MATCH PREVIEW – Braintree Town v Dartford

Dartford face a tough task in their relegation battle when they cross the Thames to take on Braintree Town on Tuesday night.

The Darts have won just one of their last twelve in the National South. The Iron are unbeaten in their last eleven and occupy a playoff place. Only once have Dartford came home with a victory from Cressing Road and that was twelve years ago.

Braintree Town are six unbeaten in this fixture on home soil, yet Dartford have managed to pick up three draws in their previous four visits. Last season’s trip to Cressing Road saw the Darts pick up a creditable point. Under Angelo Harrop the Iron have an impressive record on their own patch. Blair found the back of the Dartford net again before Jernade Meade netted the equaliser.

Dartford lost the reverse fixture against Braintree Town in November when Aaron Blair hit a double for the Iron. Blair’s brace came in the second-half after Rooney had been sent off for the Darts in the first-half. Baris Altintop was in Dartford’s side four months ago, since then he has returned to the Iron. The 23 year-old made 24 appearances during his half a season with the Darts scoring once.

Ady Pennock named his first lineup as Dartford boss on the weekend with Jordan Greenidge making his first start since rejoining the club from Tonbridge Angels. Joash Nembhard completed his suspension so returned to the side and Tommy Block was back from injury. Former Braintree Town midfielder Luke Allen was in action again after making a substitute appearance. Olly Box missed out from the matchday squad as did Paul Rooney who picked up an injury in Dartford’s last outing. Jordan Wynter was suspended and will serve his second game of his two match ban on Tuesday night. Sam Odaudu was still sidelined.

A positive start and first half from the Darts included an Fumnaya Shomotun effort that struck the post just three minutes in. However the visitors were unable to take their opportunities in the opening forty five and were arguably the better side. Defensive mistakes led to Dartford unraveling during a four minute collapse in the second half. For a consecutive game the Darts conceded quickfire goals and fell to another defeat. At home to Aveley they let in two late goals in three minutes to give up a one goal lead. This time with the scores level Dartford shipped in three goals in five minutes in a 4-1 loss at Torquay United.

Aaron Jarvis scored a penalty, Arkell Jude-Boyd added a second and a goal by Bradley Ash saw the hosts race ahead. Ibby Akanbi pulled one back for the Darts to record his first goal for the club. To rub salt into the wound, former Dart, Duane Ofori-Acheampong added another to Torquay United’s haul.

With Welling United, Eastbourne Borough and Taunton Town all winning, the Darts are edging ever closer to the relegation zone and are just a point clear of the bottom four.

Braintree Town started the year with a Essex derby defeat to Chelmsford City. The Iron had a sense of deja vu as they suffered the same fate on Boxing Day by losing to the Clarets 3-0 in both festive fixtures. Since then Angelo Harrop’s side have gone unbeaten, are in fifth spot and are on course to reach the playoffs. The Iron currently have a three point cushion over eighth place.

On the weekend they were held to a 1-1 draw against fellow playoff chasers Slough Town. Blair scored in his fourth consecutive match to put the hosts in front. Then Slough Town substitute Trae Cook-Appiah was introduced and levelled for the visitors.

It was the second game running in which Braintree Town picked up a point. A week earlier they drew 2-2 at a rejuvenated Welling United. The Iron came from behind twice in the first-half. The Wings took a tenth minute lead through Jack Burchell. Late in the opening forty-five equalised through Blair Then it was a tale of two penalty kicks, Anthony Grant netted for Welling United and Shaq Coulthirst for the Iron.

Despite not being able to pick up maximum points in each of their last two outings, Braintree Town won seven in a row leading up to the pair of draws. To close February they went to Bath City and claimed a 2-1 victory, the four games before that all ended in 1-0 wins against Worthing, Tonbridge Angels, Torquay United and Chippenham Town. The start of last month began with a convincing 3-0 triumph at home to Dover Athletic and January finished with a 2-1 win versus Truro City.

Current League Form

Head to Head

Dartford wins: 4 / Braintree Town wins: 9 / Draws: 6

Last Six Meetings

Dartford 0 – 2 Braintree Town (21/11/2023 – National South)
Braintree Town 1 – 1 Dartford (18/02/2023 – National South)
Dartford 4 – 1 Braintree Town (05/11/2022 – National South)
Dartford 0 – 1 Braintree Town (02/05/2022 – National South)
Braintree Town 2 – 2 Dartford (28/12/2021 – National South)
Braintree Town 2 – 1 Dartford (09/01/2021 – National South)

Statistics

• Dartford have recorded just two victories in the last 15 matches against Braintree Town (D5, L8)
• The Darts have gone 13 games without a clean sheet against the Iron. Their last clean sheet was in a 0-0 draw in 2013.
• Jack Smith could make his 50th Dartford appearance. The midfielder has made 41 starts, eight substitute appearances and scored four goals for the club
• The Iron have won 23, drawn 13 and lost just 4 at home in the National South since Angelo Harrop has been in charge

On This Day

Dartford won five in a row on this day between 1983 and 1997, but since then they have not won in just as many attempts. During the Kent League days, the Darts beat Slade Green twice in the nineties (1994 and 1996) on 12 March before a 1-0 win against Buckingham Town in the Southern League Southern Division in 1997. The only point picked up by Dartford in the last five outings on this day came in a 2-2 draw versus Basingstoke Town 13 years ago. Future Dart, Delano Sam-Yorke scored either side of goals from Ryan Hayes and Danny Harris. The Darts were humbled at home in a 6-1 loss to Barking and East Ham United in 2005. The last two matches on this day have ended in 4-2 defeats against Whitehawk in 2016 and Chippenham Town two years ago.

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