Dartford take their F.A Trophy first round tie back to the Crabble on Tuesday night, when they play Kent rivals Dover Athletic in a replay.
Ronnie Vint’s goal secured a draw for the Darts after Ricky Miller had given Dover Athletic the advantage in the first half. Miller took advantage of Moses Emmanuel’s good work by slotting the ball beyond Ibrahim from six yards for his 27th goal of the season. Tony Burman’s side improved in the second half getting more of a grip on the game and were rewarded when Vint levelled sticking in a rebound created from Danny Harris’ corner.
Manager, Tony Burman spoke to www.kentonline.co.uk after the draw and felt his side missed a great chance to progress in the F.A Trophy, he said: “After half-time I think we were the only team that looked like we were going to win it and we haven’t punished them”, he continued: “We didn’t have loads of chances, you don’t when you play against Dover, but the chances we did have were scoreable. We should have done better with those opportunities, but it wasn’t to be”, he concluded: “It’s disappointing we haven’t come away with a win”.
With the two teams doing it all over again, the Darts will still be missing central defender Tom Bonner through suspension. Tom Gardiner and Andy Pugh started against Dover Athletic on the weekend and were both substituted after picking up knocks, Burman explained: “It’s a little bit bare bones at the minute, we’ll have to assess them to see how they are for Tuesday”.
Burman is hoping his team will show determination, the right attitude and stay organised to help them produce a positive result. With exception to the goal conceded, the Dartford boss was pleased with the defensive display on the weekend against a Dover Athletic side full of attacking promise.
Chris Kinnear’s team are just outside the playoff spots and in their first campaign back in the top non league division they reached the playoffs, losing to Forest Green Rovers in the semi-final. On top of that, Kinnear led Dover Athletic to consecutive F.A Trophy quarter-finals, he told www.doverathletic.com in the build up to the original tie: “What is done is done, no matter how much those two defeats hurt and I can tell you they did because we should have made it all the way to Wembley”, he added: “We didn’t give a great account of ourselves in those two games, but that’s all in the past now”.
Twenty places below the Whites, Dartford will be looking to cause an upset at a ground they have struggled to win at over the years. The last visit to the Crabble saw the Darts heaviest defeat against Dover Athletic for thirteen years when they lost 6-1. Nicky Deverdics headed Dover Athletic ahead early on but Harry Crawford sent the sides into the break level. In the second half, the Whites strolled to victory with goals from Richard Orlu, a Tom Murphy double, Liam Bellamy and future Dart, Barry Cogan.
Prior the 1-1 draw on the weekend, the last two F.A Trophy ties between the Darts and Dover Athletic ended in the same scoreline. Although Dartford won 3-2 just over 11 years ago, the Whites got revenge four years later.
Head to Head
Dover Athletic wins: 35 / Dartford wins: 32 / Draws: 24
Previous Meetings
Dartford 1 Dover Athletic 1 (10/12/2016 – F.A Trophy)
Dover Athletic 6 Dartford 1 (17/01/2015 – National League)
Dartford 2 Dover Athletic 1 (16/09/2014 – National League)
Dartford 0 Dover Athletic 1 (04/03/2013 – Kent Senior Cup)
Dartford 3 Dover Athletic 1 (03/12/2011 – National South)
Dover Athletic 2 Dartford 2 (23/08/2011 – National South)
Current Form (all competitions)
Dartford (DWWLWW)
Drew 1-1 v Dover Athletic (H)
Won 2-1 v Poole Town (H)
Won 4-2 v Weston-super-Mare (A) – F.A Trophy
Lost 2-2 (1-4 on penalties) v Welling United (A) – Kent Senior Cup
Won 3-0 v Bishop’s Stortford (A)
Won 2-0 v Hemel Hempstead Town (H)
Dover Athletic (DLWWWL)
Drew 1-1 v Dartford (A)
Lost 1-2 v Dagenham and Redbridge (H)
Won 6-0 v Sutton United (A)
Won 3-1 v Woking (H)
Won 2-0 v Guiseley (H)
Lost 2-4 v Cambridge United (H) – F.A Cup Replay
Stats
In the F.A Trophy Dartford and Dover Athletic have both beaten each other twice and the other three matches ended in a draw.
Dartford 1 Dover Athletic 1 (10/12/2016 – F.A Trophy 1st Round)
Dover Athletic 3 Dartford 2 (21/11/2009 – F.A Trophy 3rd Qualifying Round)
Dartford 3 Dover Athletic 2 (18/10/2005 – F.A Trophy 1st Qualifying Round Replay)
Dover Athletic 1 Dartford 1 (15/10/2005 – F.A Trophy 1st Qualifying Round)
Dartford 2 Dover Athletic 0 (07/02/1989 – F.A Trophy 2nd Round Replay)
Dover Athletic 0 Dartford 0 (04/02/1989 – F.A Trophy 2nd Round)
Dover 2 Dartford 1 (11/01/1975 – F.A Trophy 1st Round)
On Saturday, Elliot Bradbrook failed to score for the first time in cup matches he’s started this season. The Darts captain has scored ten cup goals this campaign.
The Darts have won just once in their last nine outings at the Crabble. In 2010, Dartford beat Dover Athletic 2-0 which is their only victory since 1991. The Darts have recorded five draws and three defeats in that time against the Whites.
On This Day
Eight years ago to the day the Darts visited The Crabble in the Isthmian Premier League. Dover Athletic ran out 4-2 winners in the season they went up as champions. Rob Haworth scored a brace for Dartford and future Darts, Jon Wallis and James Rogers found the scoresheet for the Whites. Former Dartford midfielder Andy Hessenthaler was also part of the Dover Athletic side that day. Two years ago, Dartford won a F.A Trophy first round tie beating Solihull Moors 2-0, brothers Elliot and Tom Bradbrook ensured the Darts progressed to round two.