Dartford aim to maintain there perfect home league record in 2012 when they host Maidenhead United on Saturday.
Since returning to the second tier of non league Dartford are on their best run at home. The Darts have won seven in a row at Princes Park including a 6-1 demolishing of Sutton United in their last home Conference South fixture.
Jack Pallen scores on his return to the team
Having dropped points last weekend at Dorchester Town and failing to capitalise on Woking’s defeat at Eastbourne Borough, The Darts returned to winning ways this week and reached a second consecutive Kent Senior Cup Final. Facing a Charlton Athletic side including first teamers and academy players Dartford won 3-1 with goals from Jack Pallen, Lee Noble and Elliot Bradbrook.
Tony Burman was delighted at the prospect of winning another trophy but found the result a touch surprising, he told PURE DFC: “I wasn’t expecting it to be fair. We’ve played everyone who hasn’t played 90 minutes and obvioulsy we were playing against full time professionals, I thought the players were excellent”.
The return of Jack Pallen from his loan spell pleased Burman and felt Pallen’s goal gave the striker a new lease of life during the match on Tuesday. Having five games away from The Darts made sure Pallen has improved his fitness, Burman is happy at the way the striker is looking ‘sharper’ since returning.
The Dartford boss will be hoping his side can bounce back in the league and keep the pressure on at the top. Despite defeat last time out in the Conference South Burman has called for ‘calm on and off the field’, he said: “We mustn’t be nervous, we’ve got to keep our composure and get on with enjoying where we are”.
Danny Harris equalises with a diving header last time against The Magpies
Maidenhead United are facing a relegation battle and are without a win in five scoring just once. That goal was scored the last time the two sides met in a 1-1 draw at York Road. Alex Wall gave the hosts the lead with 13 minutes played when his shot took a deflection over goalkeeper Louis Wells. The lead was cancelled out by Danny Harris fifteen minutes later when he got on the end of a well worked move.
Last season at Princes Park, The Darts ran out comfortable winners defeating a struggling Maidenhead United team who were in the middle of last seasons longest streak without a win. Sheringham opened the scoring on 68 minutes and Elliot Bradbrook left it late to seal the match scoring twice in the final two minutes.
The Berkshire club are just three points clear of safety and with the current form of those below are also under pressure. Last weekend they were beaten 1-0 at home by Salisbury City and have now gone 347 minutes without scoring a goal. On their travels they have lost just two in eight league fixtures but earlier in the season they did lose six in a row. In contrast they have achieved some notable results including a 2-0 win at Woking.
Team News
Jack Pallen returned from his loan spell and impressed with a goal against Charlton Athletic. Jon Wallis, Matt Jones and Jacob Erskine didn’t feature in the Kent Senior Cup semi final win after picking up an injuries last week. Deren Ibrahim is expected to be out for the rest of the season after he dislocated a shoulder against The Addicks. Tony Burman will have to approach the league to see if he can arrange emergency cover in goal.
Reece Tilson-Lascaris is suspended for Maidenhead United after his red card in the last game between the two sides.
Statistics (league only)
Dartford (2nd) v Maidenhead United (17th)
Current Form
| Last five Dartford matches at home | Last five Maidenhead United matches away |
| Won 6-1 v Sutton United | Drew 0-0 v Hampton and Richmond |
| Won 3-1 v Havant and Waterlooville | Lost 1-0 v Tonbridge Angels |
| Won 3-0 v Farnborough | Won 2-0 v Woking |
| Won 4-1 v Basingstoke Town | Drew 1-1 v Thurrock |
| Won 2-0 v Salisbury City | Won 2-0 v Eastbourne Borough |
Attendances
Dartford average home attendance: 1231
Highest home attendance: 2559 v Welling United/ Lowest: 783 v Basingstoke Town
Maidenhead United average away attendance: 590
Highest away attendance: 1777 v Woking / Lowest: 156 v Thurrock
Did you know…
Dartford’s home record in 2012 is now – Won 9 Drawn 1 Lost 0 For 34 Against 9 in all competitions.
The Darts have scored in every one of their 18 league game at Princes Park this season. Since the Conference South was formed only three teams have managed to score in every home league fixture for an entire season (St Albans City 2005/06, Havant and Waterlooville 2006/07 and Newport County AFC 2009/10).
Just under half of the goals Maidenhead United concede are in the final half an hour of matches. The Magpies have conceded 29 times during this period out of the 62 goals they have leaked.
Only bottom club Thurrock have a goal difference worse than Maidenhead United this season.
