MATCH PREVIEW – Dartford v Whitehawk
Princes Park hosts its first game of the New Year this weekend when title chasers Dartford take on relegation battlers Whitehawk.
The Darts started brightly this season before a dip in form left them looking behind them. However, since November, Adrian Pennock’s side have put together an 14 match unbeaten run to turn them into title contenders. Whitehawk have struggled this term until recently. The Hawks are on their third manager who has recently masterminded a strong finish to 2024.
A fifth consecutive league win on Wednesday helped the Darts close the gap on league leaders Dover Athletic to just four points. November saw Dartford pick up four draws and three victories before consistently turning those draws into wins the following month. In December, only Dulwich Hamlet took points from Pennock’s side as the Darts claimed five wins in the final month of the year.
On New Year’s Day, Dartford added another three points to their tally.<strong> </strong>Pennock shuffled the pack again to account for the busy festive schedule making four changes to the side that beat Canvey Island. Michael Olarewaju and Hayden Bullas kept their places in the side with regulars Sam Okoye and Louis Dunne named on the bench. Josh Hill returned as captain, whilst Olly Box, Callum Jones and Samir Carruthers were back in the starting eleven.
Dartford completed a double over Chatham Town to see in 2025 starting in the manner in which they ended last year. Both sides were in form and couldn’t be separated at the break. However, the breakthrough came just past the hour when George Whitefield’s cross was deflected goalwards and into the Chatham Town net. Eddie Dsane entered the game and added a second from a tight angle to take his tally to eight for the season in all competitions. The Darts are now in the shake up for top spot with just four points separating the top four, which includes Cray Valley Paper Mills in third and Billericay Town in second.
Dartford won both games against Whitehawk last time the two sides were competing in the same division. At the Enclosed Ground in September 2017, the Darts ran out 4-0 winners with Alfie Pavey setting the Darts on the way to maximum points. The striker scored after eight minutes and by half-time the visitors had three. Ryan Hayes and Elliot Bradbrook added another two to put Dartford in command at the break. It took until the last minute for lead to be extended further when Lyle Della-Verde scored.
Match highlights courtesy of Dartford FC TV
The reverse fixture at Princes Park four months later finished 3-1 to the Darts. Ronnie Vint pounced on a loose ball from Ryan Hayes’ free-kick just before the interval to put Dartford a goal up. Whitehawk were level when David Ijaha hit his low effort through a crowd of defenders. Andy Pugh became the decider with two goals, first the striker tucked away Dartford’s second then he rounded the goalkeeper for the third.
Dartford have won the last two at Princes Park against the Sussex side also winning in February 2017. This time the Darts went two up when Hayes curled a shot into the Whitehawk goal. Tom Murphy lobbed the goalkeeper to double the lead. In the second half, the Hawks scored from the spot before Pugh calmly finished a well worked move.
Match highlights courtesy of Dartford FC TV
A change in manager has seen Whitehawk string together their best results of the season so far. Ahead of their New Year’s Day derby clash with Lewes, the Hawks went five unbeaten. Shaun Saunders returned to the struggling Sussex side to lift them off the bottom of the table. Whitehawk finished 2024 in the last relegation place, but without the unbeaten run things would be a little worse for the Hawks. Saunders is one of Whitehawk’s most successful managers, but requested a break from football this summer for personal reasons. Ross McNeilly was put in charge until he left and Dave Altendorff took over.
Whitehawk’s struggles in front of goal peaked during October and November at the end of McNeilly’s reign and throughout Altendorff’s when they went six games without a goal. In fact they managed just two in 11 outings. That led to a third change in manager at the end of November. Since the arrival of Saunders, the Hawks beat Folkestone Invicta at home before securing their first away win of the season against bottom side Bognor Regis Town. A pair of draws versus Chichester city and Hashtag United was followed by a much needed victory over Dulwich Hamlet.
The Hawks won against the odds showing the new found determination under Saunders. Just before half-time, goalkeeper Jasper Sheik conceded a penalty and was red carded for his troubles. Former Dart, Luke Wanadio just about slotted the penalty beyond makeshift keeper Rob O’Toole. A forward by trade O’Toole was left between the sticks as the Hawks had no replacement goalkeeper named on the bench. Still, the hosts came back from behind with goals from Andrew Briggs and Luke Robinson. Whitehawk were at home again on New Year’s Day against Sussex rivals Lewes, however the derby lasted 45 minutes before being abandonned.
| Chatham Town | A | 2-0 | Dulwich Hamlet | H | 2-1 |
| Canvey Island | A | 1-0 | Hashtag United | H | 1-1 |
| Cray Wanderers | H | 2-1 | Chichester City | A | 1-1 |
| Folkestone Invicta | A | 1-0 | Bognor Regis Town | A | 3-2 |
| Horsham | A | 3-1 | Folkestone Invicta | H | 1-0 |
| Dulwich Hamlet | H | 2-2 | Hendon | A | 0-3 |
Head to Head
Dartford wins: 5 / Whitehawk wins: 3 / Draws: 0
Previous Meetings
Dartford 3 – 1 Whitehawk (27/01/2018 – National South)
Whitehawk 0 – 4 Dartford (05/09/2017 – National South)
Dartford 3 – 1 Whitehawk (04/02/2017 – National South)
Whitehawk 1 – 0 Dartford (10/08/2016 – National South)
Dartford 2 – 4 Whitehawk (12/03/2016 – National South)
Whitehawk 0 – 1 Dartford (19/12/2015 – National South)
Statistics
- Dartford have won their last three games against Whitehawk with an aggregate score of 10-2
- The Darts have won their last two home games 3-1 against the Hawks
- Dartford have won their last five league games for the first time since September/October 2022
On This Day
Dartford let a two goal lead slip on this day four years ago, but man aged to come away with a win at Dorking Wanderers. As early as the second minute Darren McQueen scored from the spot. It took until the 72nd minute for the Darts to score another through Elliott Romain. The hosts hit back with two goals in five minutes to level the score. In the final moments of the game McQueen netted the winner on a dramatic afternoon. That victory was Dartford’s first on this day in four attempts having previously lost at home to Kidderminster Harriers (2015) and on the road to Stamford (2003) and Bromsgrove Rovers (1992). The last home win on 4 January was an entertaining 5-3 triumph over Barnet in 1986.
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