Dartford Women ready for pivotal month ahead
A confident quarter-final cup win away at local rivals Ebbsfleet has put Dartford Women in the perfect position for the pivotal month ahead.
Their first win at Ebbsfleet under the current management – and for several years before – was another milestone for the team which has continued to grow in stature month-on-month.
And for co-manager Martin McCarthy, the table-topping team is exactly where it needs to be with everything still to play for.
He said: “The win at Ebbsfleet showed a mental shift. It’s the first time we have beaten them away since Connor and I took over. And the first for some three or four years, before.
“It wasn’t just the win that pleased us, it was the performance too. It was an emphatic win.
“We were playing well, then went 1-0 down. But then we just found another gear. The girls played brilliantly.”
Dartford Women are now through to two semi-finals, both in the next five games, with matches against the teams around them in the league, or battling for promotion, also coming up.
It’s a crucial month for the team, but Martin believes they are ready for it.
He continued: “We have Bromley and Dorking Wanderers in the two semi-finals and Fulham and Saltdean in the league. Fulham and Saltdean are the two league teams to beat, Fulham have a lot of games in hand, but are exceptionally strong with a lot of money behind them.
“We are top, of the league but have to play both of them twice.
“But I’d rather be where we are now. The girls are beating everything in front of them and putting in consistent performances. We put five past Millwall and nine past Ashford.
“Now, it’s about keeping this going for the next five weeks and seeing where we are at the end of it.
“Fulham should win the league on paper, but we are in the right position now, and that’s all I can ask.”
The girls have a strong bond and togetherness again, that the managers are loving.
He continued: “We changed some personnel in the summer, but they are all clicking now. They are really close. They are now going to the gym together on a Thursday for an extra session off their own backs, which is great.
“Our demands are strong, but their preparation and commitment are strong too.”
Next up, it’s Sutton United and Martin is hoping for a big crowd again to get behind the team.
He added: “We had 211 at the last home game which broke the 200 barrier. The support has been unbelievable.
“We are hoping we can keep these attendances up and get more along to our big games coming up to help us keep this momentum going.”
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