MATCH PREVIEW – Dartford v Billericay Town

Dartford host new league leaders Billericay Town this weekend in a top of the table clash.

The Darts are full of confidence after seven straight wins in the Isthmian Premier taking them to fourth place. Stretching their league run to an impressive 16 games without defeat, Dartford have now surpassed their unbeaten sequence during the title winning campaign in 2009/2010. Another victory will put them level on points with the Blues, who comfortably beat Adrian Pennock’s side back in October. Billericay Town moved to the summit last weekend taking full advantage of Dover Athletic’s slip up.

Both clubs had the same goal at the start of the season of promotion. Dartford hope to bounce back to the National South at the first time of asking. Billericay Town are determined to reach the same destination after what would be a three year absence.

Last time out the Darts battled to a well earned triumph at Wingate and Finchley. Pennock had to adjust to in game injuries and a controversial red card to pick up vital points in the race for promotion. Full back, Sam Odaudu missed his first game of the season with a back injury and will be assessed before this weekend. Sam Okoye and Denzelle Olopade returned to the starting eleven and Michael Olarewaju was named on the bench.

Wingate and Finchley were quick out of the blocks in October leading by three after 21 minutes. This time the Darts started quickly with an early goal. Staying up from a free kick, George Whitefield found himself on the end of a Samir Carruthers cross to head in the opener after just nine minutes. The defender is now on five goals for the season. Okoye won a penalty ten minutes before the break, which Carruthers rolled in, his fifth spot kick scored and seventh goal this term. Dartford let the hosts back in the game on the stroke of half time when Camilo Restrepo halved the deficit.

A couple of injuries left Pennock needing to shuffle the pack and taking off the two goalscorers. Carruthers was unable to complete the first forty five and was replaced by Jez Pinder in the closing stages of the half. During the interval Whitefield was substituted and Michael Olarewaju introduced. Assistant manager, Roland Edge explained after the game that Carruthers felt a twinge in his hamstring and Whitefield rolled his ankle. The pair were taken off as a precaution and are hoping to be fit on Saturday.

Dartford were reduced to ten men with half an hour to go. Having already been cautioned Okoye picked up a second yellow card when the match official felt the full back took too long over a throw in. That left Dartford’s Player of the Match, Callum Jones isolated up front. The striker spent the end of last season on loan at Billericay Town. The dismissal also enforced a defensive substitution with Tyler Christian-Law coming on for Olly Box leaving the Darts digging deep to hold on.

That is now six consecutive wins on the road for Pennock’s side in the league, the last time the Darts achieved this in the same season was when they went on to lift the Isthmian Premier League trophy after an eight game winning streak. At home, Dartford are unbeaten in seven matches coming out on top in their last two.

With factors seemingly against Dartford they managed to secure three points last weekend, Edge commented to Dartford FC TV: “I’m super proud of them, it’s a squad thing and they all dug deep. Eddie (Dsane) and Tyler (Christian-Law) covered the ground as if they played ninety minutes. They all stick together, and they are a great group. It’s a pleasure to work with them and without having that togetherness today it could have easily been two all or 3-2 to Wingate. So, the lads take all the credit today they were fantastic”.

Interview courtesy of Dartford FC TV

Dartford were handsomely beaten in the reverse fixture over three months ago. Matt Kerbey’s last appearance as a Dart ended in the goalkeeper conceding four unanswered goals. Billericay Town approached the game unbeaten, and it took just two minutes for former Dartford defender Tom Bender to give the Blues an early advantage. The second blow also came from a corner and this time it was Frankie Merrifield who nodded home. Michael Olarewaju was introduced for the second half to make his debut, but the defender was helpless in plugging Dartford’s leaky defence. The Blues added two more after the interval through Moses Emmanuel and Matt Johnson.

After the 4-0 loss, the Darts were encouraged by a goalless draw with ten men versus Hendon and a second half effort against Wingate and Finchley, yet they found themselves winless in five league matches. However, fortunes have turned since then with Pennock’s side going on an extraordinary run taking the club from thirteenth to fourth in the Isthmian Premier League standings. Since the beginning of Dartford’s unbeaten streak they have made up seven points on Billericay Town.

Dartford hold good form at home against the Blues winning the last four. Twice the Darts won in 2021, the last a 1-0 win decided by Jake Robinson. In the campaign prior that victory, Charlie Sheringham scored a hat-trick in a 3-0 triumph. The double act of Darren McQueen and Elliott Romain were responsible for the Darts winning 3-2 in December 2019. Eight months prior, Tom Murphy’s late brace turned a defeat into maximum points.

Highlights courtesy of Dartford FC TV

A week ago, De-Carry Sheriff finished off a great few days for the Essex club with a brace in Billericay Town’s 2-0 home win over Dulwich Hamlet. The forward helped his side to the top of the standings and just four days earlier he scored the only goal to send the Blues to the League Cup semi final. Gary McCann’s side beat Dartford’s conquerors Sheppey United 1-0 in the last eight. Double victory and consecutive clean sheets has helped Ricay bounce back from their 1-0 loss at fifth place Horsham, who are also within a shout of the title race just four points behind the league leaders. Prior the loss in Sussex, Billericay Town were four unbeaten on the road.

Mcann’s squad has plenty of familiar faces with five former Dartford players now donning the blue of Billericay Town. Midfielder, Tyrell Miller-Rodney was part of the Darts’ side relegated last term, he made 35 appearances scoring three goals. Jay Porter and Femi Akinwande came through the academy and made the senior team. Porter featured four times over a decade ago and Akinwande had two spells making just five appearances. Ade Azeez started life at Princes Park finding the back of the net on a regular basis, the striker ended up with 18 goals in 47 matches four seasons ago. Tom Bender was part of the 2014/2015 squad when he played 20 times.

The Blues have a big couple of weeks ahead of them in their pursuit for the Isthmian Premier title. After facing the Darts on their travels, they host Cray Valley Paper Mills, who are also in the shake up and currently occupying third place.

Current League Form

Head to Head

Dartford wins: 7 / Billericay Town wins: 3 / Draws: 1

Previous Meetings

Billericay Town 4 – 0 Dartford (08/10/2024 – Isthmian Premier)
Billericay Town 0 – 2 Dartford (15/04/2022 – National South)
Dartford 1 – 0 Billericay Town (04/12/2021 – National South)
Dartford 3 – 0 Billericay Town (12/01/2021 – National South)
Dartford 3 – 2 Billericay Town (14/12/2019 – National South)
Dartford 2 – 1 Billericay Town (22/04/2019 – National South)

Statistics

• The Darts are currently on a run of four consecutive home victories against Billericay Town
• Dartford’s defeat to the Blues in October ended a run of five wins in a row against the Essex club
• The winning side has kept a clean sheet in each of the last four meetings (W3, L1)
• Dartford’s current unbeaten run of 16 matches is their best in a single season since the Isthmian Division One North title winning campaign, when they went 21 matches without defeat

On This Day

Dartford have not lost in their last four games on this day, all at home. Princes Park hosted an entertaining National League encounter against Cambridge United in 2014. The Darts came from two down to lead after U’s debutant Ryan Bird netted a brace. The hosts fought back with an Elliot Bradbrook penalty, a Max Cornhill header and a Danny Harris strike. Alan Julian saved a spot kick for the Darts before Luke Berry tied the match at 3-3.

Three years ago the Darts were held to a goalless draw with Concord Rangers in the National South. Another clean sheet was earned two years earlier when Darren McQueen scored the only goal against Dulwich Hamlet. The unbeaten run on 25 January started in 2011, a Kent Senior Cup triumph over Tonbridge Angels was secured with goals from Harris and Charlie Sheringham. Dartford went on to lift the county cup that season.

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