MATCH PREVIEW | Canvey Island v Dartford
The Darts kept their hopes alive with a vital victory in the Kent derby against Chatham Town on Easter Monday. The win stretched Dartford’s unbeaten run to six and narrowed the gap to fifth place to just two points.
Canvey Island were sent down on Easter Monday despite a late fightback in their Essex derby at Billericay Town. The Gulls are winless in six matches and have taken only two points in those outings.
On form Dartford are favourites this Saturday, but away from home they have beaten just one team in the current bottom eight. The Darts only have to look back to the reverse fixture against Canvey Island as a warning not to be complacent.
Old Boss Returns
Peter Taylor was in charge of the Gulls back in September and his team had lost all five leading up to their visit to Princes Park. Taylor led the Darts as Player Manager in the late eighties, seven months ago he guided Canvey Island to their first ever league point versus a Dartford side in a 2-2 draw.
The hosts got off to a terrible start conceding twice in the opening six minutes. Jonny Henly failed to hold on to a shot for Canvey’s Charlie Stimson to score. Then the goalkeeper was lobbed by Max Fiddes.
Dartford’s youngsters fought back in the second half to earn a point. George Whitefield nodded in Olly Box’s cross. Then, Box hit a low strike to equalise a couple of minutes later.
Highlights courtesy of Dartford FC TV
Happy Hunting Ground
The Darts have won all their away games in the league against Canvey Island. Last term Eddie Dsane netted the decisive goal to close out 2024. Almost 15 years earlier to the day, Dartford claimed a 5-2 win with a brace from Lee Burns and goals from Jamie Coyle, Rob Haworth and Danny Harris.
Cody McDonald scored a hat-trick and got sent off in a 3-2 victory back in December 2008 and six months earlier Brendon Cass was the match winner in a 1-0 triumph.
Closing the Gap
Over the last three games Dartford have chipped away at the deficit to the playoffs a point at a time. After the 4-1 home victory against Lewes, the Darts were five points behind. A comprehensive 7-0 win versus Hashtag United and a 2-2 draw at Carshalton Athletic closed the gap further. On Easter Monday a Kent derby triumph at home to Chatham Town has left the Darts only two points adrift.
Dan the Man Again
Pennock made three changes over Easter welcoming Joe Tennent and Jacob Bland back in place of Michael Olarewaju and Dan Carter. Box also returned to the side with Evans Kouassi named on the bench.
The Darts were two up in eight minutes when they beat Chatham Town in December. This time Dan Smith opened the scoring at Princes Park with a confident finish seven minutes in to the game. A superb solo effort from Box gave the Darts a two goal cushion just before the break.
The Chats got back into the derby through Jordy Robins, but the two goal margin was restored after Smith fired home to complete his brace. There was still time for former Dart, Ben Allen to grab a consolation. However the hosts ran out 3-2 winners.
Highlights courtesy of Dartford FC TV
Dartford’s attack is playing with confidence after netting 16 goals in the last four games. After a series of injury setbacks earlier this season Smith has managed to get a run in the side and the striker has hit form. In his previous seven appearances the 26 year old has scored six times.
Playoff race
Maximum points for the Darts will give them a good chance of gatecrashing the top five, but they still need results elsewhere to go their way. Aveley and Billericay Town have all but booked a place in the playoffs. That leaves Dartford chasing down Chatham Town, who host almost safe Wingate and Finchley and Brentwood Town, who go to relegation threatened Carshalton Athletic.
| Position | Team | Pld | Pts | GD |
| 6 | DARTFORD | 39 | 68 | +23 |
| 7 | Cray Wanderers | 39 | 64 | +8 |
| 8 | Burgess Hill Town | 39 | 64 | -3 |
If results go perfectly the Darts could end the day in fourth. A win for Pennock’s side and defeats for both Chatham Town and Brentwood Town will put playoff ambitions in Dartford’s control.
A Season to Forget
Canvey Island have spent all season in the relegation zone and their only point in the opening nine games was the 2-2 draw at Princes Park. After a loss to Benfleet in the Essex Senior Cup, Peter Taylor stepped down with the Essex side on five points in 11 matches. His last two league fixtures resulted in a win and a draw. Ironically, Taylor left during what was to be the Gulls’ best spell in the Isthmian Premier, an unbeaten run of five. Garry Kimble is now in charge and with just six victories all season, the Islanders will return to the Isthmian North after four years away.
Downed by Blues
The Essex club drew consecutive games ahead of their local derby with Billericay Town last time out. The Blues took a commanding lead and with nine minutes to go were three up and almost home a dry. Goals from Charlie Ruff, Alfie Cerulli and Macauley Bonne sealed Canvey Island’s relegation. However, Kimble’s team kept going until the end and were rewarded with two goals of their own through Conor Hubble and Freddie Price.
Manager’s View
Adrian Pennock was delighted with completing a double over Chatham Town, he spoke to Dartford FC TV after the game and said: “I thought we were excellent, especially the first half. We came out on the front foot and thoroughly deserved to be two up at half-time”, he continued: “It’s a very good win, a very important win, but it hasn’t changed too much, we’re just hanging in there at the moment. It’s a good boost for our supporters and everyone connected to the football club”.
The Dartford boss admitted he had to make some difficult decisions with his selection by leaving out captain Michael Olarewaju and an in form Dan Carter. Pennock wanted to manage their minutes and use the squad available, especially as Carter also played for Leyton Orient prior the Good Friday draw with Carshalton Athletic.
There is not much room for error this weekend if the Darts want to extend their campaign. Pennock commented: “It’s got to be three points at the end of the day. We’re playing catching up and it’s always tough when you’re playing catch up. I’d rather have the points on the board”, he added: “Canvey are a good side and it’s a tough place to go, but we’ve got to turn up again like we have done in the last few games. We’re in good form, long may it continue”.
Interview courtesy of Dartford FC TV
Team News
Jacob Bland returned on Easter Monday after missing nine games with a broken nose. Eddie Dsane has been ill, but could still feature. Samir Carruthers and Dean Nayler will be out for the rest of the season.
Current League Form
| Dartford (WDWWDW) | Canvey Island (LLLDDL) | ||||
| Chatham Town | H | 3-2 | Billericay Town | A | 3-2 |
| Carshalton Athletic | A | 2-2 | Dulwich Hamlet | H | 1-1 |
| Hashtag United | H | 7-0 | Lewes | A | 2-2 |
| Lewes | H | 4-1 | Hashtag United | H | 1-3 |
| Folkestone Invicta | A | 2-2 | Chatham Town | H | 0-1 |
| Cheshunt | A | 1-0 | Chatham Town | A | 0-3 |
Head to Head
Dartford wins: 8 / Canvey Island wins: 0 / Draws: 3
Previous Meetings
Dartford 2 – 2 Canvey Island (06/09/2025 – Isthmian Premier)
Canvey Island 0 – 1 Dartford (28/12/2024 – Isthmian Premier)
Dartford 2 – 0 Canvey Island (17/08/2024 – Isthmian Premier)
Dartford 3 – 3 Canvey Island (12/10/2010 – F.A Cup)*
Canvey Island 2 – 2 Dartford (09/10/2010 – F.A Cup)
Dartford 2 – 1 Canvey Island (05/04/2010 – Isthmian Premier)
* – Dartford won 9-8 on penalties
Statistics
- Dartford are unbeaten on the road against Canvey Island in all competitions (W4, D1)
- The Darts could go four unbeaten away games in the league for only the second time this season if they avoid defeat this weekend
On This Day
The Bradbrook brothers both scored in a 3-1 win at Princes Park on this day in 2015. The Darts fell behind in a relegation six pointer, but came back to all but send Nuneaton Town down. Andy Brown put the visitors in front until Elliot Bradbrook scored from the spot. His brother Tom added a second and Harry Crawford made certain of the win.
Twice Dartford missed out on a trip to Wembley with F.A Trophy second leg defeats on this day. In 1987, the Darts lost 2-0 against Burton Albion going out 4-1 on aggregate. Six years earlier a 2-1 loss versus Bishop’s Stortford came after the first leg finished 1-1.