Dartford’s Conference Premier status is hanging by a thread as they approach their rearranged fixture at Alfreton Town on Tuesday night.

The Darts played the Reds just over a week ago and missed a golden opportunity to close the gap on the Derbyshire club, who are now unbeaten in their last five games.

Tony Burman’s side approach Tuesday’s game on the back of a damaging 2-0 defeat to fellow relegation rivals Southport on the weekend. The loss leaves the Darts ten points from safety with only eight matches remaining. Richard Brodie and a late goal from Paul Rutherford edged Southport, and Alfreton Town, closer to Conference Premier football next season.

Alfreton Town picked up a point at home to Chester, a side the Darts beat a week ago. Tom Shaw who scored the last minute winner at Princes Park, put the Reds in front with a stunning long range effort. The one goal lead wasn’t enough though as it was Chester’s turn to score late on through Ben Heneghan.

Alfreton Town started their campaign with seven straight defeats but have slowly reduced the deficit to safety. The Reds managed to string a four game unbeaten run after their terrible start and have won all their games against the bottom six.

In the two previous visits to the Impact Arena, the Darts have returned home with nothing to show for their efforts. Last season, Elliot Bradbrook scored from the spot to give Dartford a half time lead before Lee Noble was sent off. Alfreton Town took advantage of having a spare player, especially Paul Clayton who fired in two goals in the space of eight second half minutes.

Going in front against the Reds is a common occurrence for the Darts, a feat they managed twice in their first visit to the Impact Arena. Ryan Hayes put the Darts in front with just three minutes on the clock but right before half time Danny Meadows levelled the match. Once again, Dartford went ahead through Nathan Collier but Alfreton Town hit back with goals from Anton Brown and a second from Meadows.

Head to Head

Alfreton Town wins: 2 / Dartford wins: 2 / Draws: 0

Current League Form

Last Meeting at the Impact Arena

21 December 2013 – Alfreton Town 2 Dartford 1 – Att: 575

Goalscorers: Bradbrook (16 pen), Clayton (52, 60)

Alfreton Town Lineup: Worsnop, Wood, Fenton, Wylde, Franklin, Rowe-Turner, Bradley, Kenpson, Meadows, Shaw, Clayton (subs used: Wishart, McGrath)

Dartford Lineup: Julian, Sterling, Mitchel-King, Clark, Burns, Bradbrook, Noble, Stevenson, Martin, Birchall, Harris (subs used: Collier, Kamara, Cornhill)

Match Stats

Previous Meetings

Dartford are going to need to make their home matches count in the relegation scrap starting this weekend in their six pointer against Alfreton Town.

Sitting eight points behind their opponents with a game in hand, Dartford know a win will be vital especially when the two sides meet again before the month is out. The last two home fixtures against Alfreton Town have been favourable to the Darts and Tony Burman hopes to keep the perfect record against the Derbyshire side.

Last season an opening day victory over the Reds gave Dartford a promising start. The winning goal came from a piece of skilful play from Adam Birchall. The striker weaved his way along the touchline and finished from an acute angle. In the previous campaign, the Darts put in a dominating display with a resounding 5-1 win. Harry Crawford’s hat trick, Jacob Erskine’s strike and Elliot Bradbrook’s header helped Dartford record their biggest Conference Premier win in 27 years.

The Darts approach a crucial period of their campaign on the back of a well earned draw up at FC Halifax Town. A first league clean sheet in 31 games whilst playing over 70 minutes with ten men would normally be a great result, however teams at the bottom picked up more points leaving Dartford further adrift. Burman fielded a slightly changed side to that who lost 3-1 at home to Woking. Jason Brown was replaced by Deren Ibrahim, Peter Sweeney made his first league start since New Years Day due to Elliot Bradbrook’s absence. When Lee Burns was sent off after 19 minutes the pack needed shuffling once more.

Just one defeat in their last five league fixtures, Dartford are showing form similar to October where draws need converting into wins. The Darts can also look to the fact they are unbeaten against the bottom seven and have only dropped points against Welling United from the bottom five.

Alfreton Town were one of those teams winning at the wrong end of the table as they defeated Kidderminster Harriers 2-0. A second victory and clean sheet in a row left manager Nicky Law delighted with his side. John Johnston scored his third goal in five league gamed and Karl Hawley made sure of the three points. The result on the weekend followed a 1-0 away win at AFC Telford United which was settled by Luke Graham’s strike.

The Reds began their campaign with seven straight defeats but have slowly climbed out of danger zone. The Reds managed to string a four game unbeaten run after their terrible start and have won all their games against the bottom six. Law expressed his delight last week at moving out of the bottom four for the first time since September. The Derbyshire club have also received backing off the field lately when they secured a £250,000 boost from American investors.

Team News

Ryan Hayes and Jason Brown didn’t travel to the Shay on the weekend due to aggravated injuries picked up in training. Tom Bradbrook is still out with a groin injury but his successful operation means he may return before the season ends. Lee Burns will be suspended for the straight red card he received against FC Halifax Town on Saturday.

Head to Head

Dartford wins: 2 / Alfreton Town wins: 2 / Draws: 0

Current League Form

Last Meeting at Princes Park

10 August 2013 – Dartford 1 Alfreton Town 0 – Att: 1202

Goalscorers: Birchall (42)

Dartford Lineup: Julian, Clark, Mitchel-King, Fry, Cornhill, Noble, Bradbrook, Burns, Hayes, Prior, Birchall, (subs used: Rogers, Harris, Woodyard)

Alfreton Town Lineup: Atkins, Wood, Franklin, Westwood, Law, Bradley, Fenton, Shaw, Meadows, McGrath, Clayton (subs used: Wishart, Ramsey-Dickson)

Match Stats

Previous Meetings

Stats

Deren Ibrahim last kept a clean sheet in the league for Dartford on 3 March 2012. During the 1-0 Conference South win at Tonbridge Angels Ibrahim came on as a substitute for the injured Louis Wells. His last full league game for the Darts resulting in a clean sheet was on 25 October 2011 in Dartford’s 3-0 away win at Thurrock.

The last time Dartford kept back to back clean sheets in the league was just under a year ago. A goaless draw at Lincoln City on 5 April 2014 was followed by a 1-0 win five days later at home to Grimsby Town

Alfreton Town have conceded Town have conceded the most number of fouls in the Conference Premier. Excluding last weekend the Reds had given away 419 free kicks.

Dartford travel to the Impact Arena on the weekend to face Alfreton Town, one of the surprise packages of this season.

The Darts finished above the Derbyshire outfit last season by a six point margin. This time Dartford are left lagging behind the Reds who are challenging for a playoff spot. Although only two points adrift from safety, Tony Burman’s side have played the most fixtures and find themselves in desperate need for three points.

Preparations for this weekend’s fixture have been hit by the news that Scunthorpe United striker Matthew Godden has been recalled from his loan spell. Godden’s brief spell with the Darts saw the 22 year old score five times in nine league appearances, including a hat trick in Dartford’s last league win against Hyde two months ago. Connor Essam has also been ordered back to Crawley Town after his loan spell with the Darts, the defender scored one goal in three league appearances. On a positive note winger Dave Martin has extended his loan spell for another month from Luton Town.

Woes continued at Princes Park on Saturday with an eighth successive Conference Premier defeat leaving the Darts second from bottom. Hoping to grab some points against fellow part timers and newly promoted FC Halifax Town, a lightweight strike force barely troubled the visitors. The Shaymen took control after the break and Sheffield United loanee Joe Ironside gave the Yorkshire club the lead. Josh Wilson headed in a second just over ten minutes later before Connor Essam halved the deficit.

Dartford’s run of defeats has led to Chairman, Dave Skinner to back manager Burman this week. Skinner believes that financial security is paramount over survival in the Conference Premier, no matter how much the Darts want to continue in the top flight of non league football.

Meanwhile, Alfreton Town bounced back from a 5-0 trouncing at home to Luton Town with an excellent result at Kidderminster Harriers. Despite falling behind in the first half to Callum Gitting’s’ fifth goal in as many games, the Reds came from behind to earn victory against third place Harriers. Two second half goals from ex Harrier Michael Wylde and a a last minute John Akinde penalty gave Alfreton Town their biggest away win in the league this season.

Dartford will need to complete a rare double if they are to have a chance to climb out of the bottom four. On the opening day of the season a skilful Adam Birchall winner was enough to separate the two sides. Alfreton Town did win almost a year ago at the Impact Arena, scoring a late winner. Ryan Hayes put the Darts in front with just three minutes on the clock but right before half time Danny Meadows levelled the match. Once again, Dartford went ahead through Nathan Collier but Alfreton Town hit back with goals from Anton Brown and a second from Meadows, his third against Dartford in two games.

Head to Head

Alfreton Town wins: 1 / Dartford wins: 2 / Draws: 0

Current League Form

Last Meeting at the Impact Arena

5 January 2013 – Alfreton Town 3 Dartford 2 – Att: 522

Goalscorers: Hayes (3), Meadows (45), Collier (59), Brown (75), Meadows (89)

The Reds Lineup: Barnes, Law, Franklin, Bradley, Franks, Streete, Killock, Brown, Meadows, Arnold, Tomlinson, (subs used: Harriott, Clayton, Worsfold)

The Darts Lineup: Bettinelli, Burns, Champion, Arber, Rose, Hayes, Bradbrook, Wallis, Rogers, Crawford, Erskine (Sub used: Collier, Eisa, Monger)

Match Stats

Previous Meetings

A long awaited second season in the Conference Premier begins for the Darts at home to Alfreton Town on Saturday.

Almost a year ago, Harry Crawford’s hat trick ensured Dartford recorded their joint biggest win in the top non league division for 27 years.

Harry Crawford’s low drive hits the back of the net

Crawford, who top scored for the Darts in 2012/13 started the goal rush with a low drive from the edge of the box. Jacob Erskine’s strength played a part in the second, the striker shrugged off Adam Quinn before neatly finishing. On the stroke of half time Elliot Bradbrook headed Dartford into a 3-0 half time lead, arriving at the far post the captain nodded home a Ryan Hayes corner.

Hayes began the second half setting up the fourth with a clever free kick. The wingers chip into the box was met by a looping Bradbrook header, however Crawford stole the last touch before the ball crossed the line. Alfreton Town pulled a late goal back with ten  minutes on the clock, Daniel Meadows tidily placed his shot in the corner of the Dartford net. Searching for his hat trick, Crawford found a third to secure a 5-1 victory. The now Barnet striker pounced on Darren Kempson’s error and needed two attempts to take the match ball home.

Tony Burman has had to rebuild part of his squad for the forthcoming campaign after some major departures in defence and attack. Lee Burns is the only defender remaining at the club whilst up front Burman has signed two loanee’s from last season. Adam Birchall impressed in only six games during September and October scoring one goal, the 28 year old joins from League One side Gillingham. Prior is likely to partner Birchall in attack, the former AFC Wimbledon striker was with the Darts in March and April featuring nine times scoring once.

Dartford squad numbers for 2013/2014

Local lad Matt Fry comes to Princes Park with Football League experience, the 22 year old defender helped Concord Rangers into the Conference South last season but has played for West Ham United, Charlton Athletic, Gillingham and Bradford City. Burman also raided Conference South side Chelmsford City for defender Kenny Clark and midfielder Max Cornhill, Dover Athletic for full back Tyrone Sterling and promoted Newport County for goalkeeper Alan Julian.

Burman used pre season wisely to assess a number of trialists and academy players. Tom Wellham, Jay Porter, George Monger, Ronnie Vint and Mohamed Eisa were all given squad numbers whilst Alex Woodyard, Uche Ibemere and Mat Mitchel-King also impressed boosting the senior squad for this season to twenty three.

Woodyard had been with Southend United since the age of sixteen and spent time on loan at Braintee Town last term. Mitchel-King also has Football League experience with Crewe Alexandra and AFC Wimbledon. Meanwhile Uche Ibemere will not feature on Saturday as the former VCD Athletic player has joined Cray Wanderers on loan.

Over pre season the senior team have failed to pick up a win, losing four matches and drawing with AFC Wimbledon, Dagenham and Redbridge, Ebbsfleet United and on Saturday a Fulham XI. The Cottagers included goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli who was on loan with the Darts last season, however his presence couldn’t stop Lee Noble from scoring the equaliser in a 1-1 stalemate.

Alfreton Town ended in thirteenth spot last term and missed out on an F.A Cup third round appearance after defeat at Leyton Orient. The Reds have reverted back to part time football in order to cut their cloth accordingly. The Derbyshire club’s mid table finish was their highest final position achieved in a 54 year history.

Manager, Nicky Law has been highly praised by Alfreton Town’s chairman Wayne Bradley who believes the 51 year old is ‘worth four places in the league table’. Law’s first summer job was to keep Paul Clayton, the Reds top scorer from last season who totalled 17 league goals. Arrivals at the Impact Arena include former Wrexham defender Chris Westwood and ex Cambridge United midfielder Tom Shaw. John McGrath has also moved in at the Impact Arena, the experienced midfielder was released by Burton Albion at the end of last season. A notable departure from Alfreton Town includes the impressive Nathan Arnold who has moved to Shaw’s old club where former Darts, Tom Bonner and Tom Champion will feature.

The Reds were also without a victory during pre season as they took on a number of Football League teams. Loses at home to Birmingham City, Walsall, Sheffield United and Port Vale were accompanied with defeat at Worksop Parramore and draws against Burton Albion and Matlock Town.

Last five season openers

Last Meeting at Princes Park

1 September 2012 – Dartford 5 Alfreton Town 1- Att: 1145

Goalscorers: Crawford (11), Erskine (37), Bradbrook (45), Crawford (48), Meadows (80), Crawford (82)

The Darts Lineup: Bettinelli, Burns, Bonner, Arber, Rose, Champion, Hayes, Rogers, Erskine, Crawford, Bradbrook (subs used: Noble, Collier, Wallis)

The Reds Lineup: Stewart, Law, Kempson, Quinn, Franks, Taylor, Bradley, Brown Russell, Clayton, Tomlinson, (subs used: Arnold, Meadows, Worsfold)

Match Stats