Dartford are on the road for the rest of the month starting with a trip to relegation battlers Hendon this weekend.
The Darts equalled a club record last time out, but extended their unbeaten league run to an astounding 20 games. Coming up to four months since they were last defeated in the Isthmian Premier, Adrian Pannock’s side have climbed to the top of the table where they lead by a point. After a run of 13 league matches without victory, Hendon have slid down the standings and are now in the bottom four. The Greens are five points adrift of safety with a game in hand.
Dartford’s incredible winning streak of ten in a row came to an end on Tuesday night when they hosted an in-form Chichester City, who themselves had won their previous seven. Pennock named an unchanged side for a third consecutive game hoping his side would record 11 victories on the spin for the first time in the club’s 137-year history. With the excellent form both teams were in, it was no surprise the mid-week fixture finished level.
Highlights courtesy of Dartford FC TV
The well-earned point was enough to put the Darts top of the league with goalkeeper, Jacob Marsden keeping a third consecutive clean sheet at Princes Park. Although the Darts fell short of breaking their record, Pennock was pleased with the draw praising his experienced players after two tough fixtures in three days.
On their travels, Dartford have won their last seven for the first time since they recorded nine consecutive away victories in the 2009/2010 Isthmian Premier title winning season. Prior the winning away streak, the Darts had drawn three in a row, so they are now ten unbeaten on the road in the league.
The reverse fixture against Hendon in mid-October displayed the character and endeavour now expected of the players. The Darts had to dig in to get a 0-0 draw against the Greens after Jez Pinder was controversially sent off. The hosts played almost the whole second-half a man down but held out for a draw. The stalemate left Dartford down in ninth and a week later they dropped four more places. Meanwhile, Hendon were looking upwards towards the playoff spots. Since the last meeting between the two sides, the tables have turned dramatically.
Highlights courtesy of Dartford FC TV
Despite a heavy defeat to Dartford’s last conquerors Wingate and Finchley, Hendon hit their purple patch in a series of home matches in November. The Greens picked up ten points from 12 without conceding, which included a 9-0 thumping of Hasting United. A 3-0 win followed three days later over Whitehawk, a team they drew 2-2 with on Tuesday night. Defeat at Billericay Town on 30 November turned out to be Lee Allinson’s last league match in charge, it also turned out to be the start of a terrible run.
The Greens went on to lose another eight in a row, a sequence which included a spell of seven consecutive league games without scoring. At home they are still on a barren run having lost their last six without a single goal to show for their efforts.
A month ago, the club appointed Ben Bukowski as the new manager, and he has helped Hendon to three draws in their last four outings. The latest stalemate came in mid-week with a 2-2 draw in a relegation six pointer at Whitehawk. After on loan debutant Freddie Stanley was sent off inside two minutes, the odds were stacked against the Hendon. The hosts went in front twice through Harry Bridle, but Stefan Illic and Niko Muir pegged back the Hawks.
Dartford’s last trip to Silver Jubilee Park saw them get knocked out of the London Senior Cup almost ten months ago. The semi final tie finished with a young Darts side losing 6-3 to the Greens. During Dartford’s previous two year stay in the Isthmian Premier, the two teams met four times with the Darts losing the first clash 3-0 on the opening day of the 2008/2009 campaign. Brian Haule, James Bent and Chris Bangura all scored for Hendon. The reverse fixture four months later saw a rare Tommy Osborne goal to win the game for the Darts.
The following campaign witnessed Dartford take the Isthmian Premier title. Tony Burman’s side completed a double over Hendon winning at home 5-0 in September 2009. Rob Haworth opened the scoring and Lee Burns doubled the lead. Jay May grabbed a second half brace and in the final minute Lee Noble completed the rout. The penultimate game of that campaign was a closer affair. Danny Harris scored both goals in a 2-1 victory.
| Dartford (WWWWWD) | Hendon (WWWWWW) | ||||
| Chichester City | H | 0-0 | Whitehawk | A | 2-2 |
| Hashtag United | H | 2-0 | Cheshunt | A | 2-2 |
| Bowers and Pitsea | A | 3-1 | Folkestone Invicta | H | 0-2 |
| Billericay Town | H | 4-0 | Wingate & Finchley | A | 3-3 |
| Wingate & Finchley | A | 2-1 | Carshalton Athletic | H | 0-3 |
| Whitehawk | H | 4-1 | Horsham | H | 0-4 |
Head to Head
Dartford wins: 3 / Hendon wins: 3 / Draws: 1
Previous Meetings
Dartford 0 – 0 Hendon (12/10/2024 – Isthmian Premier)
Hendon 6 – 3 Dartford (23/04/2024 – London Senior Cup)
Hendon 1 – 2 Dartford (22/04/2010 – Isthmian Premier)
Dartford 5 – 0 Hendon (05/09/2009 – Isthmian Premier)
Dartford 1 – 0 Hendon (06/12/2008 – Isthmian Premier)
Hendon 3 – 0 Dartford (16/08/2008 – Isthmian Premier)
Statistics
- Dartford are unbeaten in 20 league games. If the Darts avoid defeat this weekend they will equal the 21 without defeat during the 2007/2008 Isthmian Division One North title winning season.
- Josh Hill could make is 100th Dartford appearance this weekend. The captain has stared 91 games, made eight substitute appearances and has scored nine goals
- Dartford’s 0-0 draw on Tuesday night ended a run of scoring in 18 straight league games, their best run in a season since the start of the 2022/2023 campaign
On This Day
A late Ryan Hayes free-kick rescued a point in the Kent derby with Welling United 14 years ago. The Wings led after Jack Parkinson headed the away side in front. Hayes was introduced to the action and his set piece found its way beyond goalkeeper Tom Lovelock. Dartford last tasted victory on this day back in 1992 when they beat Trowbridge Town 2-0 in the Southern Premier. Since then, the Darts have been beaten 2-1 away at Weymouth in 1997 and 4-1 in another Kent derby at Erith and Belvedere in 2003. The last win on the road on this day was in 1965 when they defeated Margate 1-0 in a Kent Floodlight League tie.