Dartford are back in action at Princes Park this weekend when they host Potters Bar Town.
Squad Changes
Box-ing Clever
Olly Box was back in the side on Tuesday night after serving his one game ban. The forward continued his excellent goalscoring form with a brace and an assist.
Box once again showed his worth to the side taking his tally in his last four appearances to five goals. In the first half Box fired into the top corner and after the break he curled in number two. The tricky forward then unselfishly turned provider when he set up Callum Jones for the third. To cap off a good team performance, the defence kept a second clean sheet of the campaign.
Dartford’s biggest victory of the season moved them into seventh place and two points shy of the playoff places. For the first time this season, the Darts have also moved into a positive goal difference.
Scholars School the Darts
Match highlights courtesy of Dartford FC TV
Struggling Scholars Get Win
Last time out Potters Bar Town recorded their first home win in the league beating bottom side Canvey Island, to go seven points clear of the Gulls. However the Islanders clawed back the deficit with a shock midweek win over Brentwood Town. Brandon Adams scored the decisive goal in a 1-0 victory, the Scholars first win since early September when they beat Chichester City 3-1 on the road.
Max Mitchell’s side have only avoided defeat in two other Isthmian Premier games, drawing with Hashtag United in the opening week of the season and against Wingate and Finchley on Bank Holiday August.
Manager’s View
Dartford have made a ‘sticky start’ according to Pennock, so he dedicated Tuesday’s win to the fans. The Darts boss was delighted with the result and the way his team played, he spoke to Dartford FC TV and said: “I thought we were fantastic from start to finish. We controlled the game, played some really good football and scored three very good goals. It was just a very good team performance from everybody in the squad”.
Team News
Denzelle Olopade and Sam Odaudu will be assessed. Olopade picked up a hamstring issue against Brentwood Town and Sam Odaudu came off injured versus Whitehawk. Dan Smith was unavailable in midweek due to a family bereavement, but the striker will be available this weekend. Long term absentees, Dean Nayler and Sammie McLeod have still yet to feature this season.
Current League Form
Dartford (DDWDDW) | Potters Bar Town (DWLLLW) | ||||
Whitehawk | H | 3-0 | Canvey Island | H | 1-0 |
Brentwood Town | A | 1-1 | Cray Valley (PM) | H | 2-3 |
Burgess Hill Town | H | 3-3 | Ramsgate | A | 1-2 |
Cheshunt | H | 2-0 | St Albans City | H | 2-4 |
Aveley | A | 1-1 | Chichester City | A | 3-1 |
Canvey Island | H | 2-2 | Wingate and Finchley | H | 3-3 |
Head to Head
Dartford wins: 2 / Potters Bar Town wins: 2 / Draws: 2
Previous Meetings
Potters Bar Town 1 – 1 Dartford (05/11/2024 – Isthmian Premier)
Dartford 0 – 1 Potters Bar Town (13/08/2024 – Isthmian Premier)
Potters Bar Town 2 – 2 Dartford (05/04/2008 – Isthmian Division One North)
Dartford 4 – 0 Potters Bar Town (27/10/2007 – Isthmian Division One North)
Dartford 1 – 2 Potters Bar Town (11/03/2006 – Southern League Div One East)
Potters Bar Town 1 – 4 Dartford (08/10/2005 – Southern League Div One East)
Statistics
- Dartford are winless in three games against Potters Bar Town (D2, L1)
- The Darts have won one of the three home games versus the Scholars (L2)
- Olly Box has scored in every league game at home this season (8 goals in 6 games)
- Samir Carruthers made his 100th appearance for the club on Tuesday night (78 starts, 22 substitute appearances and 23 goals)
On This Day
Dartford are unbeaten in their last four matches on this day all at home. Alex Wall scored the only goal against Tooting and Mitcham United in 2022 to send the Darts into the next round of the London Senior Cup. An equaliser from Andy Pugh secured a 1-1 draw with Aldershot Town in the National League 11 years ago.
Twice the Darts progressed to the F.A Trophy second qualifying round on this day. In 2008, Rob Haworth and Jamie Coyle helped Dartford get past Harlow Town in a 2-1 win. Three years earlier the Darts came from behind twice to defeat rivals Dover Athletic 3-2 in a replay, Steve Hafner scoring a wonderful winner.
In 1986 Dartford racked up seven without reply in the Southern Premier League when they thrashed Redditch United.