The Darts take on the side they dramatically beat en route to the playoff final back in April. Both teams made a slow start this term, only Dartford have recovered and are setting their sights on remaining in the top five this Saturday. Cray Valley Paper Mills climbed out of the relegation zone on Tuesday night and aim to stay clear of the bottom four.

Smith Double Tops

Dartford returned to winning ways last time out after consecutive defeats. The Darts recorded a sixth home victory and fourth clean sheet of the season when they beat Chichester City last Saturday.

Adrian Pennock named an unchanged side meaning Dan Smith started ahead of top scorer Eddie Dsane. The striker repaid the manager with a brace to double his tally since joining the Darts in the summer.

Smith kept his cool in the first half after being put through on goal by Jez Pinder. Dartford’s number nine slotted the ball home to open the scoring. In the second half, Smith’s endeavour was rewarded when he closed down Chichester City goalkeeper Kieran MaGee to tap the ball into an empty net. The striker explained after the 2-0 win that his team mates work ethic helps him push a little harder, he spoke to Dartford FC TV after the win and said: “Playing up front with whoever in this team, but especially Jonesy, you feel bad if you don’t press”.

Highlights courtesy of Dartford FC TV

Away Day Struggles

Dartford have scored in each of their last eight away games, yet they have only one win in that time. They also exited two cup competitions against lower league opposition and have had disciplinary issues resulting in red cards. The latest dismissal came the last time the Darts travelled when they fell to a 3-1 defeat at Billericay Town. On Saturday, Pennock will be hoping to start turning results away from home around and harness the positive outcome at Cray Wanderers, their only away win all season three miles down the road from the Millers.

Sam the Saviour

Dartford were seconds from crashing out of the playoffs last time they faced the Millers until Sam Odaudu came up with a magical moment. Set pieces were the Darts downfall with two identical corners by Cray Valley Paper Mills in each half. Danny Waldren got on the end of both to give the visitors a 2-0 lead and leave Pennock’s side on the brink. The hosts were handed a lifeline with 20 minutes to go when Cray Valley’s Crossley Lema was red carded. Samir Carruthers went on to score a penalty later on. Then virtually the last kick of normal time saw Odaudu’s free-kick deflect into the net taking the tie into extra time. A man up, Dartford looked stronger and went two goals ahead through Hayden Bullas and George Whitefield. But the Millers didn’t give up and things got nervy for the Darts when Adam Coombes made it 4-3.

Highlights courtesy of Dartford FC TV

Opening Day Delight

A red card also played a part in the last time Dartford visited the Badgers Sports Ground. Making their debut in the Isthmian Premier, Cray Valley Paper Mills were fresh from a title win. Dartford were still reeling after relegation from the National South. Both Callum Jones and Denzelle Olopade scored on debut either side of Tom Chamber’s equaliser. Jones linked up well with Olly Box for the opener before Hassan Ibrahiym was sent off for Cray Valley Paper Mills. Despite being reduced to ten the Millers levelled. However, it was Olopade’s excellent long range strike that won the game for the Darts. The reverse fixture may have ended 0-0 at Princes Park, but it was the start of a turning point for Dartford last term. The Darts were down in 14th and the Millers were in fifth just three points from the top. The draw was the beginning of a 21 game unbeaten run in the league helping Pennock’s side finish third by the end of the campaign.

Vital Valley Victory

Cray Valley Paper Mills helped Dartford maintain their playoff position on Tuesday night by beating Dulwich Hamlet. The Millers also moved out of the bottom four after the 3-1 win. Liam Moore had the Millers one up inside the first minute only for Luke Wandio to equalise six minutes later. Tom Beere got the Kent side back ahead and Ola Ogunwamide made it three. Three former Darts helped the Millers end the eight game winless streak. Rowan Liburd started for Steve McKimm’s side, the striker played three times for Dartford during the 2019/2020 campaign. Fumnaya Shomotun and Marcel Barrington came on as substitutes. Shomotun made 19 appearances for the Darts scoring twice in 2023/2024 and Barrington featured twice as substitute also in 2019/2020.

Home record

One home win in the league hasn’t given Millers fans much to cheer about. Cray Valley’s latest defeat on their own patch extended a winless streak at the Badgers Sports Ground to six. Ibby Akanbi, who featured for the Darts during the relegation campaign scoring once in five starts, netted in the 4-1 loss to Aveley. The striker is currently the club’s top scorer in all competitions and also found the net in the Millers’ last home win in the Isthmian Premier back in August, a 4-1 triumph over Ramsgate.

Coach’s View

Goalkeeping Coach, Les Cleevely gave his thoughts to Dartford FC Tv after the win over Chichester City, he said: “I thought we did well and in the end it could have been five or six. We created good opportunities by pressing and particularly in the first half our shape was good. We created chances which is really pleasing to see and we denied them opportunities”. The return of Denzelle Olopade recently and Ben Frempah has improved the options available when Pennock is selecting the starting eleven. Cleevely also explains the other benefits a nearly full squad brings, he commented: “It makes things a lot easier when you start to get bodies back. If you look at the early part of the season, when we had injuries and suspensions and we were a little bit thin on the ground, the results were a bit sketchy. When you’ve got everybody available it makes such a difference. It gives the squad a boost, it gives them energy and allows us to train properly”. Despite Cray Valley’s lowly position the Cleevely is expecting a difficult afternoon on Saturday, he added: “I think it’s going to be a tough game. They are a hard opposition, physically they work hard, they are quite a together unit, so again it’s another challenge for us”.

Interview courtesy of Dartford FC TV

Team News

Since joining the Darts, defender Joe Tennent is likely to face one of his former clubs. Ben Frempah was back in the squad last weekend having been named on the bench. The defender made his first appearance since coming on against Whitehawk over a month ago. Full back, Sam Okoye is suspended for the red card versus Billericay Town. Sam Odaudu and Sammie McLeod were expected to be back in training last week and Dean Nayler remains out with a long term injury.

Current League Form

Dartford (WWWLLW)			Cray Valley (PM) (LDLDLW)
Chichester City	H	2-0	Dulwich Hamlet	A	3-1
Billericay Town	A	1-2	Burgess Hill Town	A	0-1
Wingate & Finchley	H	1-2	Billericay Town	A	1-1
Welling United	H	3-1	Aveley	H	1-4
Cray Wanderers	A	2-0	Lewes	H	1-1
Potters Bar Town	H	4-1	Brentwood Town	H	1-3

Head to Head

Dartford wins: 2 / Cray Valley Paper Mills wins: 0 / Draws: 1

Previous Meetings

Dartford 4 – 3 Cray Valley Paper Mills (30/04/2025 – Isthmian Premier Playoff) Dartford 0 – 0 Cray Valley Paper Mills (02/11/2024 – Isthmian Premier) Cray Valley Paper Mills 1 – 2 Dartford (10/08/2024 – Isthmian Premier)

Statistics

• • The Darts are unbeaten in their three previous meetings with Cray Valley Paper Mills (W2, D1)

• • Dartford have won just once in their last seven league games on the road (D3, L3)

• • The Darts have picked up six red cards from their seven away games in the league this term

On This Day

Dartford are looking for their first away win on this day since 1924. The Darts enjoyed a 1-0 success over rivals Maidstone United back then in the Kent League First Division, their only ever away victory on 22 November. Since then Dartford have played 12 times on the road, drawn five and lost seven. One defeat was an epic 8-4 loss in 1947 at Welsh side Lovells Athletic, a team based in Newport. Dartford’s last triumph of any kind on this day was in 1988. A Peter Taylor led side beat Crawley Town 4-0 at Watling Street in the second round of the Southern League Cup. The Darts went on to lift the League Cup. The last league victory was two years earlier, Dartford thrashed Folkestone Town 5-0 in the Southern Premier.