“We are expecting a result – but the girls have to turn up!”
A record crowd for a Dartford Women’s match of 354 packed into Princes Park just over a fortnight ago to witness the team beat Keynsham Town 2-1 – and book their place in the third round of the Adobe Women’s FA Cup for the first time.
History was made twice that day, with the attendance and making it to round three. Now the squad is hungry to make more history and reach the fourth round for the very first time, too.
The reward? A draw that will see the biggest clubs in the country enter the competition – and the once-in-a-lifetime chance to play against the likes of Arsenal and Chelsea.
For co-managers Martin McCarthy and Connor Dymond, beating Keynsham Town meant everything. It was the culmination of all the hard work and dedication that goes on behind the scenes.
But now they don’t want the journey to end – and feel more success is within the squad’s grasp.
Martin said: “I thought the last round was a fantastic day for the club. The attendance was amazing, obviously the highest we have ever had.
“I think it’s showing the momentum of where the club is at this moment in time, we’re all going in the right direction.
“Now, we’re at home again. Our home record is phenomenal. I think anyone coming to Princess Park is going to be under pressure. You’re out of your comfort zone, and you’re in a place where I think we’ve lost once or twice in three years.
“We’re expecting a result. But the girls have to turn up.”
With Keynsham Town coming from the division above in another region, it was difficult for the managers to find out too much about the side before the last match.
Martin continued: “It was a little bit of the unknown, because they weren’t a team that we’ve ever come across before. It’s not a league that we are able to just go and get loads of information on. So, we had to prepare for the game based on what our strengths are, rather than potentially looking at the weaknesses of the opposition.
“We thought we would be strong against them, not because we’re arrogant, but that’s the confidence that we’ve got now within the group. We are willing to take on all-comers. We’ve gone up against a team above us twice recently, with QPR the other, and we’ve beaten them.”
Connor said: “We were well prepared for it. I felt we looked a little bit nervous in the first half, which was to be expected, and we rode our luck in the first 15 minutes. But then, after that, we had a load of chances and if they were taken it would have been a different game. But we didn’t and then the last part ended up being a typical nervy finish. But ultimately we got the job done in the first half. It’s probably my biggest win as a manager, due to the enormity of the game.”
London Bees are next up this Sunday, with the management team happy with the draw. They went to watch their game last weekend, having a match-day off themselves.
Connor continued: “It’s a bit of a free hit. The pressure is now off, as we’ve got this far. But then people are going to see it as an opportunity not to miss either, because you don’t get these opportunities every year. They’re hard to come by.”
Martin added: “When the draw comes out, it’s one of two things. You either want to go out playing the highest-placed team you can, or if you’re going to go into the next round, you want to pull out a club that we believe is beatable.
“We wanted a home match, first and foremost. But to be at home to London Bees who are only in the league above us that play teams like QPR, who we’ve already beaten, gives us a small thinking that the opportunity is there. I think if we turn up and play like we have done in this cup competition all the way through, we’ve got to fancy our chances.”
With so many new faces this season, what do the management now think are their strengths?
Connor said: “Their mentality. They just never give up. They’re relentless, and they always want to train. Usually, teams want days off, but we don’t have days off. They will train every single Monday, 24 hours after a game.
“It’s been like this for the past few years. How the league table has finished has shown that you can’t have days off. That’s where they want to be, so they just push themselves through it.”
Now, as they prepare for the biggest match in their history, the managers are ensuring nothing changes in this mentality.
Martin continued: “It’s going to be a really good game. I think it’s going to be an equal game. And I think if we turn up, I really do fancy our chances. I really do. I’m expecting the girls to turn up and deliver like they have done for the majority of this season. We’ve been on the front foot for most of the season, so I want us to go after them. We’re at home again and our home record is brilliant.”
And as the team looks toward another record crowd, the managers saved their last words for the supporters, some of whom have supported them through thick and thin, and others, who are just starting out on the journey.
Connor said: “I’ll start with the people that have watched them. It’s like, it doesn’t really work without them. One doesn’t work without the other. And I know the players love playing for this football club under the fans, it really does give them a lift.
“And anyone that hasn’t come, you’ve only got to go off of word-of-mouth and listen to the people in and around the football club. The support they’ve got at the moment is fantastic, and we’re hoping to obviously break the record again, so please come along and see what it’s all about.”
Martin added: “What I would ask is that all supporters give us the opportunity to impress them. There have been many people this season that have turned up and said they didn’t realise how good it was.
“In order to come into our dressing room, you have to understand what it means to play for Dartford. We want the fans to see that the message that we instil is actually delivered by the girls. So just come down to support them. Let’s try and make more history this year. Let’s try and make history with regards to the biggest gate we’ve ever got. And let’s really start to put Dartford on the map, not just with the men, but with the women also.”
Dartford Women play London Bees at Princes Park on December 14th, 1pm KO. The Match is sponsored by BVL Scaffolding. Please come along and support the team as they look to continue on their amazing journey.
Photos from Kicks & Clicks and Joe Kwok.