Dartford will want to put last weekend’s disappointment behind them with a positive result against one of their bogey sides, Chelmsford City.
The Darts continue to tackle their tough February fixture list by hosting the Essex side in the National South this weekend. The Clarets have only lost once in their last eight meetings against Dartford and knocked Tony Burman’s side out at the playoff semi-final stage last term.
Back in October, Dartford suffered once more at Chelmsford City losing the encounter by a solitary goal from ex Ebbsfleet United midfielder Michael West. Despite the dismissal of Kudus Oyenuga after just 19 minutes, the Darts were unable to make the extra man count. It was the third game in the last five that the Clarets won in this fixture by one goal to nil.
In the seven games versus Chelmsford City at Princes Park, Dartford have yet to win managing just two draws in the National South in 2012 and 2016. It’s been almost 18 years since the Darts last beat the Essex side at home, 3-0 in the Southern League Southern division.
Dartford lead the standings with the best home record in the division, but they seem to be clinging on after a 4-0 away defeat last Saturday at St Albans City. Tony Burman was reflective after Dartford’s display speaking to www.dartfordfc.com after the game, he said: “We are obviously all very disappointed with the result on Saturday, and especially the score line”.
January’s Manager of the Month, Burman added: “In hindsight I probably selected the wrong starting eleven but just felt they deserved another opportunity, but deep down I may have got it wrong. All in all we were beaten by the better side on the day and it’s another game where we must learn by our mistakes as there was too many of them during the game”.
The National South is crying out for a team to pull away at the summit, however no side is making that break. Just eight points separate the top down to Chelmsford City in eighth.
Chelmsford City were joint favourites at the start of the campaign alongside Dartford. Although Rod Stringer’s side started well with six victories in their opening seven games in August, the Clarets began to drop points with too many draws in September (four draws and a defeat). The winter months have been inconsistent for the Essex side with January proving the most difficult where they picked up just two points in five matches.
This month, Chelmsford City began with a 2-0 win over Chippenham Town with goals from Chris Dickson and Elliot Omozusi. Manager, Stringer told ClaretsTV after the game.”I’m delighted to get the win, we’ve had a really bad January in the league and it has been tough”, he added: “At the moment we’re buzzing and it helps to get back to back wins. Hopefully that might just revitalise the club. We’ve got a tough one next week away from home but hopefully we’ve got good form against Dartford. There are no easy games and it’s a tough division”.
Head to Head
Dartford wins: 36 /Chelmsford City wins: 54 / Draws: 91
Current League Form
| Dartford (LWDWDW) | Chelmsford City (WLLDLD) | ||||
| St Albans City | A | 0-4 | Chippenham Town | H | 2-0 |
| Whitehawk | H | 3-1 | Hampton & Richmond | H | 1-2 |
| Chippenham Town | A | 2-2 | Hemel Hempstead Town | A | 1-3 |
| Havant & Waterlooville | H | 1-0 | Bath City | H | 1-1 |
| Concord Rangers | H | 1-1 | St Albans City | A | 1-2 |
| Welling United | H | 4-1 | Braintree Town | H | 2-2 |
Previous Meetings
| 21.10.2017 | Chelmsford City | 1 | Dartford | 1 |
| 07.05.2017 | Dartford | 1 | Chelmsford City | 2 |
| 03.05.2017 | Chelmsford City | 0 | Dartford | 0 |
| 18.02.2017 | Dartford | 0 | Chelmsford City | 1 |
| 14.01.2017 | Dartford | 0 | Chelmsford City | 1 |
| 17.09.2016 | Chelmsford City | 2 | Dartford | 3 |
Stats
Dartford are unbeaten in ten home games in the National South (W8,D2), but have only kept two clean sheets in that time.
The Darts have beaten Chelmsford City just twice in the last 16 meetings in all competitions (W2, D5, L9)
Dartford have scored once in their last five games against the Clarets.
In the their last five league games, the Clarets have lost to three of the current top five.
Chelmsford City have scored in each of their last 16 games and in their last 7 away fixtures.
On This Day
It will be the first time since reforming that Dartford have had a home fixture on 10 February. The last match at home was back in 1983 when the Darts beat Chorley 3-0 in the F.A Trophy second round replay. Since then the Darts won 1-0 against Cray Wanderers in the Kent League back in 1993, and in 2001 Dartford drew 1-1 with Stamford in the Southern League Division One East. The last time the Darts played on this day was in 2007 when Steve Hafner and Brad Potter scored in a 2-1 victory over Sittingbourne in the Isthmian Division One South.
DATE: Saturday 9th February 2018
VENUE: Princes Park, Grassbanks, Dartford, Kent, DA1 1RT
KICK OFF: 3:00pm
TURNSTILES: Open from 12:30pm
ADMISSION:
Adults: £14
Concessions: £7
Youth (13-17) : £5
Children ( u12) :£2
Under 5 : FREE
SEATING: Seating is available on a first come first served basis in certain areas of the stadium.
FACILITIES: Bar and food open from 12:30pm
PARKING: Parking is free of charge in the clubs car park but is a first come first served basis.
MATCH SPONSOR: Fairfield Leisure Centre Dartford: For more information CLICK HERE
MATCH UPDATES: Full Coverage will on twitter @dartfordfc