MATCH PREVIEW – Carshalton Athletic v Dartford

Dartford are on the road this weekend with a trip to unbeaten Carshalton Athletic in the Isthmian Premier.

The Darts won their opening away match, whilst the Robins were triumphant in their only home game of the season so far. Something will have to give on Saturday as the pair go head to head at Colston Avenue.

Adrian Pennock secured a second win of the campaign last time out when his side beat Canvey Island at Princes Park. The Dartford boss made two changes to the team that lost the previous home fixture 1-0 against Potters Bar Town. Defender and new signing Mert Apat made his debut, whilst Eddie Dsane started for the first time. The duo replaced George Whitefield and Tyler Christian-Law, the latter making an impact from off the bench.

A switch in formation gave the Darts impetus as they struggled to create in the first half. Moving to a more attacking 4-3-3, Pennock’s plan B worked a treat. Sam Odaudu put in a man of the match performance and scored his first ever goal at Princes Park. The full back stabbed home a volley in the second half to put Dartford ahead. Christian-Law wrapped up the points and did well to stay on his feet to take advantage of some poor defending and slot away the clincher.

After the win Odaudu spoke to Dartford FC TV and said: “The good thing is that we bounced back and got the win”. Odaudu’s only other goal for the Darts was back in April 2023 at Concord Rangers, so the academy graduate was delighted with getting on the scoresheet, he added: “I don’t get many to be fair, my last one was probably about two years ago, so its always good to score”.

A first clean sheet of the season and first at home since the 3-0 victory over Torquay United in November was welcomed, he commented: “If we always get clean sheets then we’re going to draw the game at least, so that’s a good building block. With the talent we’ve got going forward we’re bound to score. As long as we stay solid then that puts us in a good position to win the game”.

Samir Carruthers is still waiting to get involved in a matchday squad. Injury has prevented the midfielder from making an appearance since returning to the club this summer. Likewise, Duane Ofori-Acheampong has been on the treatment table and has yet to make a competitive appearance since coming back to Princes Park. Goalkeeper, Jacob Marsden is waiting for his debut and after returning from injury was named as a substitute last weekend.

Dartford are unbeaten in their four previous trips to Carshalton Athletic, winning in their last three visits there. During the Isthmian Premier title winning season, the Darts convincingly won 4-0 in September 2009 with goals from Lee Burns, Jamie Day, Rob Haworth and Jamie Coyle, who also scored in 1-1 draw four months later at Princes Park.

The previous season saw Dartford avenge a 3-2 home defeat in September 2008 with a 2-0 away win in December the same year. Tommy Osbourne scored a penalty before the prolific Cody McDonald put the game out of reach.

The first meetings between the two sides came in the F.A Trophy in 1991. in the days before penalty shootouts decided the winner, it took two replays for Dartford to progress to round two after drawing 0-0 away, then 1-1 at Watling Street. A return to Surrey for the third attempt saw the black and white hooped Darts win 3-2 thanks to a last minute Gary Aldous winner.

Carshalton Athletic have made an unbeaten start to their campaign, but they won’t get too carried away if they have learnt lessons from twelve months ago. The Robins went seven without defeat to begin last term with five victories and two draws. The Surrey club finished in twelfth place.

This time Peter Adeniyi’s side are hoping to maintain their promising beginnings and continue to challenge at the top end of the Isthmian Premier. Last weekend, Carshalton Athletic recorded their second win in a row, a 3-1 triumph over newly promoted Chichester City. A goal on debut by Steve Gody inside half an hour was cancelled out by Mo Jammeh’s penalty. The Robins regained the lead through Tommy Stagg who then added another to secure all three points.

Victory in Sussex followed up their maiden win of 2024/2025 at home against Wingate and Finchley. This time it was Dominic Vose who netted a brace to add to his opening day goal in the 1-1 draw with Folkestone Invicta. Vose put the Robins ahead early on and before the interval put his side two up. Although Carshalton Athletic let the lead slip, the match winner turned out to be the man who replaced Vose in the second half. Paris Hamilton-Downes followed up a rebound to make it 3-2 to the Robins.

Peter Adeniyi will be without long term absentee Kwaku Frimpong, who had a loan spell with the Darts two years ago. The midfielder made two substitute appearances and was sent off in the shock F.A Cup defeat against Beckenham Town.

Current League Form

Canvey Island	H	2-0	Chichester City	A	3-1
Potters Bar Town	H	0-1	Wingate and Finchley	H	3-2
Cray Valley Paper Mills	A	2-1	Folkestone Invicta	A	1-1

Head to Head

Dartford wins: 3 / Carshalton Athletic wins: 1 / Draws: 3

Previous Meetings

Dartford 1 – 1 Carshalton Athletic (23/01/2010 – Isthmian Premier)
Carshalton Athletic 0 – 4 Dartford (19/09/2009 – Isthmian Premier)
Carshalton Athletic 0 – 2 Dartford (20/12/2008 – Isthmian Premier)
Dartford 2 – 3 Carshalton Athletic (02/09/2008 – Isthmian Premier)
Carshalton Athletic 2– 3 Dartford (21/01/1991 – F.A Trophy)
Dartford 1 – 1 Carshalton Athletic (15/01/1991 – F.A Trophy)

Statistics

• Dartford lost their first ever league meeting against Carshalton Athletic but have since gone three unbeaten (W2, D1)
• The home side has never won this fixture in seven attempts.
• Dartford are unbeaten in all four away games versus Carshalton Athletic and have won their last three

On This Day

Norman Wabo’s late winner handed Dartford all three points on this day five years ago. The Darts came from behind against Braintree Town after former Dartford player Femi Akinwande gave the Iron the lead. Luke Allen levelled before half-time and the game swung Dartford’s way once Adam Mills was sent off for the visitors. Dartford made the extra man count and with three minutes to go Wabo made it 2-1. Exactly six years earlier, Braintree Town were victorious beating the Darts 2-0 in the National League.

On the road, Dartford are currently four unbeaten on 24 August. They secured a 2-1 win at Sittingbourne 20 years ago, a 1-1 draw with Corby Town in 2002 and two more victories against Bashley (4-1 in 1996) and Sheppey United (3-0 in 1993). Dartford have lost just four out of 22 games on this day, winning 12 and drawing six.

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