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Dartford begin their Kent Senior Cup campaign with a visit to Football League side Bromley on Tuesday night.
A repeat of the second round fixture from last season, the Darts will be hoping to progress again. This time both sides are in new divisions with an even wider gap between them. Dartford’s relegation to the Isthmian Premier and Bromley’s promotion to League Two means they are currently separated by 61 places.
The county cup is generally a chance for fringe and academy players to get game time. Although the Darts may be the underdogs, the outcome is often affected by the strength of the starting lineup. Last season Dartford’s experienced side defeated a young Bromley team, then made it to the semi-final. Adrian Pennock has already hinted to Dartford FC TV that he’ll make changes, he said: “It won’t be the team that started this afternoon (against Hendon). I will play the subs, involve the squad and I would like to see some youth players as well”.
It was all level at the break just under a year ago, but the Darts turned it on in the second-half to run out 5-1 winners. Charlie Sheringham scored from the spot before Kido Taylor-Hart equalised. Luke Allen put Dartford back in front, Sheringham netted another and Brandon Barzey added a brace.
Dartford have won the last two Kent Senior Cup ties against the Ravens having beaten them in the 2011 final as well. Under Tony Burman the Darts won 4-1 with goals from Elliot Bradbrook, Ryan Hayes, an own goal and Danny Harris. Since then the Darts have lifted the trophy three more times taking their tally to 13 county cup triumphs, second in the all-time list. Bromley are six time winners last lifting the cup in 2007.
Six of the last seven meetings have gone Dartford’s way with both teams scoring in this fixture over the last ten matches. Bromley’s only win in that time was the F.A Cup fourth qualifying round victory in 2011. Since then, the Darts have won four in a row all in different competitions. Dartford triumphed in consecutive years between 2012 and 2014 in the National South, F.A Trophy and F.A Cup before last season’s victory in the Kent Senior Cup.
The Darts are five games without a win in all competitions, however they broke their losing streak on the weekend. Goalkeeper, David Aziaya made his debut and whether he plays on Tuesday depends on the terms of his loan spell from Bromley. Aziaya kept a clean sheet despite Dartford playing almost all of the second half with ten men. The 20 year old became the 13th goalkeeper used by the Darts since April 2022, when Dan Wilks lost his regular spot as the number one.
Duane Ofori-Acheampong returned from suspension in the 0-0 draw with Hendon making his first start since rejoining the club. Whilst Oliver Box made a substitute appearance after recovering from injury. New signing, Michael Olarewaju was also selected for his first start as Adrian Pennock made three changes. The Darts were the better side, but yet again couldn’t find the vital breakthrough even after Jeremiah Pinder’s red card. The draw leaves Dartford in ninth position in the Isthmian Premier League.
Pennock thought it was a ‘good’ 0-0 against Hendon, who were in fifth place before kick-off. The Dartford boss was delighted with his team, he commented: “I thought it was an excellent performance. Going down to ten men after five minutes of the second half, the lads were absolutely unbelievable”. Despite a barren spell of results and in front of goal, he is confident results will improve, he added: “This is our ninth game of the season, arguably we’ve had two poor performances, Dover was obviously poor and Tuesday night I wasn’t happy with either (Billericay Town). Other than that, we’ve been in games where we’ve outplayed our opponents but have not had the rub of the green, that will change”.
Looking towards the EFL Trophy could give Dartford an indication of the sort of side Bromley manager Andy Woodman will select. The Ravens have fielded a mixture of squad players and youngsters in their two group games in the competition. Bromley earned two points in the 3-3 draw with Cambridge United as they won 4-3 on penalties. The Ravens followed that up with a 3-2 loss against Chelsea’s under 21 side.
In their debut Football League campaign Bromley are currently in 20th. The newly promoted side got off to a great start in League Two with a pair of 2-0 wins over Harrogate Town and AFC Wimbledon. Sandwiched between those victories, the Ravens were knocked out in their debut League Cup match against the Dons. Since then, Woodman’s side have failed to win in ninety minutes, a run of ten games. However, the last three outings have all been draws versus Milton Keynes Dons, Chesterfield and Fleetwood Town.
Current Form (all competitions)
| Dartford (WLLLLD) | Bromley (LLLDDD) | ||||
| Hendon | H | 0-0 | Fleetwood Town | A | 0-0 |
| Billericay Town | A | 0-4 | Chesterfield | H | 2-2 |
| Dulwich Hamlet (FAT) | H | 0-1 | Milton Keynes Dons | H | 1-1 |
| Worthing (FAC) | A | 1-3 | Chelsea U21 (EFT) | H | 2-3 |
| Bowers & Pitsea | H | 1-2 | Grimsby Town | A | 0-1 |
| Leatherhead (FAC) | H | 2-0 | Notts County | H | 2-4 |
| FAC – F.A Cup / FAT – F.A Trophy / EFT – EFL Trophy | |||||
Head to Head
Dartford wins: 26 / Bromley wins: 28 / Draws: 12
Previous Six Meetings
Dartford 5 – 1 Bromley (28/11/2023 – Kent Senior Cup)
Bromley 3 – 4 Dartford (08/11/2014 – F.A Cup)
Dartford 4 – 2 Bromley ( 12/01/2013– F.A Trophy)
Bromley 1 – 2 Dartford (09/04/2012 – National South)
Dartford 1 – 2 Bromley (29/10/2011 – F.A Cup)
Dartford 3 – 1 Bromley (29/08/2011 – National South)
Statistics
- The Darts have won 11, lost 10 and drawn 5 against Bromley in the Kent Senior Cup
- Dartford have won the last two Kent Senior Cup ties against Bromley, which includes the final in May 2011
- The last three meetings between the two sides have seen 19 goals (6.33 per game). The last seven Kent Senior Cup games have seen 34 goals (4.85 per match)
On This Day
Dartford have won their last two games on 15 October both against Tonbridge Angels. Two years ago Sam Odaudu and Samir Carruthers featured in a 2-0 win at Princes Park. Carruthers scored directly from a corner and Pierre Fonkeu wrapped up victory. In 2016, the Darts defeated the Angels in the fourth qualifying round of the F.A Cup. Alex Brown, Andy Pugh and Elliot Bradbrook all netted in the 3-0 win. In another F.A Cup tie five years earlier the Darts won 2-1 at Cray Wanderers with Ryan Hayes and Danny Harris scoring. In 1969, Dartford ran out 3-1 winners against Bromley in the Kent Floodlight League.