Unbeaten in nine league games, the Darts are still looking for their first away win of the season. Adrian Pennock’s side moved up to sixth last time out.

Fourth place Cray Wanderers have not tasted league defeat in eight and only leaders Brentwood Town have beaten the Wands at Flamingo Park in the Isthmian Premier. Tim O’Shea’s team picked up another draw on Tuesday night.

Hat-Trick Eddie

Eddie Dsane took home the match ball on Saturday with a hat-trick in a 4-1 win for the Darts. The forward moved on to ten goals in 14 appearances this season.

Sam Smith returned to the starting lineup and Michael Olarewaju made his first league start since his red card at St Albans City back in August. Sam Odaudu and George Whitefield weren’t in the squad, but Dan Smith returned on the substitute’s bench.

Dartford came from behind for the fourth time this season to claim points. Potters Bar Town took the lead on nine minutes, Brandon Adams fired low beyond Jonny Henly to put the visitors in front. The equaliser came shortly after when Dsane won a penalty and scored to equalise. He added a second four minutes later from close range after good work by Samir Carruthers and Callum Jones. A third arrived just before half time with a well taken volley by Joe Tennent, his first goal for the Darts. Dsane completed his second hat-trick of the campaign two minutes into the second-half to secure back to back Dartford wins for the first time this season.

Match highlights courtesy of Dartford FC TV

So Close Yet So Far

Last season saw the Darts visit Flamingo Park for the first time in a roller coaster of a match. The Easter Monday fixture against Cray Wanderers had a huge impact on the title race. At the start of the day Dartford had a two point lead and for eight minutes Pennock’s side were on the verge of automatic promotion back to the National South. Callum Jones found himself on the end of a long Sam Odaudu throw to put the Darts in the driving seat. However the hosts threw a spanner in the works when Frankie Raymond levelled from the spot. The Wands edged ahead after Lateef Adaja scored. Dartford pushed for an equaliser and got it through Denzelle Olopade. There was still time for Michael Olarewaju to get sent off and Eddie Dsane to hit the crossbar. The 2-2 draw left the Darts in third place level on points with the top two, but with an inferior goal difference going into the final day of the season.

Box-ing Day

The reverse fixture was played over the festive period four months earlier with Olly Box netting a brace on Boxing Day.

After half an hour Josh Williams put Cray Wanderers in front. In the second-half Box turned the game around with a pair of delightful goals either side of the hour mark. First, he smashed home an equaliser and four minutes later he cut inside and found the top corner to secure a 2-1 home victory.

Skipper Returns

Captained by former Dartford skipper Tom Bonner, Cray Wanderers have made a decent start to their league campaign. Bonner’s leadership and experience on the field helped the Darts win the National South playoffs and two Kent Senior Cups across his ten seasons and 456 appearances for the club. He missed last weekend’s entertaining draw with Chatham Town through suspension after picking up two yellow cards in the previous game against Dulwich Hamlet. Another former Dart in the Wands squad is Chris Dickson. Now 40 years old he played a part in Horsham’s title winning team last term. The striker scored three goals in eight games during a loan spell for Dartford in the 2020/2021 season. Going the other way, Ben Frempah used to play for Cray Wanderers spending part of the 2013/2014 campaign with the Wands before a move to Leicester City.

The Drawing Wands

Cray Wanderers may be unbeaten in eight league matches, but like the Darts they have had their fair share of draws. Not only have they finished level in their previous three fixtures, they have drawn six in their last eight league outings. On Tuesday night the Wands came so close to getting maximum points, leading St Albans City in the closing stages. Kareem Isiaka opened the scoring at Flamingo Park a minute into the second half. However three minutes into stoppage time George Sippetts equalised for the visitors. Last weekend Cray Wanderers were involved in a 3-3 draw against Chatham Town, who sit a place above the Wands in the standings. Isiaka gave the hosts an early lead, but Chatham Town were in front by the break. Cray Wanderers were quick out of the blocks in the second half levelling through Alex Hernandez. The Chats looked as though they had won it with two minutes to go, but Ashley Nzala earned a point in injury time. The trio of draws started at Dulwich Hamlet, the side currently sandwiched between the Darts and the Wands. Hernandez cancelled out Nyren Clunis’ opener.

A Year of Progress

This time last year Cray Wanderers were rock bottom with six points from their opening ten games. Although former manager Neil Smith improved results and pushed the Wands up the table, O’Shea took charge for the final seven games to secure a top ten finish and earn the manager’s job on a permanent basis.

Assistant Manager’s View

Roland Edge is seeing the Darts make progress this season and that’s just as important to him than consecutive wins, he told Dartford FC TV after the Potters Bar Town victory: “Obviously you always want back to back wins, you want to go on a lovely run like we did last year, but that doesn’t always happen. The pleasing thing for me is we’re getting better in each game”, he added: “We’re getting harder to break down, people are starting to understand what people are going to do when they are on the ball. They are buying into it as a group and you need to be a squad to get the job done”. The assistant manager rates Cray Wanderers, but looking forward to this weekend’s Kent derby Edge wants the Darts to concentrate on what they do well, he commented: “They’re a good side, they have started brilliantly. They know what they are doing, they have got a good manager”, he continued: “We’ve just got to focus on ourselves a lot really and perfect our own game and we’ll find out where we are. They’ve started well, we’re starting to get together and make a climb. I hope we can do it on the weekend”.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1zdb5uxQJ4

Interview courtesy of Dartford FC TV

Team News

Denzelle Olopade, Sam Odaudu and George Whitefield were all out of the matchday squad last weekend with injury. Long term absentees, Dean Nayler and Sammie McLeod have yet to feature this season.

Current League Form

Dartford (WDLDWW)			Cray Wanderers (WDLDWW)
Potters Bar Town	H	4-1	St Albans City	H	1-1
Whitehawk	H	3-0	Chatham Town	A	3-3
Brentwood Town	A	1-1	Dulwich Hamlet	A	1-1
Hadley (FAT)	A	1-2	AFC Wimbledon (LSC)	H	4-5
Burgess Hill Town	H	3-3	Bishop’s Stortford (FAT)	A	0-4
Cheshunt	H	2-0	Dulwich Hamlet	H	4-2

Head to Head

Dartford wins: 37 / Cray Wanderers wins: 21 / Draws: 12

Previous Meetings

Cray Wanderers 2 – 2 Dartford (21/04/2025 – Isthmian Premier) Dartford 2 – 1 Cray Wanderers (26/12/2024 – Isthmian Premier) Cray Wanderers 1 – 2 Dartford (16/04/2024 – London Senior Cup) Cray Wanderers 1 – 3 Dartford (18/12/2021 – F.A Trophy) Cray Wanderers 4 – 2 Dartford (20/09/2017 – Kent Senior Cup) Cray Wanderers 1 – 2 Dartford (05/10/2016 – Kent Senior Cup)

Statistics

• • In the league Dartford have lost just once against Cray Wanderers in the last 21 outings (W15, D5)

• • The Darts have won 18 of the last 23 away matches against Cray Wanderers in all competitions (D2, L3)

• • Dartford have drawn their last three away league games. The Darts last drew four in a row on the road in the Kent League back in April 1995.

• • At home, only Dartford have scored more than Cray Wanderers and only Potters Bar Town have conceded more than the Wands

On This Day

Dartford are unbeaten in their last 11 league games on this day, a run that started back in 1969 when they beat Cambridge City 5-0 in the Southern League First Division. Following that win, the Darts drew six in a row up until 2008, when they defeated Tooting and Mitcham United. Cody McDonald and Rob Haworth netted for Dartford in the Isthmian Premier away win. The next three fixtures on this day have also been on the road. In 2011 Dartford crossed the river and cruised past Thurrock with a 3-0 National South triumph. Jacob Erskine, James Rogers and Jack Pallen scored the goals. Fast forward ten years and the Darts held Chelmsford City to a goalless draw. The last outing on this day ended with a 2-1 victory over Slough Town. After falling behind, Charlie Sheringham and Pierre Fonkeu scored to complete a comeback win.