A run of ten league games unbeaten and three wins on the spin has propelled the Darts up the table. Adrian Pennock’s side have picked up form and have yet to taste defeat at Princes Park in the Isthmian Premier this season. Welling United have made a managerial change already after a struggling start that has the Wings down in the bottom four.

Playoff Push

The Darts had the opportunity to move into the playoff places with just three Isthmian Premier fixtures taking place last weekend and they took that chance to go fifth. Last weekend’s Kent derby at high flying Cray Wanderers ended in another Dartford triumph following up comfortable wins against Whitehawk and Potters Bar Town.

Dsane Man

Eddie Dsane was on target again to set the Darts on their way at Flamingo Park last Saturday. The striker followed up the hat-trick against Potters Bar Town with the opener at Cray Wanderers. Pennock made just one change bringing in George Whitefield. A closely fought first half ended with the Darts in front. Whitefield made an excellent block before clearing the ball away to turn defence into attack. Olly Box set up Dsane and the striker calmly rolled the ball home for his fourth goal in two games. Wands boss, Tim O’Shea made a triple change at the break for the hosts and another early substitution in the second half. Those adjustments helped Cray Wanderers put the Darts under pressure, then against the run of play Callum Jones doubled Dartford’s lead.

Off the Mark on the Road

A first away win in all competitions this season moved the Darts to within a point of Cray Wanderers. Jonny Henly also put in a solid performance keeping his maiden clean sheet on the road. The goalkeeper will hope to add another one against his former side this weekend. It was also Dartford’s first away clean sheet in ten attempts going back to April last term. The

Honours Even

Over the past two seasons both sides have dropped into the Isthmian Premier, so the last meetings happened during the 2023/2024 campaign. Whilst Dartford picked up four league points from the Wings, Welling United knocked the Darts out of the F.A Cup. The National South fixture at Princes Park ended all square. The Darts went ahead when Luke Coulson volleyed Paul Rooney’s cross. With minutes left of the Kent derby, Welling United salvaged a point in the 97th minute when Ike Orji’s cross went in off Moussa Diarra.

Match highlights courtesy of Dartford FC TV Dartford were triumphant though at Park View Road on Boxing Day 2023. In a poor first half there wasn’t much between the two sides, the hosts just about the better team. However, Dartford approached the second-half with more energy and were rewarded just before the hour. George Alexander was put through on goal, but his effort was saved. Richard Chin kept pace and he stroked home the rebound into an empty net. Earlier that season Antony Papadopoulos upstaged Lewis Manor to send Welling United into the next round of the F.A Cup. Manor scored a brace to put Dartford in front twice, but Papadopoulos scored a hat-trick.

Mart-in, Mart-out

Welling United are already on their second manager this season following relegation last term. Lee Martin was named boss over the summer and lasted just ten league games. Leaving the Wings fourth from bottom with two wins and eight defeats, the Kent side decided to make an early change. Interim manager Rod Stringer has been at helm for just under a month and so far the former Chelmsford City and Braintree Town boss has yet to manage his team in front of a home crowd. This weekend’s fixture at Princes Park will be Welling United’s ninth match in a row on the road, Stringer has been in the Wings dugout for the previous six.

League Priority

Last weekend Stringer came up against his former team Brentwood Town in the F.A Trophy first round. The Isthmian Premier leaders went through with a 3-0 victory to put Welling United out of their third cup competition since the interim boss took charge. So now Welling United can put all their focus on remaining in the division. With just three wins so far, the Wings have lost four of their last five league outings. Their latest defeat was at St Albans City after they had claimed maximum points away at Ramsgate.

New Signings and Former Darts

In his second spell with the club, Stringer has already made some moves to strengthen the team. Ex-Dartford midfielder Luke Allen was signed up after leaving the Cray Wanderers. Allen made 123 appearances for the Darts and scored 15 goals. He joins former academy graduates John Ufuah and Femi Akinwande who were already at the club. Akinwande had two spells with Dartford appearing five times. John Ufuah made two substitute appearances. As well as Allen arriving at Park View Road, Stringer has signed full back Marcel McIntosh from Lewes, brought back striker Josh Redfearn, welcomed Jack Thomas from Royston Town and used the loan market to bring in Harry Clout from Portsmouth and Leo Young from AFC Wimbledon.

Assistant Manager’s View

Roland Edge was more than pleased with Dartford’s performance at Flamingo Park, he told Dartford FC TV after the game: “Cray are a very good side this year, they’ve held most of the teams at the top. We knew we were in for a tough game, but I thought we were exceptional”. After a clean sheet, Edge also praised goalkeeper Jonny Henly and the defence, he added: “When he was called upon he was fantastic and the back four were so solid”. Edge doesn’t see any reason why the Darts can’t push forwards and increase their unbeaten run, but he’s not taking Welling United lightly, he said: “Welling are a good side. Everyone needs the rub of the green sometimes, I’ve watched their highlights and they have been unfortunate in some of the games”, he continued: “We know what we’re up against with it being a derby, but we’ve just got to stay professional and get the job done”.

Interview courtesy of Dartford FC TV

Team News

Denzelle Olopade and Sam Odaudu were both out of the matchday squad last weekend with injury. Long term absentees, Dean Nayler and Sammie McLeod have yet to feature this season. Academy graduate, Joseph Kpaka has left the Darts and has joined Margate.

Current League Form

Dartford (DLDWWW)			Welling United (WLWLLL)
Cray Wanderers	A	2-0	Brentwood Town (FAT)	A	0-3
Potters Bar Town	H	4-1	Cray Valley PM (LSC)	A	1-2
Whitehawk	H	3-0	St Albans City	A	1-2
Brentwood Town	A	1-1	Ramsgate	A	2-1
Hadley (FAT)	A	1-2	VCD Athletic (KSC)	A	2-3
Burgess Hill Town	H	3-3	Royston Town (FAT)	A	3-0

FAT – F.A Trophy / KSC – Kent Senior Cup / LSC – London Senior Cup

Head to Head

Dartford wins: 26 / Welling United wins: 11 / Draws: 13

Previous Meetings

Dartford 1 – 1 Welling United (30/12/2023 – National South) Welling United 0 – 1 Dartford (26/12/2023 – National South) Dartford 2 – 3 Welling United (16/09/2023 – F.A Cup) Welling United 2 – 2 Dartford (04/02/2023 – National South) Dartford 5 – 1 Welling United (01/11/2022 – National South) Welling United 2 – 2 Dartford (26/04/2022 – Kent Senior Cup)* * – Welling United won 5-3 on penalties

Statistics

• • Dartford are unbeaten in ten league games against Welling United (W7, D3)

• • In the league, the Darts are unbeaten in nine home games (W7, D2) and have only lost one at home (W10, D3) versus the Wings

• • Dartford have won three consecutive games for the first time since March.

On This Day

Three years to the day Dartford thrashed Welling United 5-1 in the National South at Princes Park. Pierre Fonkeu, Davide Rodari and Maxwell Statham had the Darts three up before the interval. Ade Azeez pulled a goal back for the Wings before Jack Smith and Luke Coulson sealed an emphatic win. In 2008, Cody McDonald scored a Princes Park hat-trick in the F.A Trophy second qualifying round. However, Oxford City still forced the tie into a replay after a 3-3 draw. In 1975 the Darts were on their way to Wembley in the F.A Cup, only it was a fourth qualifying round tie against Wembley. A 1-0 victory put the Darts into the first round proper where they went out to Bishop’s Stortford.