The Darts will be hoping to get back on track this weekend when they travel to Evesham to face Gloucester City in the National League South.
Dartford’s five game unbeaten run in the league ended last weekend when they disappointingly went down 3-1 to Truro City. The Darts had climbed to sixth with the home victory over Dulwich Hamlet and facing their opponents sitting second from bottom, expected to add more points to their tally.
Two players returned to action in a Darts shirt, crowd favourite Ryan Hayes made a substitute appearance, whilst new goalkeeper Bailey Vose started his first Dartford match since November 2016, when he was on loan from Brighton and Hove Albion. The introduction of Vose to the squad meant outgoing keeper Deren Ibrahim settled for a place on the bench to say his farewell after 179 appearances for the club and two goals. Earlier in the week Kenneth Yao’s loan spell ended from Charlton Athletic and Chez Isaac was released, Mark Onyemah returned to the line up after injury and Lee Noble was missed through suspension.
Vose’s fourth start for the Darts began when he was involved in a mix up leading to Truro City’s opener on 34 minutes. The White Tigers added two more before the break, Tyler Harvey grabbed his second then Nick Grimes added a third. In the final minute Hayes set up a consolation with a cross for Kudus Oyenuga, who headed in his first competitive goal for the Darts. With a full set of fixtures played and some Tuesday night matches, Dartford have now dropped to thirteenth.
Over the last month there has been managerial change at Gloucester City with Marc Richards leaving by mutual consent at the start of October. Richards left the Tigers in seventeenth place having recorded four wins in eleven games and struggling to find the net. The Tigers up to his departure had netted just seven times, however defensively they had only conceded thirteen. The former boss guided Gloucester City to safety last season and improved form in February and March meant he decided to keep much of the same squad for this term. Richards saw the opportunity to take over at Hereford to good to refuse and so he made the decision to move to Edgar Street.
Replacing Richards as boss, Chris Todd took charge for the first time in the 1-0 defeat to Billericay Town. The former Eastleigh manager has had a difficult start and is yet to record a point. In the National South his Gloucester City side lost to Welling United followed by a third straight reverse on Monday night at Wealdstone. Todd does have one win to his name in the F.A Cup third round replay against Dorking Wanderers, however the Tigers went out in the next round when they were beaten by Bromley.
Goalkeeper Matthew Yates was recalled by Derby County from his loan spell, but Fabien Robert had his spell extended from Forest Green Rovers. Last week, Todd swooped to complete the signings of strikers Andre Wright from Torquay United and Harry Warwick from Bristol Rovers. Wales under 19 goalkeeper Adam Pzrybek has also joined the squad from West Bromwich Albion.
Last season Dartford visited Evesham, the Tigers shared home whilst chasing down title rivals Havant and Waterlooville. The Tuesday night fixture in April was decided when Alfie Pavey scored the only goal of the game. Earlier in the campaign the Darts won 4-1 at Princes Park in the first meeting between the two sides for 25 years. Warren Mfula, a brace from Lyle Della-Verde and one from Pavey helped Dartford to victory, all three players left the club in the summer.
Head to Head
Gloucester City wins: 12 / Dartford wins: 27 / Draws: 10
Current League Form
| Gloucester City (LLLDLL) | Dartford (LWWWDD) | ||||
| Wealdstone | A | 0-2 | Truro City | A | 1-3 |
| Welling United | A | 1-3 | Dulwich Hamlet | H | 2-1 |
| Billericay Town | A | 0-1 | Chippenham Town | A | 2-1 |
| Eastbourne Borough | H | 2-2 | Weston-super-Mare | H | 2-1 |
| Chippenham Town | A | 0-1 | Billericay Town | A | 1-1 |
| Truro City | H | 0-2 | Eastbourne Borough | H | 2-2 |
Previous Meetings
| 10.04.2018 | Gloucester City | 0 | Dartford | 1 |
| 18.11.2017 | Dartford | 4 | Gloucester City | 1 |
| 07.03.1992 | Gloucester City | 0 | Dartford | 0 |
| 26.10.1991 | Dartford | 2 | Gloucester City | 0 |
| 16.03.1991 | Dartford | 2 | Gloucester City | 1 |
| 29.09.1990 | Gloucester City | 2 | Dartford | 0 |
Stats
Dartford are unbeaten in five matches against Gloucester City (W4, D1) and have lost one in the last eight (W6, D1, L1).
The Darts have kept three clean sheets out of the last four versus the Tigers.
Five players involved in Dartford’s last match have left and rejoined the club, Bailey Vose, Tom Bonner, Mark Onyemah, Charlie Sheringham and Ryan Hayes.
On This Day
Tony Kessell made his one hundredth appearance for Dartford on this day eleven years ago. The former goalkeeper celebrated with a clean sheet and a 2-0 victory as Brendon Cass and Jay May scored against Wingate and Finchley. In 1999, the Darts progressed in the Kent Senior Cup after thrashing Sittingbourne 6-0 in a round one replay. The cup victory was Dartford’s first on 3 November since a 1973 Southern Premier League win at home to Nuneaton Borough. The winless run lasted six games in which the Darts managed just one draw.
DATE: Saturday 3rd November 2018
VENUE: Evesham United FC, The Spiers & Hartwell Jubilee Stadium, Cheltenham Road, Evesham, WR11 2LZ
KICK OFF: 15:00pm
TURNSTILES: Open from 12:30pm
ADMISSION:
Adults: £13
Concessions: £7 (65 + yrs, NUS)
13-17 year-olds: £7. NB: Admission also includes one free 13-17 year old season ticket, so if you pay once, you can get into the rest of our 2016/17 home league matches for free!
Children 12 and under are admitted free.
There is no additional charge for a seat in the stand.
FACILITIES: Bar and food open from 12:30pm
MATCH UPDATES: Full coverage will be on twitter, @dartfordfc
DIRECTIONS:
FROM M5 NORTH
Leave M5 motorway at Junction 7 and follow B4084 through Pershore onto Evesham. At traffic lights in Evesham with River Avon and Bridge on left, take right hand lane and turn right into Cheltenham Road signposted A46, M5 Southbound, Oxford and Cheltenham. Continue through two sets of traffic lights passing Tesco Garage and Ambulance Station on left before reaching roundabout. Ground situated on right at roundabout. (This route avoids Evesham Town Centre)
FROM M5 SOUTH
Leave M5 motorway at Junction 9 signposted Tewkesbury and Evesham. Take 3rd exit signposted Ashchurch and Evesham. Follow A46 (Evesham) through Beckford before reaching roundabout on outskirts of Evesham. Ground situated on left at roundabout.
FROM M42
Leave M42 motorway at Junction 3 (A435) signposted Redditch and Evesham. Continue on A435 (Evesham) through Studley then A46 until reaching roundabout on outskirts of Evesham. Take left hand exit onto Evesham by-pass (A46), signposted M5 South, Cheltenham and Oxford. Proceed on by-pass going over three roundabouts before reaching ground, which is situated on 4th roundabout at end of by-pass.