A neutral venue will host Dartford’s long trip west to face Truro City in a relegation six pointer on Tuesday night.
For the Darts, the journey to Gloucester City’s Meadow Park shortens their travelling time compared to the fixture that was postponed back in January, when the match was due to be played in Plymouth. Truro City, who face 12 games in 24 days will be making the 195 mile jaunt just to play at ‘home’.
Victory in Gloucestershire will ensure the Darts climb out of the relegation zone and finish the evening above the White Tigers. Dartford have won just one in their last eight National South games. Truro City have secured two victories in their last 11 outings, both those triumphs came in the last four matches. Although last time out they were beaten by Tonbridge Angels despite going in front.
New Dartford boss, Adrian Pennock picked up his first point at the helm on the weekend to halt a run of four straight league defeats for the club. Having fallen behind some could see the draw as a precious point gained. However with relegation rivals slipping up around the Darts, it was also an opportunity missed against a struggling Hemel Hempstead Town side.
Pennock was pleased with the character shown by his players at the end of a difficult week for the club on and off the field. The passing of co-chairman Dave Skinner was respected prior kick off with a minute applause.
On the field the Darts were without Brandon Barzey who is on international duty for Montserrat. Jordan Greenidge is suspended, for the red card picked up in the 2-0 loss versus Braintree Town and will be unavailable on Tuesday night. Goalkeeper, Billy Terrell was also sent off against Maidstone United, so his ban forced Pennock into signing Rhys Byrne on loan from Leyton Orient. Oliver Box was in contention to feature against Hemel Hempstead Town on Saturday, but an ankle injury prevented the youngster making his 15th appearance for the team. Sam Odaudu is recovering from a long term injury.
Byrne became the sixth keeper used by Dartford this term in all competitions. The loanee was given his debut alongside Harrison Sodje, also from Leyton Orient and Oliver Bray, from Aldershot Town. Bray also had a spell with Truro City earlier this season, scoring once in seven appearances for the White Tigers. The trio were part of four changes to the last starting eleven in the league. Alex Wall was the other alteration to the side replacing the suspended Greenidge.
Dartford had enough chances to beat Hemel Hempstead Town, who were led by former manager Alan Dowson. The opening ten minutes saw Fumnaya Shomotun weave through the Tudors defence only for former Dartford goalkeeper Craig King to save. The visitors went in front with their first major effort, Michael Folivi was played through on goal and the striker calmly finished. Early in the second half the Darts were wasteful in front of goal until man of the match Paul Rooney equalised to earn the hosts a point. Although Dartford gained a small amount of ground on Taunton Town, Truro City and Welling United they remain in the bottom four.
Meadow Park will be the third different venue Dartford have visited to play Truro City. In those five previous matches, the Darts have won just one and that was 5-0 in October 2016 at Treyew Road. Keaton Wood, Andy Pugh and Duane Ofori-Acheampong all scored in the first half. Ofori-Acheampong netted again in the second forty-five as did Alex Brown.
The last visit was six years ago to the day played at Torquay United’s ground, Plainmoor. After three unanswered goals Dartford scored a last-minute consolation. Tyler Harvey opened the scoring before hitting the woodwork. The striker then scored on the stroke of half-time and moments later Nick Grimes added a third. Kudus Oyenuga headed in a 90th minute goal for the visitors as it ended 3-1.
Truro City manager Paul Wotton is ‘taking each game as it comes’ in assessing which of his players are available and fit. The busy fixture schedule caused by waterlogged pitches at Plymouth Parkway’s Bolitho Park and Taunton Town’s Wordsworth Drive have left the White Tigers needing to play three games a week and they still need to rearrange the abandoned fixture versus Eastbourne Borough.
On Saturday, the Cornwall side looked good for maximum points in Kent after Josh Hinds scored his first goal for the club just past the hour mark. However, Tonbridge Angels left it very late to steal all three points when Jordan Higgs levelled six minutes from time and Jamie Fielding netted the winner in the 93rd minute.
A week earlier Truro City recorded their first away win since January. Andrew Neal and Adam Porter were on target in a 2-1 win at St Albans City. Their next fixture, last Tuesday against Eastbourne Borough, was abandoned after a serious injury to Sports defender Alex Finney.
Potentially the reverse fixture could be decisive in who stays in the National South. Dartford play Truro City again on the final day of the season at Princes Park.
Current League Form
| Dartford (DLLLLD) | Truro City (LLWLWL) | ||||
| Hemel Hempstead | H | 1-1 | Tonbridge Angels | A | 1-2 |
| Maidstone United | H | 0-2 | St Albans City | A | 2-1 |
| Braintree Town | A | 0-2 | Chelmsford City | A | 1-4 |
| Torquay United | A | 1-4 | Taunton Town | H | 2-0 |
| Aveley | H | 1-2 | Welling United | A | 2-3 |
| Taunton Town | H | 1-1 | Bath City | A | 1-2 |
Head to Head
Dartford wins: 3 / Truro City wins: 5 / Draws: 2
Last Six Meetings
Dartford 1 – 1 Truro City (30/03/2019 – National South)
Truro City 3 – 1 Dartford (27/10/2018 – National South)
Dartford 4 – 1 Truro City (24/02/2018 – National South)
Truro City 3 – 1 Dartford (11/11/2017 – National South)
Dartford 5 – 3 Truro City (18/03/2017 – National South)
Truro City 0 – 5 Dartford (08/10/2016 – National South)
Statistics
- The last seven meetings between the two sides have averaged 4.32 goals per game. Dartford have scored 17 to Truro City’s 14 (W3, D1, L3)
- Dartford’s only win away at Truro City was 5-0 in October 2016, since then they have lost two in a row
- The Darts are on their longest streak without a win in the league this season. It’s the second time this campaign in which Dartford have failed to record a victory in seven National South games.
On This Day
Dartford took a massive step towards winning the Kent Senior Cup on this day in 1973. The first leg of the final against Folkestone Town finished 6-2 to the Darts. Nine days later a 4-2 second leg win handed the county cup to Dartford in style. The Darts last outing on this day was a couple of years ago when Marcus Dinanga scored the only goal of the game at Hampton and Richmond Borough. Dartford hosted Lewes in 2011 and a goal from Danny Harris and a brace for Charlie Sheringham secured a 3-0 victory.
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