The Darts dropped out of playoff places on weekend but could get back above the dotted line with a win in Essex. The Blues can potentially climb into the top ten if they extend their unbeaten run at home in the league to six.

Good Thing Comes to an End

Dartford fell to their first home league defeat of the season and experienced a first Isthmian Premier loss since August. Wingate and Finchley came from behind with an injury time winner to end Dartford’s unbeaten run of 11 matches in the division.

For the first time this season Adrian Pennock kept the same starting eleven for three consecutive games, but his side were unable to extend their four game winning streak on the weekend.

A tight first half saw the score level at the break, but the deadlock was finally broken by the hosts on 69 minutes. Wingate and Finchley failed to clear a free kick and when Jacob Bland anticipated Eddie Dsane’s scuffed shot he tapped home his first for the club.

The visitors levelled when Caoilan McGettigan squared for an unmarked Logic Hernandez who slotted the ball through Jonny Henley’s legs. Four minutes of time added on and the Gate grabbed a winner through Romeo Akinola’s curling shot from just outside the box.

Highlights courtesy of Dartford FC TV

Playoff Contenders

Home form may have kept the Darts in contention for a top five place, but on the road Pennock’s side are unbeaten in their previous four. Yet it took until the end of October to get a first away victory when they won the Kent derby at Cray Wanderers. Prior to that Dartford had drawn three in a row on their travels.

At present Dartford sit one place below the playoff places on goal difference. Earlier in the season Pennock called on his players to turn draws into wins. Whilst they have been able to do that more consistently at Princes Park, they will need to replicate that form on the road.

All Square

Back at Princes Park in August, Dartford and Billericay Town couldn’t be separated in a 1-1 draw.

Halfway through the second game of the season Sam Odaudu put in a long throw which Billericay Town failed to clear. The ball fell to Olly Box at the far post who opened his and Dartford’s account for 2025/2026.

At half time the Blues made a triple change bringing on three former Darts, Femi Akinwande, Liam Nash and Tyrell Miller-Rodney. Billericay Town put the Darts under pressure for most of the second half resulting in Nash’s equaliser.

Highlights courtesy of Dartford FC TV

Ricay Run Riot

The Darts will need to forget last season’s showing at the New Lodge if they want to pick up points on Tuesday night.

Billericay Town claimed a 4–0 win taking an early lead through former Dart, Tom Bender. Set pieces caused problems for Dartford and Frankie Merrifield doubled Ricay’s advantage. Things didn’t improve in the second half as the hosts added more goals. Moses Emmanuel netted just past the hour and Matt Johnson in the final ten minutes.

Darts Destroy Blues

Dartford avenged their heavy defeat by dishing out the same punishment in the reverse fixture.

Box put the Darts ahead after just six minutes and George Whitefield doubled the lead. Dartford added to their tally with goals from former Billericay Town striker Callum Jones before Eddie Dsane got on the scoresheet.

Highlights courtesy of Dartford FC TV

Scope for Change

The pressure of going so close last term and replicating a title challenge ended up too much in the early stages of this season for Billericay Town. After some statement summer signings the Blues were just not clicking and by early September, manager Gary McCann departed.

The following day Danny Scopes was named as his successor. The new Billericay Town boss has pedigree with Essex clubs in non league. Recently he won two promotions to guide Aveley from the Isthmian North to National South, where the Millers recorded their highest ever league finish. At Concord Rangers, he stepped out at Wembley when he led them to the F.A Trophy final.

Since the new appointment, the Blues have only lost league matches against former league leaders Brentwood Town and against current league leaders Folkestone Invicta. Although Scopes has increased the club’s points per game, draws have kept their total down to ten in the previous eight outings.

Unbeaten Run

Like the Darts, Billericay Town have been making their home games count with only Cray Wanderers back in August winning at the New Lodge in the Isthmian Premier. The Blues are currently unbeaten in five on their own patch in the league, recently drawing 1-1 on the weekend against Cray Valley Paper Mills.

Scopes made one change to the side that beat a high flying Chatham Town side. Rio Oudnie-Morgan replaced Alfie Cerulli in a lineup that included three former Darts named as starters and two who made substitute appearances. Teddy Collis put the hosts ahead, but the sending off of Ryan Scott handed the visitors an advantage. The Millers took the opportunity and Matthew Vigor’s penalty made sure the points were shared.

That draw followed two home victories for the Blues. At the end of last month they brushed Potters Bar Town aside with a 3-1 win. Scott, Collis and Freddie Hockey scored for the Essex side. More impressively Billericay Town beat Chatham Town thanks to two goals in as many minutes from Cerulli and Matt Johnson. The Chats managed to net a second-half penalty, but the Blues ran out 2-1 winners.

Former Players on Show

Two of Billericay Town’s statement signings over the summer were former Darts, Liam Nash and Jack Evans. Although the pair were at Dartford for a short spell, they both had goalscoring success for their subsequent clubs. St Vincent and Grenadines international defender, Jazzi Barnum-Bobb, former academy graduate Jay Porter and Tyrell Miller-Rodney have also spent time with Dartford.

Manager’s View

In the home defeat at the weekend Dartford had a goal ruled out that Pennock felt would have changed the game had it stood, he spoke to www.dartfordfc.com and said: “Eddie scored and it was given offside and we have since seen it was onside. If we had gone 2-0 up, I think we would have won the game, or at least wouldn’t have lost. We were on top at the time, so it was a crucial decision that didn’t go our way”.

The Dartford boss was pleased with the effort of his team, but the performance wasn’t quite at the higher standards of recent weeks, he added: ““I thought the work-rate was really good. We didn’t stop trying. There were a few players who weren’t quite on it, especially compared to how we’ve played over the last few weeks, but we did keep going”.

Team News

Denzelle Olopade returned to the matchday squad on the weekend as a substitute. Dan Carter has had his loan from Leyton Orient extended another month. Sam Odaudu has been out of action for almost a month, but Pennock believes the full back is about ten days away from a return. Sammie McLeod is expected to be back in training later this week after his long term injury. Ben Frempah has not been named in the last few squads. Dean Nayler has been sidelined after a pre-season injury.