Dartford 1 Tonbridge Angels 0

Match 32/23/2155 - Saturday, 23rd September 2023 - National League South

Dartford (1) 1 Rooney 31
Tonbridge Angels (0) 0
Attendance: 1,122
Admission: £11 Senior
Mileage: 58/1,767
Weather: 19degC., pleasantly warm

Tonbridge Angels abject failure to extract a win on Dartford soil goes beyond being generational, it is the lifetime of the majority of senior citizens that support the club and the wait goes on.

Statistic number one is that no Angels supporter has ever witnessed an Angels victory at Princes Park since its opening in 2006, but as both sides came into the game on the back of disappointing FA Cup exits and with Dartford’s inauspicious start to the season, perhaps there was a sense that there might never be a better chance.

In years gone by, Angels supporters have left Princes, once more vanquished but almost always beaten by a decent side, that was not the case on this occasion, which makes it all the more frustrating.

Tonbridge’s malfunctioning front line, who have failed to find the net seven times in the opening ten games has long-standing supporters of at least 20 years (statistic number two coming up) longing for a Luke Piscina, Brendan Cass or Nick Barnes, architects of successive wins in the early 2000’s when the Darts were groundsharing at Stonebridge Road.

On a pleasantly warm afternoon, certainly not in need of the coat that I wore, Tonbridge were set back in the opening minute when Jeremy Santos went down injured and, after five minutes, he was substituted by Lewis Gard. That Santos returned to the bench after the half-time break on crutches was a disturbing sight.

Dartford had the better of the possession in the opening half-hour but frankly their attack looked as ineffectual as the visitors, the only real scare being a Jamie Fielding clearance following a corner on 18 minutes.

But that wait of 48 years for a win on Dartford soil (statistic number three) when Tonbridge won a semi-final en-route to their last Kent Senior Cup success, seemed destined to continue when Paul Rooney drove a shot through a forest of bodies into the bottom corner after an initial shot had been blocked.

The Angels ended the half with a positive response with efforts on goal from Joe Turner and Jordan Higgs but these were comfortably dealt with by Mitchell Beeney.

The early part of the second period saw the better of the chances fall the way of the Angels with Scott Wagstaff being felled on the edge of the box as he rounded the advancing Beeney.

Jonny Henly made his best stop of the game on the hour pushing away a low drive from Brandon Barzey and, five minutes later, turning over a free kick from Harvey Bradbury.

The last 20 minutes saw Tonbridge search manfully for an equaliser. Greenidge rounded the adventurous Beeney but was tackled as he was about to send a shot goalwards and a Turner volley failed to find the target.

But there was no way through, and so to the final statistic as Tonbridge fans made their way home, yet again fruitless as it has been since 1955 when two goals from Ronnie Bennett brought home the league points from Watling Street. It’s not beyond the realms of possibility that someone in the crowd of 1,122 was in attendance 68 years ago, to you sir or madam we tip our hat!

Dartford 2 Tonbridge Angels 0

Match 32/22/2039 - Saturday, 15th October 2022 - National League South

Dartford (1) 2 Carruthers 30 Fonkeu 70
Tonbridge Angels (0) 0

Attendance: 1,278
Admission: Pass
Programme: Not Purchased
Mileage: 62/2,481

After a tumultuous week at Westminster in which the old cliche “the only certainties in life are death and taxes” was severely brought into question, Tonbridge Angels supporters endured their annual certainty: defeat at Dartford.

The best part of 200 Angels fans awoke on Saturday morning, donned their colours; journeyed the short distance and arrived at Princes Park, a nice ground, where they receive a friendly welcome from hosts that barely raise a shred of hostility but in their hearts they knew the outcome is never any different. No matter how well we play, there will be a freak goal; a shocking refereeing decision or an in-form Dartford side.

For the pedantic among us, Tonbridge have once enjoyed the taste of victory at Princes, a pre-season friendly against ground-sharing Thamesmead in 2017.

Jay Saunders was unable to welcome back any of his walking wounded but made one change, resting a not fully fit Tommie Fagg for 18-year-old central defender Joe Tyrie.

Joe Turner fired in an opening shot that was only just over the bar after just 10 seconds in a bright start which also saw Dartford’s Samir Carruthers become the first of eight players to receive cautions in an afternoon that referee Ross Martin would hopefully not look back on with any great pride.

After the initial quarter-hour, the home side started to exert themselves on the game, forcing a series of corners, each of which caused concern for the Tonbridge defence.

A 24th minute effort from ex-Angel Luke Allen that almost cleared the stadium roof brought some amusement to the visiting support but as the corner count mounted, Turner was needed to clear from the line and, just a minute later, Craig Braham-Barrett spectacularly did similarly.

But the reprieve was short-lived and, on the half-hour, Carruthers swung in a corner from the left that sailed over the heads of everyone to nestle into the far corner. One could hardly call it a freak goal, as his previous efforts had posted fair warning. Jonny Henly received a yellow card for his protest that the awarding of the corner had been an incorrect decision.

Every corner won by Dartford, and there were several, brought a collective holding of breath from the Tonbridge faithful who were grateful to hear the half-time whistle.

The introduction of Dylan Gavin and Tommie Fagg on the hour brought a change in the momentum of the game with the Darts needing to stand firm as successive efforts from Gavin and Gard brought desperate blocks and it was against the run of play when the home side doubled their advantage on 70 minutes through substitute Pierre Fonkeu who drove home from close range after Henly had parried a shot from Charlie Sheringham.

Tonbridge rallied impressively with Turner seeing a shot blocked and another that cleared the bar before a route back into the game was offered when Carruthers clumsily felled Jeremy Santos in the box. Sadly, Turner’s spot kick cleared the bar by some distance and despite making a spirited effort in the final minutes the game was lost, leaving us thankful that, barring an FA Trophy draw, our visit to Princes Park is done for another year.

Dartford 1 Tonbridge Angels 1

Match 31/21/1896 - Saturday, 11th September 2021 - National League South

Dartford (1) 1 Jebb 45+2
Tonbridge Angels (1) 1 Wood 24
Attendance: 1,273
Admission: £10 Senior
Programme: £2.50
Mileage: 62/1,765

It was always going to be the sternest of challenges for Tonbridge Angels visit to Princes Park and National League South hot favourites Dartford who had an unblemished record from their first five games.

But, as the Angels’ supporters filed away from Princes, if they could have been party to Steve McKimm’s post match comments, they would have given a rousing “hear, hear”!

Steve commented: “I couldn’t be prouder of the boys. They did exactly what we asked them to do. It wasn’t as if we sat everyone behind the ball. We stood strong and credit to every one of the players for a deserved point today.”

Tonbridge were simply magnificent, fully deserving of their point and, arguably could have taken all three with a first-ever win at Princes Park.

McKimm chose an unchanged side with Tommy Parkinson and Zak Guerfi returning to the bench alongside new signing Jamie Fielding.

The away fans, perhaps fearing the worst from the outset were nervously viewing the opening minutes when Jonny Henly made a fine save from Dan Roberts and from the resultant corner a header was directed over.

After 17 minutes, the visitors received a set back when the lively Ricky Modeste had to be replaced by Parkinson, but Tonbridge started to get a foothold in the game and the momentum was swinging in their favour.

Successive corners were forced, a free kick in a dangerous position was won and, on 24 minutes, a pin-point Joe Turner cross found the head of Tommy Wood, whose firm header from close range gave goalkeeper Dan Wilks no chance.

Tonbridge were absorbing any pressure comfortably whilst creating chances of their own and a 41st minute effort from Parkinson was not that far wide.

The half had entered into added time when from a free kick, Dartford’s Jack Jebb struck the right hand post, but a minute later the home side scored to enter the break on equal terms. A long ball forward saw Henly advance beyond his penalty area to head clear but the ball fell to Jebb who clinically executed a lob into the unguarded goal.

As would have been expected of the League leaders, Dartford came out in the second half with renewed purpose but the Tonbridge back line withstood the expected pressure and, on the break, were proving dangerous with Turner firing narrowly wide after 55 minutes.

Roberts brought a good low save from Henly on the hour whilst Beere tested Wilks at the other end.

Thirteen minutes from the end, the hard-working Wood was replaced by Ibrahim Olutade and five minutes later, the visiting support thought they were in dreamland when he met a Beere cross to head home. Sadly the celebrations were curtailed by the linesman’s flag indicating offside.

The closing moments were nervous ones but, in fairness, the Angels kept their hosts at arms length really quite comfortably to exact a point from a difficult place to get anything at all.

Dartford 1 Tonbridge Angels 0

Match 46/20/1849 - Tuesday, 5th January 2021 - National League South

Dartford (0) 1 L'Ghoul 81
Tonbridge Angels (0) 0
Attendance: Approx: BCD

Admission: Pass
Programme: None
Mileage: 62/2,762

Dartford 3 Tonbridge 0

Match 59/19/1781 - Saturday, 28th December 2019 - National South

Dartford (1) 3 McQueen 27 Romain 68 Sheringham 90+3
Tonbridge Angels (0) 0
Attendance: 1,239

Admission: Pass
Programme: £2.50
Mileage: 64/4,614

Since the start of the season and a narrow defeat at home to Dulwich, I and many others have made the comment that nobody has really turned Tonbridge over, unfortunately that comment is no more, Dartford well and truly turned us over.

Dartford fielded a side that showed just one player from that Tuesday evening in early September when the Angels 3-2 victory ended the reign of Jamie Coyle and Adam Flanagan at Princes Park. That Dartford side were a shambles, this one was one, if not the, best sides we have played this season.

Tonbridge were on the back foot from the outset with Jack Parter clearing Elliott Romain’s header from the line after five minutes.

Dartford continued to hold the momentum with a penalty claim after Darren McQueen had been brought down. Meanwhile, Tonbridge were literally barely getting out of their own half, let alone threatening the home goal.

The opening goal, that had been a long time coming, was scored after 27 minutes when a long ball over the top was seized upon by Tyrique Hyde whose initial effort was blocked but the rebound fell for McQueen to fire into the roof of the net.

The one-way traffic continued and a clearance from the line was once more required to deny Jacob Berkeley-Agyepong.

After 41 minutes, Tonbridge finally registered a shot on target, albeit that Jared Small’s effort was little more than fielding practice for the Darts’ goalkeeper, Alhaji Sesay.

A minute later, Dartford struck the post when Romain’s low shot stayed out after hitting the inside of the woodwork and rebounding across the face of the goal. Tonbridge were somehow still in the game at half-time with a single goal deficit with both sets of supporters wondering how.

With, what could only have been a half-time rollicking from Steve McKimm ringing in their ears, Tonbridge came out and, for a 20 minute period, looked to be competitive and threatening with Small actually bringing a meaningful save out of Sesay with a couple of minutes gone.

The game was quite end-to-end and hopes were beginning to rise but these came crashng to earth when Romain was allowed to run with the ball before unleashing a fierce 25-yarder into the bottom corner to double Dartford’s advantage.

That was probably it and it took the sting out of the game as Dartford easily contained any threat from their visitors and seemed content with what they had. But a curious incident with a couple of minutes remaining might well have set up a grandstand finish. A seemingly innocuous challenge from Khale Da Costa on Sesay sparked a melee in which the Dartford central defender Josh Hill push a Tonbridge player to the ground with the referee brandishing a red card in his direction in lightening fashion. Tonbridge contended that the offence should result in a penalty but the referee gave a free kick to Dartford for the initial offence from which he appeared to have played on.

With Tonbridge throwing Sonny Miles forward in search of a consolation, a right wing surge from Luke Wanadio ended with a pull back from the bye-line offering Charlie Sheringham a tap-in for Dartford’s third. Sheringham and Wanadio coming off the bench really highlighted the differences in resources between the clubs.

After the Boxing Day postponement of the derby day fixture against Maidstone United and this defeat, it has not been a Christmas to remember for the Angels.

Dartford 1 Swindon Town 5

Match 55/17/1505 - Sunday, 5th November 2017 - FA Cup 1R

Dartford (0) 1 Murphy 83
Swindon Town (3) 5 Elsnik 13,26 Smith 24 Linganzi 47 Mullen 50
Attendance: 2,705

Entrance: £7 Senior
Programme: £2.50
Mileage: 62/3,713

Match Report

The magic of the FA Cup is principally founded on the upset result. That is why the BBC turned up at Hyde United on Friday and BT Sport at Chorley on Monday. MK Dons and Fleetwood might not represent the greatest scalps in the competition, but they are exactly that to the non-league clubs in opposition.

So it was, as a group of Gillingham supporters, that we turned up at Princes’ Park in the fervent hope that Dartford might turn over our long-term rivals Swindon Town. There was reason for optimism, Dartford top National League South but Swindon arrived in Kent with an impressive away record of six wins in eight.

But the visitors turned in a display of clinical finishing that blew away the hopes of Dartford.

Dartford started well and a cross from Alfie Pavey caused panic in the Swindon defence but, on 12 minutes, Amine Linganzi, who looked like the player Gillingham thought they had bought from Accrington in 2013 rather than the one they got, fired in a shot that Deren Ibrahim parried into the path of Timi Elsnik who powerfully drove the ball home from the edge of the box.

Swindon took control of the game and scored twice in four minutes to effectively end the game as a contest. Harry Smith, once a loanee at Tunbridge Wells, rifled home a shot into the top corner from 20 yards and Elsnik headed home a cross from Matt Taylor.

To their credit, Dartford’s heads didn’t go down and they created a couple of half chances before the break with Elliott Bradbrook bringing a save out of Reice Charles-Cook and Lee Noble firing narrowly wide.

Any hopes of respectability died early in the second period when Linganzi scored from outside the box in the first minute and a great run and cross from John Goddard gave Paul Mullin a tap in.

A goal, eight minutes from time, from Richard Sho-Silva, after Tom Murphy’s effort came back off the post was a worthy consolation for the Darts.

Dartford 1 Gillingham 2

Match 08/16/1316 - Tuesday, 26th July 2016 - Pre-Season Friendly

Dartford (1) 1 Hayes 13
Gillingham (0) 2 Osadebe 48, Quigley 65
Attendance: 801

Entrance: £5 Senior
Programme: £2.50
Mileage: 72/1,209

Match Report

There is, without doubt, plenty to work on before Southend in a couple of week's time, but it does appear that things are starting to take shape. Barring one crucial aspect, everything seemed so much sharper at Prince's Park than a week ago at Concord Rangers.

The passing and movement was really good on the eye, but it continually lacked, especially in the first half, the finishing touch.

Paul Konchesky, Gillingham's most recent summer signing, will bring a whole lot more than just experience to the team. In the early stages of this game his sweet left foot produced wonderful crosses that might, in fact should, have produced an early goal. After three minutes, a cross to the far post saw Luke Norris head back across the face of goal but Joe Quigley was only able to turn his shot wide of the upright.

Dartford went ahead in the 13th minute with a nightmare moment for Gillingham's number two goalkeeper, Tom Hadler. An overhit pass towards the box saw the ex-Tonbridge loanee scuff his clearance to Ryan Hayes who cleverly lifted the ball over the stranded Hadler and into the unguarded net from 30 yards.

Konchesky produced another great cross to the back post but Jake Hessenthaler's header was blocked.

Within the front two for Dartford was another ex-Tonbridge player from last season, Ellis Brown, trialling to earn a contract at Prince's Park. His work rate was good, but as with last season, his finishing lacked the killer touch.

Before the break, Deren Ibrahim in the Darts' goal, was called upon twice to make decent saves from Hessenthaler and Billy Knott.

Cody McDonald, an old favourite at Princes, was a second half substitute for Luke Norris and brought an early save from Ibrahim.

Gillingham's equaliser came from a well rehearsed source. Ryan Jackson's long throw into the box was met by the head of Emmanuel Osadebe who steered it into the far corner of the net.

Hadler made a good save with his legs before Gillingham went ahead after 65 minutes. Lee Martin fired in a low hard free kick towards the near post for Quigley to get across his marker and divert the ball into the net.

The final moments brought another positive for the visitor's in the shape of 16-year-old full back Henry Arnold who replaced Konchesky, at the other end of his career, for the last ten minutes. A superb link up with Knott ended with the youngster firing in a shot that Ibrahim had to be at his best to turn away to safety. It brought encouraging praise from Knott.

Dartford 2 Gillingham 1

Match 43/15/1248 - Monday, 16th November 2015 - Kent Senior Cup

Dartford (0) 2 Wynter 71, Simmons 79
Gillingham (0) 1 Dickenson 57
Attendance: 361

Entrance: £5 Senior
Programme: £1.50
Mileage: 61/3,046

Match Report

Gillingham wrapped a sorry 10 day spell in which they exited three cup competitions, each time against lower opposition. This Kent Senior Cup exit may well have resided in the [very] low priority tray but the side fielded by Mark Patterson looked, and indeed should have been, strong enough to have seen this tie through.

A first half passed by, possibly the worst half of football I've seen this season, with a solitary header that cleared the bar from Dartford's, ex-Gillingham striker, Andy Pugh posing the only threat to either keeper.

The game couldn't get any worse in the second half and, thankfully, it improved markedly after the respective manager's words during the break. Gillingham took the lead on 57 minutes with a good strike from Brennan Dickenson. A cross field pass from right to left from Jermaine McGlashan saw Dickenson cut inside and drill a shot home from 20 yards.

Gillingham's advantage lasted until the 71st minute when a corner from Dartford substitute Dajon Golding found another ex-Gillingham player, Tom Wynter, who buried an unchallenged header for a deserved equaliser.

Eight minutes later, Dartford found an winner, and if nothing else, saved the 361 attendees the bother of hanging around for penalties, and, truly out of context with game, it was a bit of a worldie. Fed a pass to the right wing, Jack Simmons cut in and curled an angled shot from 25 yards into the top corner.

A word in passing for the Prince's Park pitch. A year ago, when I visited for a prestigious Premier League Under-21 international competition, the pitch was frankly an embarrassment. But a lot of money has been spent to avoid a repetition and it looked in very good order despite the wet weather recently experienced.

Dartford 1 Woking 3

Match 70/14/1179 - Tuesday 3rd March 2015 - Conference

Dartford (1) 1 Green 42
Woking (1) 3 Odubade 5, Goddard 52, 60
Att. 884

Entrance: £8 Senior
Programme: £2.50
Mileage: 60/5,120

Match Report

Between now and the end of the season, I will be looking to fill every Tuesday evening with a fixture, regardless of whether one of my supported teams is playing, to push the games total towards the 90 mark, something I haven’t managed previously. Crossing off the century-mark on the bucket list will probably have to wait until I retire and can afford the occasional two midweek games.

I had originally scheduled in Ashford United’s home match against Phoenix Sports, a top-of-the-table clash in the Southern Counties East but the Homelands bog of a pitch failed to survive the heavy rainfall of Monday night and a change of plan took me to Dartford for their Conference fixture against Woking.

On first sight of the Princes Park pitch that looked pretty bad, I had to wonder just how poor the one at Ashford was. When I was at Princes for the Celtic Under-21 game last month, the pitch didn’t look in great condition but it has significantly deteriorated since then.

All of which cannot be helping a Dartford side that is obviously struggling for confidence and for a large part of this game looked a relegation team walking.

An early goal would have worked wonders for the confidence of the home side and they should have had it in the first minute when Andy Pugh brought a good save out of Jake Cole. When Woking took a fifth minute lead through Yemi Odubade what little confidence Dartford had visibly drained away. A shot from John Goddard took a deflection into the path of Odubade who easily slotted past a rooted Jason Brown.

Woking passed the ball on an awkward surface as well as many League One teams I’ve seen this season. Despite completely dominating the first half with Goddard catching the eye, it took a world class save from Cole to tip over a goal bound deflection from his own defender.

Surprisingly, Dartford were to go into the break on level terms when ex-Tonbridge favourite, Nathan Green, surged past two defenders and hit a shot across the face of Cole and into the far corner. Green had looked Dartford’s best outlet on the odd occasion they were able to make inroads on the Woking goal.

The goal should have provided the momentum for the Darts for a second half in which, as the home side, they picked up the initiative but Woking responded from the outset and after a couple of scares on their goal Dartford conceded once more in soft circumstances. After 52 minutes, Goddard weaved a little bit of space on the edge of the box and shot from 18 yards, an effort that bobbled its way through a throng of defenders to find the far corner.

Woking were now totally dominant and on the hour a cross from the right from Goddard somehow drifted in the wind over the head of Brown and straight into the net to virtually end the evening as a contest.

Towards the end, Christian Doige, who I thought had been one of the Darts' better players, put a header over the bar when it seemed easier to score. It was one of those, another of those, nights for Dartford, who are staring relegation to Conference South in the face.

Dartford 1 Welling United 0

Match 65/11/952 - Sunday, 13 May 2012 - Conference South Play-off Final

Dartford (1) 1 Noble 3
Welling United (0) 0
Att. 4,088

Entrance: £6 Senior
Programme: £3.00
Mileage: 56/4,890

Match Report

Dartford emerged from the Conference South play-off to stake their place in the Conference for the first time since 1986 when the division was known as the Gola League. As the team that finished second behind champions Woking, it is fitting that they were the team to win a tight encounter against a Welling side that didn’t have the cutting edge to complement the amount of possession they enjoyed.

In front of a sell-out 4,000-plus crowd, a fantastic turn-out considering the mouth-watering spectacle that the final day of the Premiership promised (and lived-up) to be, Dartford struck in just three minutes, Lee Noble stunning the visitors with a well struck shot from 25 yards that nestled in the bottom left hand corner.

That was the beginning of an opening period of 20 minutes in which Welling could not get any sort of foothold in the game. Elliott Bradbrook headed wide from a long throw and crosses into the box were causing Wings’ keeper Craig Holloway and the thousand Welling fans at the opposite end several heart stopping moments.

Going into the last 20 minutes of the half and still just the goal behind, Welling inched their way back into the game and it took a superb saving tackle from Tom Bonner when Loick Pires was about to pull the trigger on the visitors’ best chance of the half.

This was actually quite a defining point in the game as the pattern was set with Welling’s dangerous pairing of Pires and Louis Cumbers well shackled all afternoon by a disciplined Darts back four with Lee Burns and Luke Wilkinson outstanding.

Cumbers managed to get free just the once but his cut back to Joe Healy who blazed over the bar to once again fail to work Louis Wells in the Dartford goal.

The second half continued in much the same vein with chances at a premium, most of them going Dartford’s way as Welling enjoyed their 50% of the possession but by the end of the game Wells had not had a shot in anger to save.

The whistle blew to the jubilation of the home support who have enjoyed massive success with a strong support base since their move to Princes Park. The club are ready for the Conference and I guess there were more than a few sore heads among their fans on Monday morning when they woke up to the realisation that those nice comfortable Ryman and Conference South trips to places such as Tonbridge are no more and now they are faced with 600 mile round trips to places such as Gateshead and Barrow but with the equivalent excitement that ex-League clubs such as Lincoln City and Stockport County now stand on an equal footing alongside their local rivals Ebbsfleet.

Good luck to Dartford, it is wonderful to see two Kent sides in the premier non-league Division, just one more step away from the Football League and who is to say that the last step is one too far.

Dartford 2 Gillingham 5

Match 01/11/888 - Friday, 15 July 2011 - Pre-Season Friendly

Dartford (2) 2 Pallen 20, 26
Gillingham (2) 5 Oli 34, Whelpdale 44, Montrose 60, Rooney 74, 89
Att. 1,010

Entrance: Senior Citizen £6
Programme: £2
Mileage: 56/56

Match Report

Time constraints have left an end of season and pre-season reviews hard to do, so some of the column inches in the pre-season fixtures will be devoted to where we find our clubs following the summer sojourn.

For long periods during the close season we were left wondering and worrying what sort of Gillingham team we would be watching come 6th August. Eight players had been shown the door in May and precious little was arriving. There were plenty of rumours, of which some turned out to be fact, but we had to wait until 1st July when it was announced that six signings had already been made. In from Dover came goalkeeper Ross Flitney and full back Matt Fish, Andy Frampton, a defender late of Millwall, midfielder Lewis Montrose arrived from Wycombe, former loanee Chris Whelpdale from Peterborough and striker Danny Kedwell from AFC Wimbledon. There were further reports that the partnership that had kick-started last season would be reinstated with Charlie Lee also arriving from Peterborough and it had been persistently rumoured that 45-goal Dover striker Adam Birchall would eventually become Gillingham’s man; in the coming days both were signed.

Credit has to go to the Chairman for the investment. Lee, Whelpdale, Kedwell and Birchall all commanded undisclosed fees and in the case of the two strikers, no small amounts of money were supposedly involved.

The match at Dartford was Gillingham’s fifth in a somewhat bloated pre-season schedule of 13 matches. My own belated entry into pre-season came a fortnight after the initial friendly at newly-reformed Ashford United that had been postponed from a Saturday to an unhelpful Wednesday.

Most of the new signings had been given run-outs at Ashford, Bromley, Erith and Ramsgate. At Dartford there were first appearances for Frampton and Birchall.

Dartford had little respect for their neighbour’s League status and raced to a two goal lead within the first 25 minutes. Jack Pallen converted a close range header from an unmarked position to open the scoring on 20 minutes and doubled the advantage five minutes later after Flitney’s attempted clearance had been charged down by Lee Burns, leaving Pallen an open net to score from the edge of the box. It was poor keeping from Flitney but he partially atoned himself with an outstretched leg to stop Pallen from completely a hat-trick within half-an-hour. Sadly for Dartford supporters, Pallen then limped out of the game on 33 minutes and Gillingham immediately responded with a headed goal from Dennis Oli to reduce the arrears.

Gillingham levelled the score before half-time when Whelpdale chipped Darts’ keeper Andrew Young who got his hands to the ball but could not prevent it from crossing the line.
Gillingham dominated the second half with Luke Rooney stealing the show. Adam Birchall came on for his first 45 minutes in a Gills shirt and on the hour his superb pass sent Montrose through on goal, who converted with a precise finish.

Rooney cut in from the left to drive a low shot into the bottom left corner on 74 minutes and with a couple of minutes remaining crashed in the best goal of the game, blasting past Young into the top corner following a lay-off from Stefan Payne.

First half defensive frailties would have been noted and Rooney’s fifth pre-season goal marked up as a positive in the build up to the season’s opener at Priestfield against Cheltenham Town.

For my own records last season's figures end up as:
Lifetime matches total: 2,136
Number of grounds: 240

Dartford 1 Gillingham 2

Match 02/10/818 - Tuesday, 13th July 2010 - Pre-Season Friendly

Dartford (0) 1 Bonner 88
Gillingham (1) 2 Spiller 3, Palmer 54
Att. 770

Entrance: £10
Programme: £2
Mileage: 56/132

Match Report

This was a more comfortable evening all round for Gillingham at Princes Park, Dartford than their previous two pre-season encounters. Possibly newly-promoted Dartford are finding their feet in comparison to their Blue Square South compatriots Braintree Town and Bromley, but a positive spin would be that Andy Hessenthaler’s squad are also beginning to ease themselves into the new term.

A fair few column inches have been used on the triallist that has arrived with Champions League experience. Small in stature, long flowing ringlets, add a pair of swimming goggles and you have a ringer for Edgar Davids, from a distance at least. Stanley Aborah was only given a 20 minute run-out and a best description of his time on the pitch would be that he looked a little rusty. One cleverly weighted pass that offered another triallist, Sam Gargan, the opportunity to shoot off target was hopefully a foretaste of his ability.

Gone was the blistering heat of Saturday and rain during the day had freshened up the atmosphere. Danny Spiller returned to the starting line-up alongside Stefan Payne making his first appearance in this pre-season.

Spiller made an instant impression, converting a rebound after just three minutes to give Gillingham the lead. Barcham crossed from the left, Spiller climbed well to head for goal, his effort being parried by Dartford’s keeper, Andy Young. But Spiller reacted quickly and scored from the resultant rebound.

Spiller went on to produce a 45 minute performance of high energy and good skill, easily the stand-out performer of the half.

A first look at Stefan Payne was also favourable. A good size for a striker, mobile and was a constant source of concern for Dartford’s central defenders. After 15 minutes Payne had a good opportunity which he spurned tamely, the ball falling for Barry Fuller to drive over the bar.

Dartford rarely troubled Gillingham’s rearguard but on the occasions they did Lance Cronin in goal looked sound and, once again, Tony Sinclair did his hopes of a contract no harm whatsoever with a comfortable display that included a clearance in front of the line with Cronin beaten.

A largely different Gillingham side emerged for the second half. Cronin continued between the sticks, Josh Gowling, Curtis Weston and Dennis Oli extended their pitch time. Triallists Serge Makofo, who once again looked lively and Fola Onebuje starting the period up front.

Dartford produced an early flurry to the second half and Jack Payne was forced to clear off the line before Gillingham extended their lead after 54 minutes. Chris Palmer’s misplaced cross deceived everyone and drifted into the far corner for a fortunate addition to the scoreline.

Luke Rooney continued his all action pre-season and he must be catching Hessenthaler’s eye with his performances. Andy White, on for Oli on the hour had an opportunity that was wasted by a poor touch and Makofo made a surging run that was also spoilt by a disappointing pass.

The game was drifting, as pre-season matches tend to do, when Aborah (pictured) was introduced to add interest to the Gillingham support that made up a fair proportion of the 770 attendance. Despite shipping a late goal, the majority of those supporters will have gone home feeling a bit happier than departing Hayes Lane on Saturday.

Premiership referee Steve Bennett was also indulging in some pre-season work and the official was called into action in the closing seconds when an unseemly scuffle ensued on the touchline following a boot of the ball back into play from Ian Hendon that was ill-directed and a touch too hard. Having seen on Saturday just how firmly Hendon can strike a ball, the exception that Dartford took may have had a point!

Gillingham now head for France for some team bonding and a match against RUFC Calais.

Dartford 2 Tonbridge 0

Match 23/09/775 - Tuesday, 13th October 2009 - Ryman Premier

Dartford (0) 2 Tait 57, Harris 85
Tonbridge (0) 0
Att. 1,228

Entrance: £10
Programme: £2
Mileage: 58/3,138

Match Report

Three very reasonable headed opportunities came Tonbridge’s way in quick succession with 15 minutes remaining at Dartford’s Princes Park. None of them so much as tested the keeper and when Danny Harris struck a superb drive into the top right with five minutes remaining, the reasons why Dartford are eleven points clear at the top and 16 points in front of the Angels was clear for all to see.

Tonbridge put in a very acceptable performance but failed to turn their share of the possession into clear cut chances.

I overheard a Dartford supporter telling a friend that Tonbridge keeper, Lee Worgan had been the best he had seen at Princes last season. Three good saves early in the match saw the gentleman nodding knowingly at his mate.

After 20 minutes Worgan was beaten as he was beaten to a cross by Lee Burns, but the linesman had spotted a Maradona-type handball. Dartford fans were bemused by the disallowed goal, I was rather more confused as to the referee’s decision not to book Burns, if it was deliberate handball then a yellow would be a minimum punishment.

The league leaders finally opening the scoring 10 minutes into the second half. After Worgan had beaten away a couple of efforts the ball landed at the feet of Allan Tait who gratefully accepted the opportunity.

Harris came off the bench to sweetly strike the clinching goal and leave Tony Burman’s side looking like a similar runaway winner of this Division to Dover of last season.

Dartford 2 Gillingham 4

Match 02/09/754 - Tuesday, 14th July 2009 - Pre-Season Friendly

Dartford (2) 2 Burchill 37, Flanagan 43
Gillingham (2) 4 Rooney 10, Barcham 37, Wynter 46, Parkes 77
Att. 1,002

Entrance: £10
Programme: £2
Mileage: 54/136
New Ground: 231

Match Report

Gillingham came through a much sterner test last night at Princes Park against a competitive Dartford side. On a night that began wet and ended feeling much cooler than the date suggested it should, Mark Stimson once again fielded two separate sides in each half. As with Saturday’s opener at Folkestone, Aaron Brown played the full 90 minutes suggesting that the manager wants a longer look at the ex-Yeovil triallist. Rashid Yusseff, the stand-out feature of the first game, this time played in the first half side, he was less prominent than Saturday, but continued to impress with his quick eye for a forward pass. The eye-catching performance of the night came from within our own ranks, youngster Luke Rooney giving another livewire performance.

On a pitch that was like a bowling green and a credit to a groundsman that is bound for the Premiership with Fulham, Gillingham passed and moved through their Ryman League opponents in the opening ten minutes and were rewarded with a opening goal from Rooney. A sweet interchange of passes left Andy Barcham with a good shooting opportunity that was parried by Andrew Young, the rebound fell to Rooney who took his time and picked his spot for a good finish.

Let’s not over-hype Rooney (pictured), he is not the second-coming of his Old Trafford namesake, but the lad has talent and looks a very good prospect that might make an impression on the first team in the coming months.

After being given a bit of an early run around the hosts came more into the picture after going behind and stretched the Gillingham back line on several occasions before a suicidal pass across the face of goal left Barcham with the simplest of chances to extend the lead on 37 minutes.

The disappointing period of the night came following the second goal as Gillingham conceded two goals in the time remaining of the first half. A through ball into the channel between John Nutter and the central defenders saw Adam Burchill shoot past Simon Royce for a goal within a minute of Gills second and the equaliser was particularly worrying as a corner was met by ex-Gill Adam Flanagan who powered in a unchallenged header for a Dartford equaliser. A decent first half performance had quickly been erased by some poor defending.

The second half team featured the same triallists as Saturday alongside first pre-season appearances for Luis Cumbers and Tom Wynter. It was the latter that benefited from similar poor defending as he met a Chris Palmer corner at the far post to head home comfortably. Wynter is no giant and the time and space afforded would have rankled Darts boss Tony Burman.

The second period was less cohesive than the first for both teams until 13 minutes from time a 25 yard strike from triallist Jordan Parkes found the bottom right hand corner to wrap up the game. Parkes had a good second half which should lead to further time to impress the manager.

This was my first time at Princes Park and it is a super little ground, unfortunately my abiding memory might well be the 30 minute wait to clear the car park. The eco-friendly construction contains a lot of wood and from the outside would not look out of place in an Alpine ski resort. Inside is a stadium far in excess of what is seen or necessary for their Ryman League status and would not look out of place in the Conference, or perhaps even League Two. The wooden statue of a celebrating supporter is unique and the bowed roofs give a style that is different to other modern day constructions. The 1,002 people assembled managed to create a bit of atmosphere for a pre-season friendly suggesting it could be a noisy venue when filled.

All in all a good night’s entertainment, Gillingham are slowly progressing and even taking into account the non-league opposition, we can be guardedly optimistic.