MATCH PREVIEW – Canvey Island v Dartford

Dartford’s unbeaten run continued on Boxing Day and they will be aiming to extend their excellent form at Canvey Island this weekend.

The Darts moved to 12 league matches without defeat with another comeback victory in their Kent derby against Cray Wanderers. Now on their longest unbeaten run in a season since winning the Isthmian Premier title, Adrian Pennock’s side have won three on the bounce and five of their last six league fixtures dropping just two points in that time. Canvey Island have never beaten a Dartford team in nine attempts. The Essex club were defeated on Thursday in their derby with Billericay Town. The Gulls have now lost in their last two outings without scoring.

The Darts moved to 12 league matches without defeat with another comeback victory in their Kent derby against Cray Wanderers. Now on their longest unbeaten run in a season since winning the Isthmian Premier title, Adrian Pennock’s side have won three on the bounce and five of their last six league fixtures dropping just two points in that time. Canvey Island have never beaten a Dartford team in nine attempts. The Essex club were defeated on Thursday in their derby with Billericay Town. The Gulls have now lost in their last two outings without scoring.

After half an hour Josh Williams put the visitors in front. The second-half became Olly Boxing Day with two very well taken strikes to secure maximum points. Olly Box moved on to 11 goals for the season with the brace. First, he smashed home an equaliser on 58 minutes and four minutes later he cut inside and found the top corner. The forward has now netted eight in his last nine starts. After the game the man of the match spoke to Dartford FC TV and said: “Three points is what we were looking for. We started off slow and sluggish for the whole of the first half. The gaffa knew exactly what to say to us at half-time to get us going and to be fair it seemed to work, we played a lot better in the second-half”.

Interview courtesy of Dartford FC TV

Pennock echoed Box’s summary and praised the character of his squad, he commented: “I liked the second-half, we went back to basics by working hard”, he added: “Every single one of them are so honest, they deserve a big pat on the back”. Looking forward to Saturday’s trip to Essex, the Dartford boss expects a tricky encounter, he explained: “We’re going to tinker it a little bit because having two games in three days is crazy really, but it will be the same for Canvey as well so there will be no excuses from me. We have to be on the front foot from the start to the end, it’s a tough one but we’re looking forward to it”.

Dartford kept up their outstanding record versus Canvey Island earlier in the season. The Darts maintained their perfect record in league matches against the Essex club with a seventh straight victory.

Sam Odaudu put in a man of the match performance and scored his first ever goal at Princes Park. The full back stabbed home a volley in the second half to put Dartford ahead. Tyler Christian-Law wrapped up the points by taking advantage of some poor defending to slot away the clincher, the midfielder’s only goal for the club since joining in the summer.

Match Highlights courtesy of Dartford FC TV

Dartford’s last visit to Park Lane actually ended all square when the two sides met in the F.A Cup third qualifying round. The hosts scored an injury time equaliser to force a replay in October 2010. Former Dart, Danny Heale headed Canvey Island in front during the first half. After the interval Dartford took the lead, first Ryan Hayes scored a penalty then James White nodded home. Three minutes into stoppage time the Gulls won a spot kick, which Rob King converted. The replay was just as dramatic three days later with the game finishing 3-3. Dartford eventually progressed 9-8 on penalties.

Almost 15 years ago to the day Dartford last visited Canvey Island in a league fixture. Lee Burns opened the scoring before Craig Davidson levelled from the spot. Jamie Coyle put the Darts ahead and Rob Haworth increased the advantage. The lead was stretched when Danny Harris and Burns made it five. A consolation goal from James Rowe made the final score 5-2 to the Darts. During the same time of year 12 months earlier, Cody McDonald bagged a hat-trick on the road and got sent off in a 3-2 win.

Canvey Island may be down in fourteenth place, but so tight is the division that they are just four points away from the playoff places. Two consecutive defeats without scoring, first at home to Horsham then away to Billericay Town on Boxing Day, has seen Brad Wellman’s team lose a bit of momentum. Goals from former Dart, Tyrell Miller-Rodney, Tommy Davis and Arjanit Krasniqi condemned Canvey Island to their fifth away defeat of the season.

The defeat at home to Horsham was only the second time in the league they had failed to score on their own patch. In the two previous home fixtures they had joy versus Whitehawk and Cray Wanderers to add six points to their tally. The following fixture at Park Lane saw the Gulls progress in the Essex Senior Cup by beating Dagenham and Redbridge 4-0.

Current League Form

Head to Head

Dartford wins: 7 / Canvey Island wins: 0 / Draws: 2

Previous Meetings

Dartford 2 – 0 Canvey Island (17/08/2024 – Isthmian Premier)
Dartford 3 – 3 Canvey Island (12/10/2010 – F.A Cup)*
Canvey Island 2 – 2 Dartford (09/10/2010 – F.A Cup)
Dartford 2 – 1 Canvey Island (05/04/2010 – Isthmian Premier)
Canvey Island 2 – 5 Dartford (29/12/2009 – Isthmian Premier)
Dartford 4 – 0 Canvey Island (13/04/2009 – Isthmian Premier)
* – Dartford won 9-8 on penalties

Statistics

• Dartford have won all seven league fixtures against the Gulls with an aggregate score of 23-6
• The Darts have won three and drawn one at Canvey Island in all competitions
• Dartford have scored in every game against the Gulls averaging 3.11 goals a game
• The Darts have now scored 200 goals in the Isthmian Premier League in 106 games (1.88 goals per game)

On This Day

Dartford have drawn five of their last eight on this day, the most recent a 2-2 draw at Braintree Town three years ago. Two goals in the final eight minutes salvaged a draw from two goals down. Jake Robinson halved the deficit from a penalty, then in the final minute Jack Jebb scored a brilliant free-kick. Two years earlier, Tonbridge Angels were comfortably beaten 3-0 at Princes Park. Darren McQueen and Elliott Romain put the Darts in control. Josh Hill was dismissed for the hosts late in the game, but Charlie Sheringham still managed to add a third.

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