The November issue of Dartford Living Magazine is out now. If you’re unable to get your hands on a copy, here is the latest article of Walking With The Darts:
Hello again, welcome to another edition of Walking With The Darts, a monthly update on all things related to Dartford FC, courtesy of Dartford Living Magazine.
Since I last wrote in these pages, the Dartford First Team has played just three fixtures in the National League South and one in the London Senior Cup. Several fixtures have also been postponed and rearranged, as opponents have progressed in the FA Cup competition.
Having lost to Welling in the FA Cup last month, Alan Dowson’s side has found itself in amongst the goals, albeit with mixed results. We were treated to three consecutive victories in all competitions, which began with narrow 1-0 wins against Tonbridge Angels (league) and Harrow Borough (London Senior Cup) at the end of September.
October started with two road trips, which began with the long journey to Chippenham Town. A Harvey Bradbury brace set the Darts up to complete a superb 4-1 victory over their hosts, before travelling to Hampton & Richmond Borough the following weekend. Unfortunately, Luke Coulson and Co finished on the wrong end of a seven-goal thriller, which has left the club sitting in fourteenth position of the National League South table, with 15 points. However, there’s still an awful lot of football still to be played.
As far as the squad is concerned, the injury list remains a problem and a few of the loanees were recalled by their parent clubs as the month progressed. But Alan Dowson moved swiftly within the transfer market to bring in Oxford United midfielder Josh Johnson. The loanee marked the start of his second loan spell at Bericote Powerhouse Princes Park with a superb strike at Chippenham to get himself off the mark in style.
Meanwhile, Connor Dymond and Martin McCarthy’s Dartford FC Women side continues to steamroller its way through the London & South-East Regional Women’s Premier League in style.
Lizzie Adams and Co currently sit at the summit of the league table, having registered an incredible twenty-five points from their nine games played so far. That’s a record of eight victories in succession, which were followed by a 1-1 draw at local rivals Ebbsfleet United recently…. Emily Vaughan’s late goal ensured the Darts remained unbeaten at the time of writing.
Having started October with a 2-0 victory at Ashford United in the Women’s FA Cup Second Qualifying Round, the ladies now host Wycombe Wanderers Women in the Third Qualifying Round this weekend (Sunday 22nd October). Another victory would stretch the unbeaten run further, as the free-scoring attacking unit continues to make for an exciting and history-making period for all involved.
With the weather beginning to take a cold turn, things on the pitch are certainly heating up for both the Dartford First Team and Dartford FC Women. Yet, your support remains as vital as ever. So please do come along and cheer both teams on and show that we are all united as one.
As always, thank you for your continued support and thanks for reading.
By Chris Palmer