The Darts are hanging around in the playoff places after back to back defeats. Adrian Pennock’s side are sitting in fourth, but two sides are close enough to potentially make games in hand count and apply more pressure on the Darts.
St Albans City were expected to be challenging further up the table after relegation from the National South. The Saints were forced to make a managerial change when Ian Culverhouse unexpectedly left. Since November, former Billericay Town boss Gary McCann has been in charge and his new side are mid-table.
Leaders Too Good
Last time out the Darts were up against a Folkestone Invicta side topping the table and suffered a 2-1 defeat. Adrian Pennock went for a back five to try and contain Invicta. With strikers Dan Smith out injured and Eddie Dsane only fit enough to be named substitute, the Dartford boss had little choice other than to replace a midfielder for an extra defender. In came Sam Odaudu and Ben Frempah in place of George Whitefield and Jez Pinder. Midfielder, Dan Carter returned to the starting lineup ahead of Samir Carruthers.
The visitors became only the second side to claim a win at Princes Park this season in the league. Joe Pigott managed to open the scoring from a tight angle. Former Dartford forward Ade Yussuf doubled Folkestone’s lead. Carruthers scored a superb free-kick with two minutes remaining, but it proved to be no more than a consolation goal.
The Darts will feel the need for a victory after their last two results, even more so the fact they have two tricky Kent derbies on the horizon. In the second half of January, Dartford also take on three playoff pushing sides. Whilst the fixture list is tough over the next few weeks it will also be a great opportunity for Dartford to prove their playoff credentials. However, a positive result against St Albans City is the first target and in recent meetings the Hertfordshire side have come out on top.
Darts Miss Target
Dartford fell to defeat in the reverse fixture four months ago. St Albans City claimed a 2-0 victory with goals from Zane Banton and Jasper Mather. Banton netted a penalty after Michael Olarewaju’s handball was punished with a red card. Mather gave the Saints breathing space by doubling their lead.
Highlights courtesy of SaintsTV
The Darts have failed to get anything from St Albans City over the last four games. After a heartbreaking National South playoff defeat on penalties in May 2023, Dartford have lost three in a row without scoring against the Hertfordshire club. Yet that isn’t the first time such a streak has happened. In 2016 and 2017, the Saints also won three consecutive games versus the Darts without conceding.
Between those two barren spells, Dartford had improved their fortunes by tasting defeat just once in eight meetings with the Saints. Pierre Fonkeu was the last Dartford player to score a winning goal in this fixture, which came just weeks before the playoff defeat. A 2-1 home victory saw Carruthers put the hosts ahead before Shaun Jeffers acrobatically equalised.
Culverhouse Out, McCann In
Towards the end of October, Ian Culverhouse took the opportunity to return to King’s Lynn Town for a third spell. Saints were sitting in tenth, five points off the last playoff spot Dartford were occupying. Without a permanent boss the Hertfordshire club slid down to seventeenth.
Back in September, Gary McCann left Billericay Town after a disappointing start for the Blues. His availability led to St Albans City appointing him last month and so far he has taken Saints up four places with three victories and a draw from seven league games.
Mixed Results
Last weekend St Albans City fell to defeat against a Chichester City side who were hovering above the relegation zone. Troy Perez-Duah’s goal was sandwiched between Ethan Prichard’s lob and Joseph Moore’s winner for the Sussex club.
Saints took a point at Ramsgate, but they also lost a Hertfordshire derby versus bottom of the table side Potters Bar Town. Once again, McCann’s side equalised before falling behind to lose.
It was against another Kent team that the Saints excelled. They ended last month with a resounding 4-1 win over Chatham Town. Zane Banton, Sam Smart, Kieran Petrie and Leo Sery all found the back of the net. Former Dartford striker Alex Wall has regularly featured for St Albans City. Wall made 74 appearances and scored 23 times for the Darts over three spells.
Manager’s View
Pennock spoke to Dartford FC TV after the loss last Saturday, he said he was, “disappointed we lost. We’ve got to put our hands up and sometimes you get beaten by a better side, but we didn’t give up. We gave everything”.
The Darts boss feels his side weren’t ‘shrewd’ enough in attack and is pleased Eddie Dsane is getting fitter after injury, he commented: “he’s another option for us and he looked nice and bright when he came off the bench”.
If selected Luther Williams will make his 50th start for the Darts. Michael Olarewaju was out suspended against Folkestone Invicta, the defender has received two red cards this term, one in the reverse fixture at Clarence Park. Dan Smith is nursing a hamstring injury. Eddie Dsane, Dan Carter and Jacob Bland will be hoping for more minutes. Dean Nayler remains out after a pre-season injury.
Current League Form
Dartford (WDWWLL)
St Albans City (WLWLDL)
Folkestone Invicta
H
1-2
Chichester City
H
1-2
Lewes
A
0-1
Ramsgate
A
1-1
Dulwich Hamlet
H
1-0
Potters Bar Town
H
1-2
Whitehawk
A
2-1
Chatham Town
A
4-1
Cray Valley PM
A
1-1
Burgess Hill Town
H
3-4
Chichester City
H
2-0
Carshalton Athletic
H
2-1
Head to Head
Dartford wins: 12 / St Albans City wins: 9 / Draws: 7
Previous Meetings
St Albans City 2 – 0 Dartford (16/08/2025 – Isthmian Premier)
Dartford 0 – 3 St Albans City (23/12/2023 – National South)
St Albans City 1 – 0 Dartford (09/09/2023 – National South)
Dartford 1 – 1 St Albans City (07/05/2023 – National South Playoffs)*
Dartford 2 – 1 St Albans City (22/04/2023 – National South)
St Albans City 1 – 1 Dartford (22/10/2022 – National South)
* – St Albans City won 5-3 on penalties
Statistics
Dartford are winless in their last four matches against St Albans City (D1*, L3) * – lost on penalties
Dartford have failed to score in their last three matches against St Albans City. The last time they went three in a row without a goal versus the Saints was from April 2016 to March 2017
The Darts have gone 18 matches without a clean sheet against the Hertfordshire club stretching back to February 2016 (W6, D3, L9). The Saints have kept a clean sheet in half of those games.
On This Day
Dartford caused a National League upset on this day in 2014 by going to Wrexham and winning 3-1. Imagine if that happened these days against the Championship side owned by Hollywood stars. Back then captain Elliot Bradbrook put the Darts ahead at the Racecourse Ground. The Welsh club levelled through Louis Moult, but Rory McAuley restored the visitor’s lead. In the final minute Tom Bradbrook sealed a memorable victory.