MATCH PREVIEW | Burgess Hill Town v Dartford
The Darts approach Saturday’s game with confidence having put an end to Aveley’s unbeaten run last Saturday. The victory means Adrian Pennock’s side have taken ten points in their last four games.
Burgess Hill Town sit two places and seven points adrift of Dartford. The Isthmian South East playoff winners came close to beating league leaders Folkestone Invicta last time out.
Darts Halt Millers Run
Dartford pulled off a feat no one had yet to do in the league this season by beating Aveley at home. The Millers had not lost an away match in the Isthmian Premier and were on an unbeaten streak of 16 games.
Pennock made two changes for the Aveley game by bringing in Samir Carruthers and Dan Smith for Dan Carter and Nathan Eze. On the bench Sammie McLeod and Michael Olarewaju returned to the matchday squad.
The Darts settled into the game early and when Denzelle Olopade scored in the ninth minute, the midfielder set the hosts on their way to three points. Dartford were good value for the lead creating various chances against a physical Aveley side. In the second half, Harry Critchley was sent off for the Millers with fifteen minutes remaining and five minutes later Joe Tennent made it 2-0.
Highlights courtesy of Dartford FC TV
Playoff Picture
Dartford stay in fifth place, but with Cray Wanderers drawing the Darts now have a two point cushion and a game in hand. Brentwood Town also dropped points meaning Pennock’s side gained ground on the Blues as well as last weekend’s opponents Aveley. Meanwhile Burgess Hill Town are on the outside looking in. The Hillians are waiting to take advantage of any slip ups to close the gap to the playoff places.
Consistency away from home needs to improve if the Darts want to pull clear of the chasing pack. Although they have lost just one in their previous five on the road, Dartford have only picked up three victories in 12 matches on their travels.
That’s Entertainment
Six goals, a penalty miss, two sending offs and a late equaliser made an entertaining game at Princes Park in the reverse fixture. The Darts twice let a lead slip in the 3-3 draw.
Olly Box had a mixed evening, first scoring after three minutes, then receiving two yellow cards in the second half. Callum Jones extended Dartford’s lead before Eddie Dsane had his penalty saved to prevent the Darts going three up prior to the break.
Hillians substitute, Marcus Allen made an immediate impact by coming on for the second half and scoring with his first touch. The defender then equalised after the visitors had been reduced to ten men.
Sam Odaudu put Dartford back in front with a deflected free kick. However, the goal and man advantage was erased in the closing stages. Box was dismissed and in injury time Chris Whelpdale levelled for Burgess Hill Town to earn their first ever point at Princes Park.
Highlights courtesy of Dartford FC TV
Happy Hunting Ground
Dartford have a perfect record on their visits to Burgess Hill Town winning all four meetings in Sussex. Alfie Pavey scored the only goal of the game in 2017 as the Darts knocked out the Hillians in the F.A Cup fourth qualifying round for a second time in four seasons.
Not only did the Darts defeat the Hillians in the F.A Cup two years earlier, but they also won the F.A Trophy tie in the same campaign. This time it took a last minute Danny Harris goal to separate the sides in the second round. Crawford was on target again by scoring a penalty, Pat Harding equalised and Harris sent the visitors through.
Brendon Cass scored an away day hat-trick in 2006 as the Darts ran riot with a 6-1 victory. Jon Farley and a Jay May brace ensured all three points for Dartford in the Isthmian Division One South. In that same campaign Tony Burman’s side won the home fixture 7-2 and is best remembered for Dave Martin’s wonder goal.
Hillians Target Top Five
Burgess Hill Town have yet to beat a team currently in the top six, however they have picked up a trio of 3-3 draws on the road. At home they lost heavily to Aveley and were beaten by Folkestone Invicta, who they earned a draw with, in Kent last weekend. It took the league leaders until six minutes from time to find an equaliser as Burgess Hill Town were good value for a point. Ben Hope headed the Hillians ahead in the first half and Jonathan Lawson levelled.
This year started off with a Sussex derby victory over Lewes. Pope opened the scoring before Charlie Walker made it one each. George Vorster put Burgess Hill Town back in front with ten minutes left. Three days later the Hillians crashed out of the League Cup losing 5-1 to Hashtag United who were down to ten men after 22 minutes. Then back in the league they lost to another Essex side Billericay Town. However, the draw last weekend against Folkestone Invicta ended the two game losing streak and has Burgess Hill Town seven points behind the Darts, who occupy the final playoff spot.
Assistant Manager’s View
Roland Edge described Saturday’s victory over Aveley as ‘one of our best performances’ and he puts it down to team spirit, he spoke to Dartford FC TV after the game and said: “We were good today. I thought everybody and that’s the starting eleven and the subs that came on, they all made an impact, and we knew we had to. They are a good side, well organised and anything but complete togetherness wasn’t going to get us the result”.
Edge believes his side is ‘getting stronger’ and is hoping the Darts can keep their performance levels to the same standard as last weekend against a decent Burgess Hill Town side, he explained: “They are strong, they are going full guns as well. We know what they are about, they gave us a real good scrap at the beginning of the season. We’ve now got to go into their home pitch and carry on this performance”.
Interview courtesy of Dartford FC TV
Team News
There are no major concerns with the fitness of the squad. Although Samir Carruthers was substituted against Aveley after being on the receiving end of some tough tackles.
Current League Form
| Dartford (LLWWDW) | Burgess Hill Town (LLWLLD) | ||||
| Aveley | H | 2-0 | Folkestone Invicta | A | 1-1 |
| Hashtag United | A | 2-2 | Billericay Town | H | 1-2 |
| Chatham Town | A | 2-1 | Hashtag United (LC) | H | 1-5 |
| St Albans City | H | 1-0 | Lewes | H | 2-1 |
| Folkestone Invicta | H | 1-2 | Chichester City | H | 1-2 |
| Lewes | A | 0-1 | Aveley | H | 2-5 |
(LC – League Cup)
Head to Head
Dartford wins: 7 / Burgess Hill Town wins: 1 / Draws: 1
Previous Meetings
Dartford 3 – 3 Burgess Hill Town (30/09/2025 – Isthmian Premier League)
Burgess Hill Town 0 – 1 Dartford (14/10/2017 – F.A Cup)
Burgess Hill Town 1 – 2 Dartford (10/01/2015 – F.A Trophy)
Dartford 3 – 1 Burgess Hill Town (25/10/2014 – F.A Cup)
Dartford 7 – 2 Burgess Hill Town (13/01/2007 – Isthmian Division One South)
Burgess Hill Town 1 – 6 Dartford (19/08/2006 – Isthmian Division One South)
Statistics
- The Darts are unbeaten in six games against Burgess Hill Town in all competitions (W5, D1)
- Dartford have scored first in 17 of their 26 league matches this season
- The Darts have only kept one clean sheet on the road this season
- Dartford’s defenders have contributed to seven goals this term, four of those have been in the last three games.
On This Day
Dartford are unbeaten on this day in their last six and have won their last three on the road. The last outing on 24 January was at Eastbourne Borough in 2017. An extremely foggy evening ended with hardly anyone being able to witness Kaka Dembele’s winning goal in a 3-2 victory. Tom Bonner, Connor Essam, Danny Harris and Adam Green all scored in a 4-1 win over Staines Town five years earlier. Whilst in 2009 the Darts secured a 3-0 triumph at Horsham, Ryan Hayes and two goals from Cody McDonald.