double against local rivals Ebbsfleet United, Dartford were top of the table on New Years Day. Rising to the summit was helped by a run of ten victories and a draw in eleven matches from September to early November. After the fantastic spell over Christmas and New Year, the Darts beat Cheshunt to make it four wins on the bounce, but form has not been that good since. Now the National South title has been sewn up, Dowson’s side are left scrapping for second with Oxford City and Chelmsford City.

On Thursday night the Darts missed an opportunity to go five points clear of the chasers losing 3-2 at Concord Rangers. Only one change was made to the starting eleven after the 1-0 away win at Tonbridge. Luke Allen made way for Pierre Fonkeu. Alex Wall and Charlie Sheringham were named on the bench. Wall had been out with a calf strain picked up against Eastbourne Borough on Good Friday. Although the striker made a ten minute appearance on Thursday he was taken off and may have returned from injury too soon. Sheringham’s injury kept the striker out for over two months and he was introduced later on in the game. Samir Carruthers didn’t feature in the matchday squad and has been recovering since the Easter period, although Dowson did state the midfielder is back training.

Dartford suffered a disappointing defeat in Essex against a Concord Rangers side hoping to pull of a great escape. In a topsy turvy game the hosts went ahead when Lewis Manor scored. Within six minutes the Darts were level and it was Harvey Bradbury yet again with his fifth goal in eight games since joining last month. Dartford edged in front when Sam Odaudu scored his first for the club on his 26th appearance. The Beachboys fought back in the second half, Ben Steward equalised then with two minutes left Manor scored a vital winner for Rob Small’s side.

A second place finish is still in Dartford’s hands but they will most likely need points against St Albans City this weekend. Dowson’s side are two points ahead of their closest challengers Oxford City and Chelmsford City and can still be caught by Worthing.

St Albans City have hit form at the right time to get into the top seven and they hope to stay put. If the Saints can make the playoffs it will be the first time in this division since they won promotion to the National League in 2006. Difficult to beat in the first couple of months of the season, St Albans City were too inconsistent and by the end of October they were in twelfth. However, the Hertfordshire side saw out the rest of 2022 with seven wins from nine, including a 6-0 away trouncing of Hampton and Richmond Borough and into fifth. A mediocre start to the New Year and a difficult February meant the Saints dipped below the dotted line, but they would rise again. Currently David Noble’s side have tasted defeat just once in their last eight outings winning five of those and their last two matches. A 3-0 triumph over Welling United last weekend followed up a 2-1 win at bottom club Concord Rangers and now St Albans City are hoping to stay above that dotted line.

Head to Head

Dartford wins: 11 / St Albans City wins: 6 / Draws: 6

Current League Form

Last Six Meetings

St Albans City 1 – 1 Dartford (22/10/2022 – National South)
Dartford 3 – 1 St Albans City (23/04/2022 – National South)
St Albans City 1 – 3 Dartford (14/08/2021 – National South)
Dartford 0 – 1 St Albans City (17/11/2020 – National South)
St Albans City 1 – 2 Dartford (07/03/2020 – National South)
Dartford 1 – 1 St Albans City (06/08/2019 – National South)

Statistics

• Dartford have won 50% of their home games against St Albans City in all competitions (W6, D4, L2)
• The Darts have gone 13 games without a clean sheet against the Saints stretching back to a 2-0 win in February 2016
• Dartford have alternated between wins and losses for their last eight games

On This Day

Two late goals from substitute Tom Murphy turned the final home game of the 2018/2019 season around for the Darts. After finding themselves a goal down at home to Billericay Town, Murphy was introduced and scored in the 88th and 90th minutes to win it for Dartford. Two years earlier, the Darts cruised to a 4-0 triumph over Bishop’s Stortford in the last home league fixture of the 2016/2017 campaign before the playoffs. Andy Pugh and Elliot Bradbrook gave the Darts a commanding 2-0 lead before the break. Duane Ofori-Acheampong and Alfie Pavey added another two in the second-half. Bromley beat the Darts 4-1 at Hayes Lane in 2011 on this day and Danny Harris netted a brace a year earlier in a 2-1 victory over Hendon with the Isthmian Premier League title already secured. Dartford claimed a fourth Kent Senior Cup in five seasons with a 3-2 win over Folkestone back in 1935.

Dartford are eyeing up a seventh straight National South win when they travel to St Albans City this weekend.

Alan Dowson has guided the Darts up to third place after recording their best winning run in the league for four and half years. Last time on their travels, the Dartford boss recorded back-to-back away victories for the first time since joining the club and is hoping for three in a row on Saturday. After six years in charge of St Albans City, Ian Allinson stepped down from his role and head coach at the end of last month with the Saints in fifteenth. Interim Head Coach, David Noble has since moved the Hertfordshire club up into ninth after an unbeaten start.

Four points behind top spot, Dartford are top of the form guide over the last six fixtures and will head into their trip to Clarence Park with confidence. The Darts opened last season with an away day at St Albans City and it turned out to be a great start to the campaign. Scoring at the end of both halves wrapped up a satisfying afternoon. Ade Azeez headed home a Danny Leonard cross just before the interval. Former Dartford and now ex-St Albans City defender, Tom Bender levelled the game. Dan Roberts was introduced, and it proved pivotal when he scored twice in the closing stages to earn a 3-1 win. Victory in Hertfordshire made it two in a row at St Albans, a place the Darts previously struggled to get a result. The reverse fixture finished the same with Dartford running out 3-1 winners. Kieran Murtagh put on a fine display scoring twice and setting up Marcus Dinanga.

The squad is almost at full strength now Sam Odaudu has returned and with Luke Coulson taking part in Tuesday night’s London Senior Cup tie. Dartford beat Isthmian South Central side Tooting and Mitcham United 1-0 with the winning goal coming from Alex Wall, his second of the season. George Whitefield signed a first team contract after catching Dowson’s eye in the academy and he was rewarded with a debut. Afo Soyemi-Ololade also made his first appearance coming on as a substitute. Dan Wilks is still recovering from an ankle injury which has allowed Joe Young a loan stint in goal.

Dartford have scored two in each of their last five league games and one player adding goals to his creativity is Samir Carruthers, the midfielder has netted six times in his last seven appearances scoring in each of his last three outings. Last weekend at Princes Park he gave the Darts the lead against Tonbridge Angels directly from a corner. Pierre Fonkeu doubled Dartford’s advantage before the away side missed a penalty resulting in a 2-0 Kent derby win. Carruthers also opened the scoring in the 2-1 triumphs at Dulwich Hamlet and at home versus Eastbourne Borough during his scoring spree.

Under David Noble’s stewardship, St Albans City are unbeaten in October with three wins and a draw, one of those victories came in the Hertfordshire Senior Cup. Noble will be pleased with a defence that has been breached just once since he took charge recording three clean sheets. Only Chelmsford City have conceded fewer in the league, but at the other end the Saints have scored less than a goal a game, in fact only five goals in six matches have been witnessed in the league at Clarence Park this term.

However, they were no lack of goals last weekend when St Albans City made the trip to Kent to take on Welling United. A comfortable afternoon saw the Hertfordshire side win 3-0 with last season’s top scorer Shaun Jeffers starting the ball rolling. Zane Banton took advantage of a goalkeeping error which allowed him to put into an empty net from 30 yards and the third came from Jeffers for his second of the day. Victory at Park View Road followed up the 1-0 home win over Concord Rangers in which Joe Neal scored the winner. In Noble’s first league game in charge, the Saints drew 1-1 with Chippenham Town and before that they beat London Colney 2-0 in the senior cup, the interim Head Coach’s first match at the helm.

Head to Head

Dartford wins: 11 / St Albans City wins: 6 / Draws: 5

Current League Form

Last Six Meetings

Dartford 3 – 1 St Albans City (23/04/2022 – National South)
St Albans City 1 – 3 Dartford (14/08/2021 – National South)
Dartford 0 – 1 St Albans City (17/11/2020 – National South)
St Albans City 1 – 2 Dartford (07/03/2020 – National South)
Dartford 1 – 1 St Albans City (06/08/2019 – National South)
Dartford 3 – 2 St Albans City (12/01/2019 – National South)

Statistics

• Dartford have lost just one of the last six against St Albans City (W4, D1) having won just one of the previous six (D0, L5)
• On the road, Dartford have won in their last two visits to St Albans City having lost the previous four with and aggregate score of 0-11.
• Dartford have gone 19 games without a league draw for the first time since the 2016/2017 season.

On This Day

Brendon Cass stole the show in the F.A Trophy first qualifying round on this day in 2006. The striker helped himself to four goals as Dartford eased to victory against Horsham YMCA. Eddie McClements opened the scoring and Ryan Hayes scored with his trademark curler in a trophy tie that ended up 6-0 to the Darts. Most recently, Luke Wanadio scored the only goal of the game as Dartford went away to Bath City and won in 2016. Dartford’s last game at Princes Park on 22 October ended in defeat against Truro City. The visitors were two goals up after just seven minutes. Tom Bonner pulled a goal back after scoring a rebound, but the Darts couldn’t complete their comeback.