Dartford are back at home this Halloween when they host Southern Premier League champions Weston-super-Mare.
The Darts are unbeaten on home soil against the Seagulls and aim to continue that run. A third straight victory at Princes Park will see Alan Dowson’s side enter the top ten moving within two points of the playoff places.
Weston-super-Mare made a fast start to life back in the National South. However one win in nine has seen Scott Bartlett’s team slide down the standings. The Seagulls have taken four points in their last two outings and are now a point behind the Darts.
It’s been just over five years since Dartford hosted the Seagulls. On that occasion the Darts won 2-1. Ben Greenhalgh was in this thick of the early action hitting the crossbar. The midfielder then sent in a cross for Lee Noble to header the hosts in front. Weston-super-Mare proceeded to hit the woodwork before deservedly equalising. Approaching half-time, Gethin Hill’s long range effort beat Deren Ibrahim. In the second-half the frame of the goal was struck again by the visitors. Two minutes later Elliot Bradbrook set up Jamie Philpot for the winner.
The Darts have won the last four home games against Weston-super-Mare. As hosts Dartford have won five and drawn three. The Seagulls only point at Princes Park came 12 years ago in 1-1 draw. The two previous stalemates were back in 1997 during Dartford’s homeless days.
Dowson made no changes to his starting eleven for a third game running on Saturday. The last time the Dartford boss managed that feat was in January. On a frustrating afternoon which saw Dowson sent off, the Darts fell to a 2-1 defeat at Hemel Hempstead Town.
Winger, Luke Coulson scored his first goal since the opening day from the penalty spot. Yet his first-half strike was cancelled out moments later when Reece Grant finished a one-on-one chance. The Tudors were awarded a penalty in the second-half. Joe Iaciofano stepped up and condemned the Darts to their fifth defeat in eight on the road. All seven of Dartford’s losses this season have now been by a single goal margin.
The Darts have now dropped nine points from winning positions this term. At home, six of those came in their opening three outings at Princes Park. However they have fared better on their own patch beating Havant and Waterlooville and Tonbridge Angels in consecutive games. Only Slough Town have come away from DA1 with all three points.
Bartlett couldn’t have hoped for a better start back in the division with Weston-super-Mare. A perfect record from the opening three fixtures had the Seagulls joint top. A win away at Truro City ended a run of six winless games which saw Bartlett’s side drop to mid-table.
In October, the Seagulls lost consecutive matches without scoring against Chelmsford City and Braintree Town. Although they managed to bounce back with an impressive 3-2 victory over Torquay United. On the weekend, Weston-super-Mare fell behind as early as the third minute. Maidstone United’s Levi Amantchi scored for the Stones. The points were shared after Reuben Reid netted a crucial penalty on the hour.
Current League Form
| Dartford (WWLWDL) | Weston-super-Mare (DWLLWD) | ||||
| Hemel Hempstead | A | 1-2 | Maidstone United | H | 1-1 |
| Eastbourne Borough | A | 1-1 | Torquay United | H | 3-2 |
| Havant & Waterlooville | H | 2-0 | Braintree Town | A | 0-2 |
| Hampton & Richmond | A | 3-4 | Chelmsford City | H | 0-3 |
| Chippenham Town | A | 4-1 | Truro City | A | 1-0 |
| Tonbridge Angels | H | 1-0 | Hampton & Richmond | H | 1-1 |
Head to Head
Dartford wins: 9 / Weston-super-Mare wins: 4 / Draws: 4
Last Six Meetings
Weston-super-Mare 3 – 1 Dartford (06/04/2019 – National South)
Dartford 2 – 1 Weston-super-Mare (29/09/2018 – National South)
Dartford 3 – 1 Weston-super-Mare (07/04/2018 – National South)
Weston-super-Mare 3 – 0 Dartford (23/09/2017 – National South)
Dartford 3 – 2 Weston-super-Mare (17/01/2017 – National South)
Weston-super-Mare 2 – 4 Dartford (26/11/2016 – F.A Trophy)
Statistics
- The home side has won each of the last five league games in this fixture. The Darts recorded the last league away win in August 2016
- Dartford are unbeaten at home against the Seagulls winning the last four (W5, D3)
- Luke Coulson could make his 50th start for Dartford (60 appearances / 10 goals)
On This Day
In the 19 games played on Halloween, Dartford have never drawn. The first fixture to have taken place on this day was back in 1891. The Darts gave St Mary’s of Lewisham a shock by thrashing them 10-0. In more recent times, Jack Barham’s brace was enough to earn a 2-1 win over Havant and Waterlooville in 2020. A second cup tie against Chipstead in 2009 ended 3-0. The Darts had already won 6-1 in the F.A Cup versus the same opponents a month earlier. This time Jamie Day, Danny Harris and Ryan Hayes scored to send Dartford to the F.A Trophy third qualifying round.