Dartford visit a familiar ground to face their newest opponents when they take on Hashtag United on Tuesday night.
A hop over the Thames to Aveley’s Parkside will be the shortest journey in the league this season for the Darts. Facing a side formed just eight years ago, Dartford take on the Tags who are in their second campaign at this level having placed mid-table last term. Both sides are looking for a consecutive victory in the Isthmian Premier to climb the table.
Adrian Pennock’s side increased their unbeaten run in all competitions to four on the weekend with a first league triumph since the end of August. The 2-1 home win against Cheshunt involved six academy graduates with George Whitefield the match winner. The defender made his eighth start of the season replacing Michael Olarewaju. The only other change to the side that drew 0-0 at Potters Bar Town was Tyler Christian-Law coming in to face his former side. Sam Okoye missed his first league game of the campaign after hobbling of earlier in the week. Olarewaju and Eddie Dsane were out with minor injuries, whilst Ade Yusuff has been featuring for his parent club Hornchurch.
Similar to the Potters Bar Town game, the Darts created plenty of chances on Saturday. Arguably Dartford could have come away with maximum points despite being reduced to ten men against the Scholars, instead they had to settle for a draw. On the weekend, once again missed opportunities could have been costly. However, Pennock’s side did enough to take maximum points and keep up a perfect record against Cheshunt. Assistant manager, Roland Edge would now like his side to improve in the ‘art of killing off a game’.
A dominating first half display saw the Darts deservedly lead at half-time. Cheshunt’s goalkeeper, R’Avan Constable was in excellent form and close to saving a Samir Carruthers penalty, the midfielder’s third goal in four and second from the spot. In an even second half, the visitors equalised through Tommy Wood. Then 19-year-old, George Whitefield scored a stunner from long range, his second goal in his last four appearances. Defensively, Jacob Marsden and Luther Williams made important contributions, but man of the match Whitefield made the biggest contribution of all with a crucial block in stoppage time.
Assistant manager Roland Edge felt the Darts were worth the victory and commented: “I’m very, very happy and I think it’s been coming to be honest. I mean even on Tuesday night I thought we had ample chances to win the game and possibly didn’t take them. I think our performances have got better recently and we’ve deserved to win, but deserved doesn’t get you a win. Today it took a hell of a strike to win it, but we deserved it overall”.
By the end of the afternoon six academy graduates featured for the Darts. Todd Brand came on to make his league debut. In addition to the six who played, Jeremiah Pinder has also made 19 appearances this term. Edge praised the set up at the club, he exclaimed: “It’s fantastic for the club and it’s fantastic for the youth system. Today they have got to take a bow I think, they’ve all come in and done their part and there is more quality in there. They have more than held their own and they are getting better week by week”.
Whilst delighted with scoring the winner, Whitefield urged his team to remain focussed, he spoke to Dartford FC TV after the game and said: “The vibe in the changing room is now unbelievable. I’m just hoping we are able to do it again next week. Hashtag is going to be a tough game; we just need to make sure we don’t get too ahead of ourselves”.
The Darts will be without the suspended Duane Ofori-Acheampong after his red card against Potters Bar Town. The striker, who made his 50th start for the club on Saturday serves his second ban of the season after a previous dismissal.
Hashtag United climbed out of the relegation zone with a 4-0 away win at newly promoted Chichester City. The Tags turned it on in the second half with a goal from Misha Djemaili, a brace by Sakariya Hassan and a fourth was added through Toby Aromolaran. Captained by former Dart, Max Cornhill, Hashtag United moved up to eighteenth with their first league win in five. Cornhill made 66 appearances for the Darts between 2013 and 2015 scoring nine times.
This will only be Hashtag United’s fifth home game in the Isthmian Premier this term. The Essex club have won just once in the league at Parkside and that was a 4-0 win against struggling Hastings United. Although they have picked up three wins on the road, the Tags have earned themselves just 13 points and are ahead of county rivals Bowers and Pitsea on goal difference.
Jay Devereux’s side have fared better in cup competitions recently progressing in the F.A Trophy, League Cup and Essex Senior Cup. Next weekend the Tags have their second round F.A Trophy tie at home to Brackley Town.
The youngest club in the division, Hashtag United gained a large social media following and momentum to aid their rise through the non-league pyramid. The Tags have won two league titles, most recently the Isthmian Division One North. Last season was their debut in the Premier and a mid-table finish was more than respectable.
| Dartford (LDLDDW) | Hashtag United (WLDLLW) | ||||
| Cheshunt | H | 2-1 | Chichester City | A | 4-0 |
| Potters Bar Town | A | 1-1 | Cray Wanderers | A | 0-3 |
| Cray Valley (PM) | H | 0-0 | Dover Athletic | A | 2-4 |
| Wingate & Finchley | H | 2-3 | Folkestone Invicta | A | 1-1 |
| Hendon | H | 0-0 | Carshalton Athletic | H | 0-1 |
| Billericay Town | A | 0-4 | Cheshunt | A | 4-3 |
Statistics
- The Darts are four games unbeaten in all competitions (W2, D2) matching Pennock’s previous best unbeaten run as Dartford boss in August (W4, D0)
- Only three of the bottom four have scored fewer goals than Dartford in the Isthmian Premier this season (Dartford – 15 goals, Bowers and Pitsea – 14, Cray Wanderers – 12 and Whitehawk – 11)
- The Darts are looking for a first away league win since 24 August (L2, D1)
On This Day
Duane Ofori-Acheampong was in the Dartford side that won 2-0 on this day in 2016. The Darts hosted Hemel Hempstead Town and goals from Danny Harris and Luke Wanadio secured victory. Dartford have lost the last two on the road on 12 November. A trip to Farnborough in 2022 ended in a 3-1 defeat. Kristian Campbell scored for the Darts, whilst Samir Carruthers and Sam Odaudu featured. In 2013, Max Cornhill, now of Hashtag United was in the Dartford team that lost 3-0 at Woking.