MATCH PREVIEW | Dartford v Brentwood Town
The Darts host the Blues this Saturday and know victory will take them to within two points of the Essex side. Only a win will guarantee Adrian Pennock’s side a top five place at the end of the afternoon as pressure starts to mount from those looking to get into the playoff places. Brentwood Town will not want to get dragged into that battle and instead will be aiming to keep pace with those above them.
Missed Opportunities
Out of the current top five it is looking like Brentwood Town is the team Dartford can catch, but the Darts failed to gain on the Blues last weekend and so Keith Rowland’s side remain five points clear.
Lately, Dartford have made a habit of beating teams towards the top of the table, then dropping points against teams below them. After claiming an excellent win over Chatham Town, the Darts conceded late to draw at Hashtag United. Adrian Pennock’s side then ended Aveley’s long unbeaten run only to follow that impressive result with defeat at Burgess Hill Town.
Sunk in Sussex
It was no surprise that the Dartford boss named an unchanged side for their trip to Sussex after defeating an in form Aveley. However, once again their away performance has contributed to why the Darts are hanging onto a playoff spot rather than comfortably being in the top five.
Burgess Hill Town can thank George Vorster for the win. The forward scored a brace either side of Denzelle Olopade’s fantastic strike. The Hillians earned a penalty when Kieran Rowe was fouled by Jonny Henly. Up stepped Vorster to put the hosts ahead. In first half injury time, Olopade unleashed a long range shot which flew past Roco Rees and into the net. The midfielder’s second goal in as many games.
Vorster restored Burgess Hill Town’s lead with a header early in the second half and it was much needed. The Sussex side were reduced to ten men after Ben Pope was given a second yellow card. Dartford couldn’t make the numerical advantage count in the final half hour and suffered their first ever defeat at Burgess Hill Town, losing a perfect away record against the Hillians.
Highlights courtesy of Hillians TV
Home Sweet Home
Dartford will be pleased to be back at home this weekend. A draw at Brentwood Town in October was one of 14 points gained on the road this term. At Princes Park the story is different with the Darts boasting the second highest points at home in the division, just over double the amount earned on their travels.
Darts Deny Blues
Three months ago in Essex, the Darts faced Isthmian North champions Brentwood Town and halted their 100% home record. Continuing momentum from last season, the league leaders at the time had just won eight in a row. Jacob Bland made his debut and Dan Carter came off the bench for his first appearance, but it was a more experienced midfielder who gave Dartford a lead. Samir Carruthers scored directly from free kick, but Charlee Hughes equalised for the Blues as the points were shared.
Highlights courtesy of Brentwood Town TV
Noble’s the Prize
Dartford have only hosted Brentwood Town once at Princes Park and that ended in defeat back in March 2008. The Blues won 1-0 and the decisive goal alerted Dartford to a certain Lee Noble. The midfielder impressed in the Brentwood midfield and later became a fans favourite with the Darts, winning multiple Player of the Year awards and scoring the 2012 playoff winner. In the previous six meetings against the Essex club, Dartford have won just once and that was in the F.A Trophy third qualifying round in November 2017. Noble proved decisive again, this time against his former side as the Darts triumphed 2-1.
Settling in the Isthmian Premier
Brentwood Town had an outstanding start to their season and topped the table at the end of October. Between the opening day draw with Aveley and the stalemate with the Darts they won all eight league matches. The momentum from their Isthmian North title win just kept growing.
The beginning of November saw the changing of the guard. Brentwood Town lost three in a row to begin that month and relinquished top spot. The Blues recovered, only losing one more in the next eight and that was at league leaders Folkestone Invicta.
Blues Barren Spell
However, for a second time this term the Essex club have just lost three on the spin and will be determined to stop the streak. A clinical Cray Wanderers side won 4-1 with all of their goals coming in the first-half. Although Kymani Thomas scored a consolation, it was a sorry afternoon for the Blues.
The Essex derby with Billericay Town was decided by Elliot Long as Ricay took all three points. Then last time out, Brentwood Town were beaten 2-0 by Dulwich Hamlet.
Manager’s View
Adrian Pennock was disappointed at the defeat in Sussex last weekend, he told www.dartfordfc.com: “I was disappointed with the result. But we weren’t good enough from front to back. I thought our decision-making was poor. It’s not often I can say nearly every player had an off game”.
Dartford are coming under pressure from teams trying to reach the playoffs, the Darts boss commented: “There’s a lot of football to be played. There are lots of teams behind us hitting form, so we have to concentrate on us”, but home advantage could well play its part in the next fortnight, he added: “There’s two home matches to come and they will both be tough games. But we are strong at home. We are going to do all we can to get the six points and forget about this weekend”.
Team News
Aside from Dean Nayler with a long term injury, Adrian Pennock should have a full squad to choose from.
Current League Form
| Dartford (LWWDWL) | Brentwood Town (WWWLLL) | ||||
| Burgess Hill Town | A | 1-2 | Dulwich Hamlet | H | 0-2 |
| Aveley | H | 2-0 | Billericay Town | A | 0-1 |
| Hashtag United | A | 2-2 | Cray Wanderers | H | 1-4 |
| Chatham Town | A | 2-1 | Welling United | A | 4-1 |
| St Albans City | H | 1-0 | Potters Bar Town | H | 1-0 |
| Folkestone Invicta | H | 1-2 | Hashtag United | H | 2-0 |
Head to Head
Dartford wins: 3 / Brentwood Town wins: 2 / Draws: 3
Previous Meetings
Brentwood Town 1 – 1 Dartford (11/10/2025 – Isthmian Premier)
Brentwood Town 1 – 2 Dartford (25/11/2017 – F.A Trophy)
Dartford 0 – 1 Brentwood Town (29/03/2008 – Isthmian Division One North)
Brentwood Town 2 – 2 Dartford (05/02/2008 – Isthmian Division One North)
Brentwood Town 2 – 1 Dartford (08/03/1969 – Southern League First Division)
Dartford 1 – 1 Brentwood Town (15/02/1969 – Southern League First Division)
Statistics
- Dartford are five games without a league win against Brentwood Town (D3, L2)
- The Darts have kept four clean sheets at home in their last five league games and have kept consecutive home clean sheets in the league
- The Darts last managed three home league games without conceding a year ago.
- Neither side have scored more than two goals in this fixture
On This Day
Dartford have an incredible unbeaten home record on this day winning nine and drawing two. The last side to visit the Darts and prevent a victory was Bristol Rovers in 2015. Dartford equalised twice through Ryan Hayes in the 2-2 National League draw. Keiran Murtagh and Pierre Fonkeu were on hand to give the Darts a 2-0 London Senior Cup win over Metropolitan Police three years ago. In 2009, the Darts won a Kent derby against rivals Maidstone United in the Isthmian Premier League. Rob Haworth scored from a tight angle in Cody McDonald’s last game for the Darts before he joined Norwich City. That derby day victory was the last of a seven game winning streak at home on 31 January.