MATCH PREVIEW – Dartford v Wingate & Finchley
Dartford hope to build on last weekend’s draw with a positive result at home to Wingate and Finchley on Saturday in the Isthmian Premier.
Last time out in the league, the Darts ended a run of four straight defeats in all competitions against Hendon. However, on Tuesday night they were knocked out of the Kent Senior Cup at League Two side Bromley. Wingate and Finchley reached the playoffs last term and are currently eighth in the Isthmian Premier, a point in front of the Darts in eleventh.
Dartford lifted the Isthmian Division One North trophy last time they played Wingate and Finchley. A week earlier, the Darts were beaten at Edgware Town, but title challengers AFC Sudbury failed to get the required result too. With the title and promotion secured, Tony Burman’s side could enjoy the final day of the 2007/2008 season. The celebrations were made all the sweeter when a Steve Norman free-kick was fumbled only for Brendon Cass to score the winner from close range. Cass came second in the league scoring charts and won the club’s golden boot with 37 goals in all competitions. That completed a double over the Blues as the reverse fixture finished 2-0 in November 2007, Cass and Jay May the scorers.
Dartford had gone three games without a goal approaching the Kent Senior Cup tie on Tuesday night. Adrian Pennock shuffled the pack giving minutes to a mixture of senior and youth team players. The Dartford boss changed the whole side and gave debuts to Todd Brand and Joseph Kpaka. New signing Marc-Anthony Okoye retired from non-league football in November 2019 at 27 years-old with a knee injury. Almost five years on the centre half is back on a non contract basis, he made his debut against his former club. Gabe Campbell, Dean Nayler, Ade Yusuff all made their first starts for the Darts. Former Wingate and Finchley player Mert Apat featured. Whilst another ex-Blue, Duane Ofori-Acheampong was rested.
Dartford were caught out by set pieces a week ago in their 4-0 defeat at Billericay Town. The opening three goals at Hayes Lane all came from corners. Bromley were two up inside 13 minutes, but George Whitefield halved the deficit six minutes later, the defender’s first senior goal. There was still time for another before the interval and that went the way of the Ravens, who ran out 3-1 winners. Academy players Blu Husthwaite and Luke Mandry made their debuts for the Darts coming on as substitutes.
Wingate and Finchley were consistent enough to record their highest league position in seven years last season. Hanging around just outside the top five, the Blues really pushed on from February losing only two games until the end of the campaign. In that time Wingate and Finchley picked up nine victories and five draws to cement a place in the playoffs where they lost to eventual winners Enfield Town.
This season the Blues were involved in plenty of goals at both ends of the pitch over the opening four matches. In between the 3-2 wins against Dulwich Hamlet and Canvey Island they lost 3-2 at Carshalton Athletic and drew 3-3 with Folkestone Invicta. Ogo Obi netted two braces in those games and leads the scoring charts for Ahmet Rifat’s side with ten in all competitions. The Blues suffered consecutive 2-1 defeats against Potters Bar Town and Bognor Regis Town, then picked up a point at home to Chichester City. Ending the run of three without a league win, the Blues closed out September with a 2-1 victory at Dover Athletic.
On Tuesday night, Wingate and Finchley returned to action after ten days. Having lost 1-0 in the F.A Trophy to Chatham Town, the Blues bounced back/lost again versus Bowers and Pitsea. Rifat made three changes including the introduction of Ryan Lowe and Loic Hernandez to the starting lineup. The pair have just recovered from injury and had been building up their fitness with appearances from off the bench in recent games.
Lowe made a good start to the season prior his injury scoring twice. The midfielder opened the scoring four minutes into the match, continuing the Blue’s streak of netting in every game this season. Bowers and Pitsea were level before the break through Jacob Bland. With 20 minutes remaining, Obi put Wingate and Finchley ahead and late on Tyrese Briscoe secured maximum points. The Blues are now three unbeaten and have won their last two in the league.
Current League Form
| Hendon | H | 0-0 | Bowers & Pitsea | H | 3-1 |
| Billericay Town | A | 0-4 | Dover Athletic | A | 2-1 |
| Bowers & Pitsea | H | 1-2 | Chichester City | H | 1-1 |
| Dover Athletic | A | 1-5 | Bognor Regis Town | A | 1-2 |
| Chatham Town | H | 3-1 | Potters Bar Town | H | 1-2 |
| Carshalton Town | A | 1-0 | Canvey Island | A | 3-2 |
Head to Head
Dartford wins: 3 / Wingate and Finchley wins: 2 / Draws: 2
Previous Meetings
Dartford 1 – 0 Wingate and Finchley (26/04/2008 – Isthmian Division One North)
Wingate and Finchley 0 – 2 Dartford (03/11/2007 – Isthmian Division One North)
Wingate and Finchley 3 – 2 Dartford (18/03/2006 – Southern League Div 1 East)
Dartford 2 – 1 Wingate and Finchley (17/12/2005 – Southern League Div 1 East)
Wingate and Finchley 2 – 2 Dartford (28/03/2005 – Southern League Div 1 East)
Dartford 2 – 2 Wingate and Finchley (27/12/2004 – Southern League Div 1 East)
Statistics
- Dartford have won three of their last four games against Wingate and Finchley (L1)
- The Darts are unbeaten in the three home matches against the Blues (W2, D1)
- Dartford are winless in four league games (D1, L3) and have failed to score in the last two
On This Day
Matthew Godden’s hat-trick against Hyde helped Dartford to an entertaining 4-3 victory over Hyde on this day. The National League fixture in 2013 went back and forth at Princes Park and was decided by a late winner. The visitors came from two down to go 3-2 up, but George Monger equalised in the 83rd minute. Four minutes later Godden scored the winner and took home the match ball. Josh Hill was an unused substitute that day.
Steve King took charge of his first game as Dartford boss on this day five years ago. Leading the team out in the F.A Cup fourth qualifying round tie against Kingstonian, the Darts lost 3-2 with Andy Pugh and Darren McQueen the scorers. Prior that defeat Dartford went seven unbeaten on 19 October which included a 3-1 Kent Senior Cup win over Welling United in 2015. George Sykes, Callum McNaughton and Dajon Golding all getting on the scoresheet.
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