MATCH PREVIEW – Cray Wanderers v Dartford
Dartford can clinch the Isthmian Premier title against Cray Wanderers in their first ever visit to Flamingo Park on Easter Monday.
Adrian Pennock’s side will need to be fully focussed in the Kent derby, but there is no doubt the travelling fans will also be tuned in to events elsewhere. For the Darts to secure promotion back to the National South they will need to beat the Wands and hope their closest rivals fail to win.
On paper Dartford have the toughest fixture against a Cray Wanderers side in tenth, a side who have only lost four at home in the league all season. The remaining two title challengers are on the road. Billericay Town face an already safe Canvey Island, whilst Horsham take on relegated Bognor Regis Town. It’s likely the title is going right down to the wire for a final day showdown next weekend.
Dartford will take plenty of confidence from their Good Friday Kent derby victory over rivals Dover Athletic. The influential Samir Carruthers was able to start after a short but affective cameo at Whitehawk. Olly Box returned to the first eleven and defender Luther Williams was back in the matchday squad after injury.
Highlights courtesy of Dartford FC TV
The Darts made a tricky looking game feel comfortable and any nerves were settled with a wonderful free-kick from Carruthers after quarter of an hour. The midfielder curled his shot from out wide into the far top corner to give the hosts the lead. A second arrived through the tireless Denzelle Olopade, who pounced on a flick on for his seventh goal of the season. Early in the second half Box showed his skill by beating his man and putting in a perfect cross for captain Josh Hill to nod home. Dover Athletic pulled one back with almost ten minutes remaining when Ruben Soares-Junior scored from just outside the box to make the final score 3-1.
After the important win assistant manager, Roland Edge spoke to Dartford FC TV and said: “It had to be a brilliant performance. I have to be honest I thought Dover were excellent. They had great creativity up front, but I thought we matched them”, he added: “We knew the improtance of the game, the lads came out from the very first kick of the ball to the last ball focussed, winning their battles and I thought we deserved it, even though it was really, really tight”.
Looking forward to the week ahead and the different challenges left to face Edge commeneted: “Cray are a good side as well. They have gone on a great run recently. We know what we’ve got to do, we’ve just got to prepare ourselves correctly…what will be will be”.
Interview courtesy of Dartford FC TV
Dartford have now won five of their last six taking 16 points from the 18 available in that time. It’s been a good response to the consecutive away defeats to Cheshunt at the end of February and Lewes at the beginning of March. In that time the defence have been resolute with four clean sheets in the victories against Hastings United, Bognor Regis Town, Dulwich Hamlet and Whitehawk. The side has shown character by coming from two down to draw 2-2 with Folkestone Invicta and secured an important three points against Dover Athletic.
Standing in Dartford’s way on Monday will be Cray Wanderers and former Darts skipper Tom Bonner. Now captain for the Wands, the defender played over 450 times for the Darts and helped the club earn promotion to the National League and win two Kent Senior Cups. However, the former Dartford man didn’t have a good Friday when his side lost 3-0 to Horsham, a result Pennock and company weren’t hoping for. To compound matters Bonner became the second Wands player to be sent off that afternoon following an earlier red card to Ezechukwu Ebuzoeme. The pair will face suspension which normally occurs a week later, so should be available for the Kent derby.
Earlier this season Dartford won this fixture 2-1 at Princes Park on Boxing Day. After half an hour Josh Williams put the visitors in front. The second-half became Olly Box’s day with two very well taken strikes to secure maximum points. First, he smashed home an equaliser on 58 minutes and four minutes later he cut inside and found the top corner.
Last time Cray Wanderers played hosts in the league to the Darts was 15 years ago when Dartford ran out 2-1 winners. Lee Burns made up for his red card in the reverse fixture, a 1-1 Boxing Day draw in 2009. Burns popped up with the opening goal and James White added another four minutes later to take the Darts into the break with a two-goal advantage. The Wands hit back in the second half with Colin Luckett’s penalty, but the hosts couldn’t find an equaliser.
Since that league meeting Dartford have faced Cray Wanderers on the road a further five times all in cup competitions. The Darts won twice 2-1, in the F.A Cup in 2011 and five years later in the Kent Senior Cup. The Wands got revenge in the county cup with a 4-2 triumph a year later. Dartford have won the previous two cup ties knocking out Cray Wanderers 3-1 in the F.A Trophy four years ago. Last season the Darts won 2-1 in the London Senior Cup.
The Wands are guaranteed Isthmian Premier football next term, but they will have their sights on finishing strongly and improving their tenth place position. Only four sides have beaten Cray in the league at Flamingo Park, three of those defeats came in the first four matches in their new ground. In fact it took until their seventh home match to record a first Isthmian Premier win at thier new home.
The win in November sparked an unbeaten home run of 12 until defeat at the end of March to Dover Athletic, but they bounced back with a pair of impressive wins. Years ago, Cray Wanderers helped out Dartford by sharing their old ground at Oxford Road. Just over a fortnight ago they did another favour by winning 2-0 at Billericay Town meaning the Darts extended their lead to the two point margin it is today. In their last home game the Wands comfortably won 4-1 against Wingate and Finchley.
Team
Played
Points
GD
DARTFORD
40
83
+31
Billericay Town
40
81
+36
Horsham
40
81
+36
| Dover Athletic | H | 3-1 | Horsham | A | 0-3 |
| Whitehawk | A | 1-0 | Wingate & Finchley | H | 4-1 |
| Folkestone Invicta | H | 2-2 | Billericay Town | A | 2-0 |
| Dulwich Hamlet | A | 3-0 | Dover Athletic | H | 1-2 |
| Bognor Regis Town | A | 2-0 | Bowers & Pitsea | H | 4-0 |
| Hastings United | H | 2-0 | Carshalton Athlectic | A | 1-2 |
Head to Head
Dartford wins: 37 / Cray Wanderers wins: 21 / Draws: 11
Previous Six Meetings
Dartford 2 – 1 Cray Wanderers (26/12/2024 – Isthmian Premier)
Cray Wanderers 1 – 2 Dartford (16/04/2024 – London Senior Cup)
Cray Wanderers 1 – 3 Dartford (18/12/2021 – F.A Trophy)
Cray Wanderers 4 – 2 Dartford (20/09/2017 – Kent Senior Cup)
Cray Wanderers 1 – 2 Dartford (05/10/2016 – Kent Senior Cup)
Cray Wanderers 1 – 2 Dartford (15/10/2011 – F.A Cup)
Statistics
- In the league Dartford have lost just once against Cray Wanderers in the last 20 outings (W15, D4)
- The Darts have won 18 of the last 22 away matches against Cray Wanderers in all competitions (D1, L3)
- Dartford have kept three league clean sheets in a row away from home for the second time this season. The last time they managed four consecutive away cleans sheets in the league was in March/April 2018
On This Day
Danny Mills and Alfie Pavey made sure the title race went down to the final day of the season on this day in 2018. The pair scored the two goals enough to beat Bath City 2-0 at Princes Park to set up a tense finale. The Darts rounded off their home campaign in 2009 with an entertaining 4-2 win over Ashford Town (Middlesex). Goals from Lee Noble, Jay May, Adam Flanagan and Jamie Coyle secured victory. Dartford’s last eight games on 21 April have all been at home including a 6-2 thrashing of Gloucester City in the Southern Premier League back in 1990.
Even further back, Dartford collected some silverware when they beat Sheppey United 2-0 in the 1930 Kent Senior Shield final. On the same day, the Darts also lost 5-2 to Grays Thurrock United in the Southern League Eastern Section.
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