Dartford have the chance to avenge their F.A Cup exit against Slough Town when they host the Rebels for a second time this season on the weekend.
In unusual circumstances, the Darts opened their season in the F.A Cup losing to Saturday’s opponents. Jack McKnight’s last-minute penalty knocked Dartford out at the first hurdle, in the second qualifying round. Victory for Slough Town meant they redressed their own defeat against the Darts in July’s National South playoff eliminator.
Leading up to this weekend’s fixture, Dartford top the National South table by a point having played the most games in the division, thanks to their early cup exit. Steve King has managed to rack up the points in their first nine games, but they couldn’t add to their tally following a defeat at home to St Albans City on Tuesday night.
Charlie Sheringham making his first league start of the campaign was left to rue his second-half penalty miss as St Albans City won 1-0. A last minute strike from Shaun Jeffers was the difference between the two sides condemning the Darts to their second National South loss of the season.
Prior kick off the Darts announced the return of Alfie Pavey on a loan deal until the end of January from Barnet. The striker scored 29 goals in 55 appearances in a previous loan spell and during the 2017/2018 campaign, when he won the National South Player of the Year award. Gavin McCallum also made his first league start of the season replacing the injured Craig Braham-Barrett. Jack Barham was named on the bench alongside Pavey with the pair making an appearance later on.
Slough Town opened their campaign by recording another 1-0 victory, after their F.A Cup win against the Darts. The triumph over Hemel Hempstead Town was followed by defeat at Dorking Wanderers and an F.A Cup exit of their own. What followed was a dramatic 4-4 with Welling United with the Rebels score two injury time goals to complete a comeback from 3-1 down in the last twenty minutes.
The Berkshire club approach this weekend’s fixture on the back of three straight defeats against Maidstone United, Billericay Town then Hungerford Town on Tuesday night.
The Rebels found themselves behind early in the game when Ryan Seager scored on six minutes, he also had another but his effort was ruled out for offside. Slough Town were forced to make a change when Cameron McGilp came off injured before Dan Roberts chipped in an equaliser. Parity lasted a short while because two minutes before the interval Seager scored again. Craig Fasanmade extended Hungerford Town’s lead to leave the Rebels sitting in fourteenth place in the National South.
Last season Dartford squandered a two-goal lead at Princes Park under the guidance of Tony Burman. Darren McQueen and Josh Hill scored within a couple of minutes of each other to hand the Darts a comfortable advantage. It took just another two minutes for Dan Roberts to set Slough Town on their way. The Rebels kept the momentum going in the second half and when Matt Lench then Ben Harris netted, the visitors went home with all three points.
In January, Slough Town completed a league double with a 1-0 home victory, in which Dartford’s Sanchez Ming was sent off. The third meeting between the two sides came in the playoff elimination round. A brace from Charlie Sheringham and Luke Wanadio’s strike helped the Darts progress with a 3-0 win.
Head to Head
Dartford wins: 4 / Slough Town wins: 3 / Draws: 2
Current League Form
| Dartford (LWWLWW) | Slough Town (LLLWDL) | ||||
| St Albans City | H | 0-1 | Hungerford Town | H | 1-3 |
| Maidstone United | A | 2-0 | Billericay Town | A | 0-2 |
| Hemel Hempstead Town | A | 3-1 | Maidstone United | H | 2-3 |
| Dorking Wanderers | H | 2-3 | Bath City | H | 2-1 |
| Havant & Waterloovile | H | 2-1 | Welling United | H | 4-4 |
| Chippenham Town | A | 2-1 | Dorking Wanderers | A | 1-3 |
Last Six Meetings
| 03.10.2020 | Dartford | 0 | Slough Town | 1 |
| 19.07.2020 | Slough Town | 0 | Dartford | 3 |
| 18.01.2020 | Slough Town | 1 | Dartford | 0 |
| 28.09.2019 | Dartford | 2 | Slough Town | 3 |
| 16.02.2019 | Slough Town | 2 | Dartford | 2 |
| 08.12.2018 | Dartford | 1 | Slough Town | 1 |
Stats
Dartford’s only home win against Slough Town came 39 years ago in the F.A Trophy, the Darts won 4-1 in the first round
The Rebels are unbeaten in their three visits to Princes Park (W2, D1)
Dartford won their first three meetings with Slough Town, all cup ties. Since then the Darts have won just one in the last six (D2, L3)
On This Day
New loan signing Alfie Pavey scored a brace to keep Dartford top of National League South three years ago. In an entertaining 3-3 draw the Darts twice came from behind against Wealdstone thanks to Pavey before substitute Andy Pugh fired Dartford ahead with ten minutes left. However, the Stones levelled from the spot three minutes from time before Lee Noble saw red in stoppage time. In 2009, the Darts were knocked out of the F.A Trophy against rivals Dover Athletic. After falling a goal behind, Jay May and Danny Harris put the Darts in front, but Dartford conceded twice more in a 3-2 defeat. May also scored on this day in 2006 netting the winner against Leatherhead in the Isthmian Division One South.