MATCH PREVIEW – Worthing v Dartford – FA Cup 3rd Qualifying Round

Dartford will need to cause an upset to progress in the F.A Cup when they visit Worthing this weekend.

If the Darts achieve the feat of knocking out higher league opposition, they will make it through to the fourth qualifying round for the first time in three years. The Rebels ended a 24 year wait to reach the first round last season and will be favourites going into Saturday’s tie.

These two clubs have history in the competition having played five times previously. Drawn against each other on four occasions, Dartford lead the head-to-head record winning in the last F.A Cup game between the pair back in 2009. Hopefully preparations will be smoother this time for the Dartford players who were held up when travelling to Woodside Road 15 years ago. Luckily the delays didn’t affect the result and goals from Elliot Bradbrook and Jay May led to a 2-1 win, Jamie Brotherton scored a consolation for Worthing.

Worthing’s only F.A Cup triumph over the Darts rewarded the Sussex club with a second round tie with Oxford United. Dartford were beaten 2-1 on the road in 1982 despite Paul Lazarus giving the visitors a half time lead. The Rebels came from behind to set a club record run in the competition, a record that remains today. The two other ties came back in the twenties with Dartford winning at home 3-0 in a fourth qualifying round match in 1927. Six years earlier the pair drew 0-0 in Sussex before the Darts won the first qualifying round replay 1-0.

In recent history Dartford have faced Worthing in the National South over the previous two campaigns. The last visit to Woodside Road finished in an entertaining 4-3 victory to the Darts just over a year ago. Danny Cashman put the hosts ahead, then in the space of 15 minutes at the end of the first half Dartford were 3-1 to the good. Alex Wall, Luke Coulson and Jordan Wynter scored to put the visitors in control. The hosts fought back through Ricky Aguiar and Ollie Pearce. However, with six minutes to go Tyrell Miller-Rodney scored the winner.

Yet it is Worthing that have the upper hand winning the other three league meetings. In August 2022 they came from behind at Princes Park. Connor Essam gave Dartford an early lead, but second-half goals from Callum Kealy and a last-minute Joel Colbran effort handed the Rebels the win. The reverse fixture was more comfortable for Worthing as they led through an own goal, then Pearce and former Dart, Davide Rodari made it 3-0. The last meeting five months ago also finished 2-1 to the Sussex side. Once again, the Rebels turned a goal deficit around after Luke Coulson’s penalty. Bradley Dologhan and Kane Wills struck for Worthing putting the Darts on the brink of relegation.

Dartford’s F.A Cup run is a distraction from the Isthmian Premier after suffering back to back league defeats. In between the 5-1 loss at Dover Athletic, the Darts navigated a second qualifier against Leatherhead. Last weekend they were undone by bottom side Bowers and Pitsea and a former academy player. Alfie Evans scored twice in the first half for the Essex club, whilst Callum Jones scored in his fourth consecutive home match in the 2-1 home loss.

Adrian Pennock was without Oliver Box (groin), but selected an unchanged side to the team that beat Leatherhead. Returning to action after a pre-season injury Duane Ofori-Acheampong made a substitute appearance only to be sent off after the final whistle, the striker will now face a suspension.

Worthing have been renowned for high scoring matches since reaching the National South. In their two full campaigns at that level they have scored 196 goals and conceded 144. This season, on the opening day against Weston-super-Mare that trend continued as they come from three goals down to win 4-3, getting off to a good start to life without the talismanic Pearce. The former Rebel left in the summer to join former manager Adam Hinshelwood at York City. The striker scored over 30 league goals in each of his last three seasons.

Consecutive draws followed before a 5-0 humbling at Truro City, but the Rebels ended August with a 3-2 victory over Hampton and Richmond Borough. This month has seen Worthing pick up five points from three league games drawing in their previous two National South outings against AFC Hornchurch and last weekend versus Weymouth. Prior the pair of draws they beat to Boreham Wood.

Story so far…

First Qualifying Round
Dartford 6 – 2 Marlow
A convincing victory over the Southern South side eased Dartford into the next round. Eddie Dsane put the hosts in front and just before the break Oliver Box doubled the lead. Box added another shortly after the interval. Marlow pulled a goal back from the spot before Ben Allen scored his first goals for the Darts either side of the away side’s second. Wrapping up the win, Callum Jones added a sixth.

Second Qualifying Round
Dartford 2 – 0 Leatherhead
Jones took advantage of a goalkeeping error to get Dartford of the mark in the second qualifying round. Following up a spilt effort, the striker pounced to make to put the Darts one up. Dsane secured a passage into the next round when he calmly finished a wonderful Samir Carruthers assist.

Worthing 3 – 2 Havant and Waterlooville
Muhammadu Faal scored against his former club as Worthing scraped past lower league opposition Havant and Waterlooville. The Hawks, relegated with Dartford last term, opened the scoring through Keane Anderson. The hosts were level in the second half when Jack Spong made it one each. Moments later Ryan Seager scrambled the Hampshire side in front, then the Rebels left it to the final five minutes. Tommy Willard and Faal completed the comeback to put Worthing’s name into the hat

Current Form

Head to Head

Dartford wins: 4 / Worthing wins: 4 / Draws: 1

Previous Meetings

Dartford 1 – 2 Worthing (09/04/2024 – National South)
Worthing 3 – 4 Dartford (14/11/2023 – National South)
Worthing 3 – 0 Dartford (28/01/2023 – National South)
Dartford 1 – 2 Worthing (27/08/2022 – National South)
Worthing 1 – 2 Dartford (26/09/2009 – F.A Cup)
Worthing 2 – 1 Dartford (20/11/1982 – F.A Cup)

Statistics

• Four of the last five fixtures between Dartford and Worthing have been won by the away side.
• The Darts have won 3, drew 1 and lost 1 in F.A Cup games versus the Rebels
• Dartford have won nine out of their last 11 away F.A Cup games. Only Oxford City in 2018 and AFC Sudbury in 2021 have beaten the Darts in those matches.

On This Day

An Emmanuel Sonupe double helped Dartford into the London Senior Cup second round on this day three years ago. The Darts beat Athletic Newham 5-2 with the other goals coming from George Porter and Dan Roberts. In Dartford’s last away fixture on 28 September they beat Essex League side Ford United 1-0 in the second qualifying round of the F.A Cup back in 1991. Only two other F.A Cup ties involving the Darts were played on this day. Dartford went out to Staines Town in 1997 and beat rivals Maidstone United in 1912.

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