Dartford could climb to second in the National South if they manage to beat Slough Town at Arbour Park tonight.
Alan Dowson’s side closed the gap on Havant and Waterlooville on the weekend and with the Hawks playing on Wednesday, the Darts can overtake the Hampshire club. First, Slough Town stand in their way looking to bounce back from three straight defeats in the league.
Dartford completed a double over Slough Town last season scoring nine goals without reply. The previous visit to Arbour Park ended 6-0 to the Darts. Marcus Dinanga took barely any time at all to open the scoring and the advantage was doubled when Keiran Murtagh flicked in Jack Jebb’s corner. By half-time the Darts were three up through Dinanga and on cruise control. Kalvin Kalala got in on the act, Jordan Greenidge added a fifth and Olumide Durojaiye scored to wrap up the comprehensive victory.
Dartford are unbeaten in their last eight games on this day, but five of those have been draws. The last outing on 25 October ended without a goal as the Darts drew 0-0 at Chelmsford City a year ago. Harry Crawford scored twice and Elliot Bradbrook netted from the spot in 2014 to help Dartford qualify for the F.A Cup first round by beating Burgess Hill Town 3-1. That victory was the last in a sequence of three straight victories on this day. In 2011, Jacob Erskine, James Rogers and Jack Pallen scored in a 3-0 win across the River Thames against Thurrock. Three years earlier, the Darts beat Tooting and Mitcham United 2-0 thanks to Cody McDonald and Rob Haworth finding the back of the net. Prior the run of three consecutive wins, Dartford drew four in a row versus Barking and East Ham United (2-2 in 2005), Fleet Town (0-0 in 2003), Newport Isle of Wight (1-1 in 2000) and Bashley (2-2 in 1997). The last defeat on this day came back in 1988 against Sutton United in the first round of the Club Call Cup. The same season the U’s recorded that famous F.A Cup win against Coventry City in the third round.