MATCH PREVIEW: DARTFORD (A)

After a 2-0 win away at Hendon on Tuesday, Ross Jenkins’ side turn their attention to their final pre-season outing against Dartford tomorrow afternoon. The trip around the M25 to Kent tomorrow is our final test before we welcome Bath City next Saturday, an opportunity to take winning momentum into the start of our Vanarama National League South campaign.

The Darts had a 2023/24 campaign to forget as they were relegated from the Vanarama National League South, despite reaching a playoff semi-final the season prior. Manager since March, Adrian Pennock’s side find themselves in the Isthmian Premier Division for the upcoming season. The Darts will no doubt be hungry to end their pre-season on a high tomorrow and set themselves up for a successful campaign as they aim for promotion.

It’s fair to say that Dartford have had a mixed pre-season so far, Adrian Pennock’s side picking up two wins, suffering two losses and playing out one draw over the course of their five outings.

The Darts’ kicked off their pre-season against League One side, Charlton Athletic. It wouldn’t have been the start that the side from Kent would’ve hoped for, however, as they suffered a 6-1 defeat. This was followed by a trip to Margate and a 2-2 draw with the fellow Kent side, but the Darts would get their first pre-season win four days later with Adrian Pennock’s men running out 3-1 winners against Ashford United. Unfortunately, the Darts were unable to replicate that performance in their game that followed as they were thrashed 4-0 by Gillingham. However, our opponents come into tomorrow’s tie with a boost in confidence after a 1-0 win over recently relegated from League Two, Sutton United.

ONES TO WATCH

Samir Carruthers:

31-year-old, Samir Carruthers is a huge source of experience for the Darts’ with the midfielder having previously featured for the likes of Aston Villa, Sheffield United, MK Dons, Oxford United and Cambridge United as well as having represented the Republic of Ireland at both U19 and U21 levels. Having spent last season at Chelmsford, bagging 10 goals and helping the Clarets reach the playoffs in the process, Carruthers will likely be a key source of inspiration for the Darts at Princes Park tomorrow afternoon.

PRE-MATCH INTERVIEW