MATCH PREVIEW | Dartford v Ramsgate
A third Kent derby in the row for the Darts comes just days after scraping a win at Welling United. League Cup finalists Ramsgate arrive at Princes Park unbeaten in 11 games in all competitions.
Victory for the Darts could lift them into the top five depending if Billericay Town lose at Lewes in midweek with a four or five goal swing. As for the Rams, they can only move closer to their target, but a win on the road by more than two goals will take them above Adrian Pennock’s side.
Loanee’s Late Derby Day Strike
Dartford needed another late goal to earn some much needed points on the weekend. This time it was Rohan Vaughan’s winner at local rivals and relegation strugglers Welling United. The on loan striker from Queens Park Rangers pounced from close range to give the Darts a 1-0 win over the Wings.
Pennock made two changes to the team that needed a late equaliser to draw at home to Cray Wanderers a week earlier. In came Dan Carter and Dan Smith for Eddie Dsane and Vaughan. Vaughan came off the bench with six minutes to play and was alert to net his first senior goal five minutes into injury time.
Keeping In Touch
Although the Darts have been unable to put in the prettiest performances recently they are still within touching distance of the playoffs. The win on Saturday was only Dartford’s fourth on the road this campaign and the clean sheet was only their second on the road all season.
At home, the Darts are a different prospect having tasted defeat only twice in the league this term. Pennock’s side are unbeaten in the last four at Princes Park and have won ten of the sixteen Isthmian Premier matches on home soil. With three away matches coming up, Dartford will be keen to get maximum points this Tuesday.
Bank Holiday Classic
Tuesday night’s match has plenty to live up to compared to the last meeting between the two sides. On Bank Holiday August a classic encounter was served up when Dartford visited Ramsgate. The reverse fixture had it all, eight goals, three red cards, a hat-trick and late drama as the points were finally shared.
The Darts battled with nine men to earn the 4-4 draw with the tone being set in the early stages of the entertaining clash. Mitchell May put the Rams in front within seconds of the kick off. The hosts almost doubled the lead before Dan Smith scored with only six minutes on the clock. Ramsgate were back ahead through Tijan Jadama and stretched the lead before the half was out courtesy of Ryan Kingsford. Things got worse for Dartford five minutes into the second half. Sam Smith picked up another yellow card to leave his side down to ten men.
Dsane’s Treble
Pennock made a crucial substitution soon after the red card by bringing on Eddie Dsane. The striker halved the deficit and went on to have a fine afternoon, but not before Sam Okoye was sent off followed by Ramsgate’s Harry Webster.
Three goals in the final ten minutes created late drama. Dsane equalised with a stunning long range shot, then former Dart, Tom Clifford looked to have won it for Ramsgate. However, two minutes into stoppage time Dsane won a spot kick and kept his cool to score it. There was even time for a strong penalty appeal for the Darts to be waved away by the referee.
Highlights courtesy of Ramsgate FC
Mart-In
When the Rams lost 5-0 to Aveley to start November it spelt the end of Ben Smith’s second spell in charge. The Isthmian South East title winning manager resigned after a seven game winless run.
A month earlier Lee Martin departed Welling United after just two months in charge and a poor start. He took up a coaching role with the Rams and was appointed interim boss when Smith stepped down. Martin was given the permanent role after taking seven points in his first three games.
Ram-ping It Up
Ramsgate have hit great form and are one of a few clubs gathering just below the top five. The Rams are growing in confidence thanks to a perfect start to 2026. Martin guided the Kent side to five consecutive victories in all competitions. In that time the club moved closer to the League Cup final, racked up 16 goals and conceded once.
Last month, between the 1-1 draws with Cray Wanderers and Aveley, the Rams won three in a row against Brentwood Town, Hashtag United in the League Cup semi-final and Carshalton Athletic.
Since a last gasp defeat at runaway leaders Folkestone Invicta in late December, Ramsgate are undefeated. The loss against Invicta left them in fourteenth, seven points from the drop zone and ten adrift from the playoffs. Now they are ninth in the league, six points shy of the top five.
Unbeaten Run Continues
On Saturday, the Rams took another point in their home game against Aveley. Martin’s team may have lost ground on those above them and dropped a place behind Burgess Hill Town, but taking a draw against second place Aveley is still a good result. The Kent side took the lead two minutes into the second half through Solomon Ogunwomoju. The Millers levelled just past the hour when Anthony Church scored.
Rams Up for the Cup
Ramsgate are aiming to win the League Cup for a second time having done so in 2008 at Princes Park, when they beat AFC Sudbury on penalties. Their route to this season’s final has involved victories over Ashford United, Welling United, Binfield and Hashtag United. The Rams will find out their opponents in the final next week when Redbridge host Wingate and Finchley.
Manager’s View
Adrian Pennock was pleased his side could get through a challenging Kent derby at Welling United and praised the substitutes, he spoke to Dartford FC TV and said: “It was a really good derby, obviously it was going to be scrappy and lively at times. They are battling for their lives, so it was going to be a difficult game”.
He added: “Our subs again came off the bench at the right times and made an impact. That’s what you want as a manager and we got a clean sheet as well, so I’m really proud of the boys”.
Interview courtesy of Dartford FC TV
Team News
George Whitefield could be available after being left out on the weekend. Jacob Bland (broken nose) has been unavailable since defeat at Potters Bar Town and Samir Carruthers is out for the rest of the season with a knee injury.
Current League Form
| Dartford (WLWLDW) | Ramsgate (WDWWWD) | ||||
| Welling United | A | 1-0 | Aveley | H | 1-1 |
| Cray Wanderers | H | 1-1 | Carshalton Athletic | A | 2-1 |
| Potters Bar Town | A | 0-1 | Hashtag United (LC) | H | 1-0 |
| Brentwood Town | H | 3-2 | Brentwood Town | H | 3-0 |
| Burgess Hill Town | A | 1-2 | Cray Wanderers | A | 1-1 |
| Aveley | H | 2-0 | Wingate and Finchley | A | 1-0 |
(LC – League Cup)
Head to Head
Dartford wins: 21 / Ramsgate wins: 15 / Draws: 9
Previous Meetings
Ramsgate 4 – 4 Dartford (25/08/2025 – Isthmian Premier)
Ramsgate 0 – 3 Dartford (05/04/2011 – Kent Senior Cup)
Ramsgate 2 – 2 Dartford (10/11/2009 – Isthmian League Cup)*
Dartford 4 – 0 Ramsgate (18/04/2009 – Isthmian Premier)
Ramsgate 0 – 1 Dartford (30/12/2008 – Isthmian Premier)
Ramsgate 2 – 1 Dartford (31/02/2006 – Kent Senior Cup)
* Dartford won 5-4 on penalties
Statistics
- Dartford are unbeaten in their last five matches against Ramsgate in normal time (W3, D2)
- The Darts are unbeaten in six at home against the Rams (W4, D2)
- Not since the Rams were known as Ramsgate Athletic have Dartford lost at home against their opponents back in 1972 (W3, D1)
- Dartford have never lost a home game to a side known as Ramsgate (W7, D2 – Pre World War Two and post 1972)
On This Day
Dartford have played in five semi-finals on this day and on each occasion went on to reach the final. Four of those finals were in the Kent Senior Cup and it was six years ago that the Darts thrashed Phoenix Sports in the last four. Jordan Wynter, a Liam Nash brace, Elliott Romain and Amrit Bansal-McNulty all scored in the 5-1 win. Steve King’s side went on to lift the county cup the following season. In 1987, a 1-0 victory of Ashford Town put the Darts into the final where they beat Maidstone United.
On the other two occasions Dartford lost the final, but they beat Sheppey United in a semi-final replay after a 0-0 draw on this day in 1979 and defeated New Brompton, only for the Darts to lose the 1894 final to Royal Ordnance Factories. The other semi-final was in the 1923 Chatham Charity Cup, which Dartford won 2-1 against Royal Naval Depot. The Darts lifted the title by beating Chatham 1-0.