Dartford aim to win their first league match against Welling United at Park View Road in 34 years this weekend.
The Kent derby will be the Darts tenth of the season in all competitions and third against the Wings, having previously met in the National South and Kent Senior Cup. Dartford have drawn three and lost one of their last away games versus Welling United in the league, since the last victory in 1983.
This term, Dartford drew 2-2 in the Kent Senior Cup’s last eight losing 4-1 on penalties. Former Dart, Harry Crawford put the Wings ahead before Ryan Hayes scored a penalty. The Darts took the lead through Keaton Wood but Matt Fish’s equaliser sent the game to spot kicks.
The National South fixture saw Tony Burman’s side run out 2-1 winners. Elliot Bradbrook missed a penalty but Alex Brown benefited from the rebound, the Wings top scorer Adam Coombes levelled the match before Bradbrook made amends to net the decider.
Brown, who scored in September’s meeting, has had an up and down week. The midfielder will be missing the Kent Derby after his red card in the 1-0 F.A Trophy defeat to Chelmsford City, but scored the winner on Tuesday night versus Weston-super-Mare. Victory over the Seagulls moved Dartford into third spot, nine points behind league leaders Maidenhead United and level on points with rivals Ebbsfleet United.
Burman watched as his side went behind before taking the lead through Tom Murphy and Danny Harris. After conceding an equaliser, Brown’s fine effort sealed a 3-2 triumph. Burman told www.kentonline.co.uk: “We made hard work of it to be fair”, he added: “I don’t think we played great but the spirit has come through again and we’ve won the game”. The Darts had to earn victory without two strikers, Andy Pugh was struggling with illness and Duane Ofori-Acheampong missed the match due to a bereavement.
Welling United had looked to turn the corner at the end of 2016, only to suffer yet another setback. With the Wings in relegation danger, Mark Goldberg stepped down as manager and the club welcomed back Jamie Day and Ady Pennock. Day, who led the Wings to National South glory four years ago started his second spell off brilliantly lifting the club up the standings with a perfect record in December. Taking the Manager of the Month award was his last triumph as he joined Gillingham with Pennock.
Now seventeenth and two points above the drop, Welling United lost their last league game 2-0 at Hemel Hempstead Town. Tristan Lewis and Harry Wheeler were in charge for the defeat that came after seven consecutive victories in league and cup. Not only did the Wings start winning the goals flowed to, with Adam Coombes scooping last month’s Player of the Month accolade on the back of nine goals in four games, he’s also on the verge of reaching the 30 goal mark in all competitions.
Head to Head
Welling United wins: 6 / Dartford wins: 17 / Draws: 10
Current League Form
Dartford (WWLWLW)
Won 3-2 v Weston-super-Mare (H)
Won 6-1 v East Thurrock United (H)
Lost 0-1 v Ebbsfleet United (A)
Won 2-1 v Ebbsfleet United (H)
Lost 0-5 v Maidenhead United (A)
Won 2-1 v Poole Town (H)
Welling United (LWWWWL)
Lost 0-2 v Hemel Hempstead Town (A)
Won 5-1 v Margate (H)
Won 3-0 v Margate (A)
Won 3-1 v Concord Rangers (H)
Won 3-1 v Bath City (H)
Lost 1-3 v Hampton & Richmond (A)
Previous Six Meetings
Welling United 2 Dartford 2 (22/11/2016 – Kent Senior Cup)
(Welling United won 4-1 on penalties)
Dartford 2 Welling United 1 (06/09/2016 – National South)
Dartford 3 Welling United 1 (19/10/2015 – Kent Senior Cup)
Dartford 2 Welling United 1 (11/11/2014 – National League)
Welling United 2 Dartford 2 (30/09/2014 – National League)
Welling United 1 Dartford 1 (10/01/2014 – National League)
Stats
Dartford have picked up 9 points from 12 in Kent derbies this season, the joint best with Ebbsfleet United.
Including cup competitions the Darts also beat Cray Wanderers, Tonbridge Angels and Dover Athletic taking their win tally to 6 out of 9.
Over 90 minutes, Dartford are unbeaten in six games against Welling United stretching back to Boxing Day 2013.
Dartford’s last league victory against Welling United at Park View Road came in the 1983/84 Southern Premier campaign.
The 4-0 win was followed up by a 2-1 triumph at Watling Street and remains the only league double completed in this fixture bewteen the two teams.
On This Day
Elliot Bradbrook scored a wondergoal five years ago volleying a long range shot in the 3-1 win against Hampton and Richmond. The captain netted a brace that day with Jacob Erskine scoring the other. Also, Max Cornhill and Andy Pugh helped Dartford beat Kiddermister Harriers for the second time in the 2013/14 National League season. Aside from Pugh, Bradbrook was the only other member of the current squad involved in the win over the Harriers.