MATCH PREVIEW | Dartford v Aveley

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09:20

The Darts have been relying on home advantage this season and will need to again if they want a positive outcome at Princes Park on Saturday. The Millers are unbeaten in 16 league games, chasing down the top three in the division and reached the Essex Senior Cup final this week.

Held at Hashtag

Adrian Pennock’s side had to settle for a point last time out having twice squandering the lead late in each half. The Dartford boss had his strongest squad to choose from with only one absentee. Sam Odaudu was the only change to the side that beat Chatham Town, whilst Dan Smith was back from injury and made a substitute appearance.

Callum Jones scored his fifth of the season when he lobbed Tags goalkeeper, Jack Giddens. The striker finished off the skilful work of Nathan Eze to open the scoring. On the stroke of half-time, the Darts were caught out as Evans Kouassi equalised.

Dartford regained their advantage in the second half. George Whitefield, who scored what turned out to be the winner against Chatham Town, nodded home for his second in as many games. But once again, as the clock was ticking at the end of the half, Kouassi completed his brace to deny the Darts a third consecutive win.

Second Best Home v Second Best Away

Dartford have only played one of the current top six at home and that ended in defeat against league leaders Folkestone Invicta. The only other team to have returned home with maximum points was Wingate and Finchley. Out of the 13 league matches at Princes Park, the Darts have collected 27 points, the second best home record in the division.

The Millers are unbeaten on the road and boast the second best away record. That has helped the Essex side climb the standings in a way that is reminiscent of Dartford’s resurgence last season.

The Darts lost heavily to league leaders Dover Athletic in September 2024 and a couple of months later embarked on an incredible unbeaten run to make the playoffs. Fast forward a year and the Millers were beaten handsomely 5-2 by Folkestone Invicta in September. Now the Essex side are on a fantastic unbeaten streak in the Isthmian Premier that started against the Darts in the reverse fixture.

Leaving It Late

Jones opened his scoring account for the campaign in the 1-1 draw with Aveley four months ago. However, just like Friday’s trip to Essex, the Darts let a lead slip late on in the game when Jayden Gipson equalised for the Millers. Not only did the two sides share points and goals, they also both had a player sent off earlier in the clash. Aveley’s Albie Armin was dismissed for a reckless tackle and Ikechi Eze for retaliating.

If recent history is anything to go by then don’t leave this match early. When the two sides met in the National South two seasons ago both fixtures were decided late on. The away side won on each occasion with Harvey Bradbury scoring an injury time winner at Parkside in August 2023.

Highlights courtesy of Dartford FC TV

Six months later, in Tony Burman’s last game as interim manager, the Millers came from behind to claim all three points. Fumnaya Shomotun put the Darts ahead, but in the final ten minutes Nana Kyei equalised and Siju Odelusi scored from the spot.

League and Cup Double?

Since the defeat at home to Folkestone Invicta, Brett Munyard’s side have won ten and drawn six. So far this month they have won two Essex derbies and avenged their loss against the league leaders. Chris Harris and Gipson were on the scoresheet in a 3-1 win over Canvey Island, Gipson grabbed a brace. Ollie Peters was the match winner against Invicta and last Friday, Fletcher Hubbard and two goals from Tobi Aromolaran sealed a 3-0 triumph versus Cray Wanderers.

Potentially the Millers can get themselves into a title race. With Folkestone Invicta dropping eight points from their last three matches and Aveley gaining momentum, the Millers can close the gap to seven points by winning their games in hand.

Aveley also booked their place in the Essex Senior Cup final on Monday night with a 3-0 win over Billericay Town. The Millers have never lifted the county cup having been runners up four times. A new name is guaranteed to be etched on the cup as they will be waiting for Hashtag United or Great Wakering Rovers for a chance to create history.

Manager’s View

Pennock felt his side should have taken maximum points against Hashtag United, he told Dartford FC TV after the game: “I’m very disappointed we didn’t win because I thought we were outstanding and the football we played was excellent”.

The Dartford boss admitted that naivety cost them victory, he added: “We conceded a goal thirty seconds before the half-time whistle went when we should have managed the game and then we conceded right at the end”.

Interview courtesy of Dartford FC TV

Team News

Pennock has pretty much a full squad to choose from this weekend. Sammie McLeod has returned from his loan spell at Sevenoaks Town, but did miss Friday’s game with a virus. The midfielder should be available for selection. Ben Frempah and Ikechi Eze have been put out on loan and Dean Nayler is out.

Current League Form

Dartford (WLLWWD)			Aveley (WDWWWW)
Hashtag United	A	2-2	Billericay Town (ESC)	H	3-0
Chatham Town	A	2-1	Cray Wanderers	A	3-0
St Albans City	H	1-0	Folkestone Invicta	A	1-0
Folkestone Invicta	H	1-2	Canvey Island	H	3-1
Lewes	A	0-1	Hashtag United	A	2-2
Dulwich Hamlet	H	1-0	Burgess Hill Town	A	5-2

(ESC – Essex Senior Cup)

Head to Head

Dartford wins: 6 / Aveley wins: 3 / Draws: 4

Previous Meetings

Aveley 1 – 1 Dartford (20/09/2025 – Isthmian Premier League)
Dartford 1 – 2 Aveley (27/02/2024 – National South)
Aveley 0 – 1 Dartford (26/08/2023 – National South)
Dartford 2 – 2 Aveley (17/04/2010 – Isthmian Premier League)
Dartford 4 – 5 Aveley (15/12/2009 – Isthmian League Cup)
Aveley 1 – 4 Dartford (24/10/2009 – Isthmian Premier League)

Statistics

Dartford lost at home in the league for the first time against the Millers last time Aveley visited Princes Park. The Darts were unbeaten in four (W2, D2)
This fixture has averaged 3.92 goals a game in the 13 previous meetings. Dartford have scored 32 to Aveley’s 19.
Having gone four unbeaten at home versus the Millers (W3, D1), the Darts haven’t won their last three at Princes Park against Aveley (D1, L2) in all competitions.

On This Day

Alex Brown was the hero on this day in 2017 making up for a red card he received just days before. The Darts scored three second-half goals to beat Weston-super-Mare 3-2 in the National South. Dartford came from behind at Princes Park with goals from Jordan Wynter and Danny Harris, but the visitors levelled. Then with eight minutes to go Brown smashed home the decisive strike.

Dartford’s only defeat at home on this day came in 1998 when they lost to Cirencester Town in the Southern Premier League. The other ten home games on 17 January have resulted in eight wins and two draws.