Dartford missed out on a game last weekend, but they’re all set to head to Worthing this Tuesday. The Darts are looking to turn the tables after last season’s double defeat to the Rebels. With just two wins on the road, Alan Dowson’s side is still finding their momentum and currently sit in mid-table. Their last away victory was over a month ago at Chippenham Town, and they’ve only managed to pick up a single point in their last three away trips.
Worthing, on the other hand, reached the playoff semi-final last season in their first National South campaign. The Sussex club is once again in a strong position to challenge for promotion. Although their fixture was called off last weekend, they have secured victories in their last two matches.
Last week, the Darts were unable to secure their fifth consecutive home victory. Instead, they faced a sense of déjà vu at Princes Park against Chelmsford City. Squandering a one-goal lead resulted in the same outcome as last season. To make matters worse, a former Dartford player scored for the second game in a row against the Clarets. Dowson made no changes to the side that secured a 4-2 win against Weston-super-Mare a week earlier. Alex Wall was absent from the matchday squad following his red card against the Seagulls. The limited options up front and the absence of strikers on the bench proved to be costly.
In March, the Darts took the lead at Princes Park before former players Ody Alfa and Giovanni McGregor secured victory for Chelmsford City. This time, Maxwell Statham put the hosts ahead, and Joash Nembhard conceded a penalty at the end of the first half. Samir Carruthers stepped up to equalise against his old club. Ten minutes into the second half, the Clarets scored again through Charlie Ruff and went on to win 2-1.
All seven league games that Dartford has lost this season have been by a single-goal deficit. However, their defeat was not helped by yet another sending off. For the third game in a row, the Darts picked up a red card, their fifth of the season. This time, it was Harvey Bradbury’s turn, who was involved in a scuffle and now faces suspension. With Lewis Manor already substituted and no strikers on the bench, there were limited alternatives in attack. Dartford did manage to rally when down to ten men and created opportunities to level. Yet it was all too frustrating for manager Alan Dowson, who picked up a caution to add to his sending off against Hemel Hempstead Town.
Inconsistent form has left Dartford in fifteenth place, but they are still just four points off the top seven. Worthing is just outside the playoff places in eighth on goal difference. However, the Rebels have games in hand, having played the fewest in the division.
Former players and sending offs seem to have been a theme of late. So last season’s visit to Woodside Road will sound all too familiar. The Darts had a tough time down at Worthing in January, conceding three goals, with an ex-Dart scoring and Wall’s red card leaving Dartford with nothing to show. Two early goals from the hosts put the Darts on the back foot, and they never recovered. Statham scored an own goal in the eighth minute, and three minutes later Ollie Pearce doubled the Rebels’ lead. In the second half, former Dartford loanee Davide Rodari made it 3-0 before Wall was dismissed for an off-the-ball incident.
The reverse fixture at Princes Park five months earlier also ended in defeat. Worthing came from behind to win 2-1. Connor Essam headed home the opening goal after ten minutes. Early in the second half, Callum Kealy levelled things up. In the final minute of injury time, Joel Colbran scored the winner for the Rebels.
Worthing had an excellent first season at this level and have continued where they left off. Adam Hinshelwood’s side won six of their opening eight league games. In their next fixture, they finished the day in second place. However, that draw at Hemel Hempstead Town was also the start of a five-match winless streak. In that time, the Sussex side suffered heavy away defeats to a strong Maidstone United and an in-form Hampton and Richmond Borough. While at home, they were beaten by league leaders Yeovil Town. The loss to the Glovers on their own patch was the first in two months for the Rebels.
Despite the dip in form, the distraction of cup ties kept morale flowing. In September, they won a pair of Sussex derbies in the F.A Cup. Eastbourne Borough were knocked out by a solitary goal, and then Whitehawk were beaten. The Rebels went on to win against Bath City and reach the first round for the first time since 1999. Worthing’s journey ended at Alfreton Town just over a week ago. In county competition, the Rebels started their defence of the Sussex Senior Cup with a 6-2 win over Crawley Town.
In their last home game, the Rebels recorded a consecutive league victory with a 3-0 triumph over Havant and Waterlooville. Kane Wills set Worthing on their way eight minutes before the break. In the second half, Ollie Pearce doubled the lead, and in the final minute, Danny Cashman wrapped things up. The Rebels also beat Bath City on the road 2-0 the week before the F.A Cup exit.
Current League Form
Dartford (LWDLWL)
Worthing (LDLLWW)
Head to Head
Dartford wins: 3 / Worthing wins: 3 / Draws: 1
Last Six Meetings
Worthing 3 – 0 Dartford (28/01/2023 – National South)
Dartford 1 – 2 Worthing (27/08/2022 – National South)
Worthing 1 – 2 Dartford (26/09/2009 – F.A Cup)
Worthing 2 – 1 Dartford (20/11/1982 – F.A Cup)
Dartford 3 – 0 Worthing (12/11/1927 – F.A Cup)
Dartford 1 – 0 Worthing (12/10/1921 – F.A Cup)
Statistics
In the seven meetings between the sides, only two have been in the league, and Worthing won them both last season. Dartford’s only win in four away games against Worthing came in the F.A Cup. Elliott Bradbrook and Jay May scored in a second qualifying round tie back in 2009. Maxwell Statham could make his 50th start for the Darts (49 starts, 4 substitute appearances, 7 goals)
On This Day
Tony Sitford’s overhead kick two minutes from time earned a F.A Cup replay against Aldershot on this day in 1964. The Football League side had led since the 40th minute until the Darts levelled in front of 5700 fans. The replay saw the end of Dartford’s run when they were beaten 1-0, the attendance surpassed 9000. Dartford claimed bragging rights in their Kent derby with Maidstone United three years ago. The Darts left it late to take victory when Tom Bonner and Charlie Sheringham scored at the Gallagher Stadium. The same Kent derby took place five years earlier, but this time at Princes Park. The National South fixture ended all square with another late Dartford goal. Alex Flisher put the Stones ahead before Elliot Bradbrook equalised. The Darts lost their first match at Princes Park on this day in 2006. After a homecoming win three days earlier, Dartford lost 3-0 to Boreham Wood in the Isthmian League Cup.