Dartford vs Cray Wanderers – Isthmian Premier – Saturday 21st February, 3 pm – Match Preview
Pics: Steve Cullum and Natalie Stribbling
Cray Wanderers play the third of three straight Kent derbies and against playoff contenders on Saturday as the Wands in sixth place visit seventh placed Dartford in one of the key matches of the day in the Isthmian Premier. Kick off 3 pm
The Wands come into the game unbeaten in five with four of those game drawn including a merited point last Saturday against fifth placed Chatham Town at Flamingo Park. In a tight game of few chances, Cray certainly edged the match but fell behind to a Nile Ranger goal twelve minutes from time. The Wands though have shown resilience and resolve throughout the season and fought back and levelled three minutes from the end with an Alex Hernandez penalty for his fifteenth goal of the season. New signing Ola Ogunwamide was unlucky not to fashion a winner in added time but overall a point was the least Cray deserved for their efforts where once again defensively as against Ramsgate the previous week kept opposition chances to a minimum.
The point kept Cray on forty eight points from thirty one games played, two behind Chatham Town although the Medway side have played three games fewer. Folkestone Invicta with seventy four points have a thirteen point buffer from second placed Aveley with Brentwood Town on fifty five points in third and Billericay Town in fourth on fifty one points. The playoff pack is tightly bunched with Dartford a point behind Cray but do have two games in hand. Ramsgate are eighth with forty four points from thirty games, Burgess Hill Town in ninth on forty three from thirty games and Whitehawk in tenth cannot be ruled out on forty one points but have only played twenty seven games.
The Wands will travel to Dartford with a fine away record this season and have lost just one out of fifteen on the road and that was at Folkestone Invicta. Cray have won five out of the last seven away from home but will be a tough test against a Dartford side who have done well at home and have won seven out of the last eight at Princes Park and only Folkestone Invicta on 13th December have won there this season. Ady Pennock’s side were also the last to beat Aveley in the league on 17th January and also beaten Brentwood Town, 3-2 in their last home match on 31st January. Dartford have also won at Chatham Town so have done well against other playoff contenders.
The Darts though will be looking to bounce back from last Saturday’s 0-1 defeat at Potters Bar Town where Nana Kyei’s eleventh minute goal proved enough for a big three points for the Scholars in their relegation fight.
At home Dartford have beaten Carshalton Athletic (4-1), Cheshunt (2-0), Whitehawk (3-0), Potters Bar Town (4-1), Welling United (3-1), Chichester City (2-0), Dulwich Hamlet (1-0), St Albans City (1-0), Aveley (2-0) and Brentwood Town (3-2). Dartford drew with Billericay Town (1-1), Canvey Island (2-2) and Burgess Hill Town (3-3) with the only defeat against Folkestone Invicta (1-2). Top scorer is Olly Box who netted twice when Cray last visited Dartford on Boxing Day 2024 with the home side winning 2-1.
When the two teams met at Flamingo Park on 25th October, Dartford were 2-0 winners with a goal in each half from Eddie Dsane and Callum Jones. Historically Dartford and Cray Wanderers although fairly close and linked by the Rivers Dart and Cray mainly met in cup ties until the mid-nineties when the teams met for three seasons in the Kent League including the 1993-94 season when the teams groundshared at Oxford Road. In the Isthmian League era this will be the fourth meeting at Dartford with the home side winning once and two draws. Cray’s last win at Princes Park was in October 2017 when Thamesmead Town played there.
In the playoff race this promises to be the game of the day and one which both teams will be looking to maintain their good home and away records this season.
ADMISSION & DIRECTIONS TO DARTFORD FC
Address: Bericote Powerhouse Princes Park, Grassbanks, Darenth Road
Dartford, Kent DA1 1RT
Admission: £15 adults, concessions £10 (ID required, includes full time students, unemployed & registered disabled. £5 youth (U13-U16, ID may be required), U12s free (must be accompanied by an adult)
https://app.fanbaseclub.com/Fan/Dashboard?clubId=478
A NOTE FOR SUPPORTERS THAT THERE ARE NO RAIL SERVICES DIRECT TO AND FROM DARTFORD ON 21st FEBRUARY. RAIL REPLACEMENT BUS SERVICES OPERATE ON THE SIDCUP AND BEXLEYHEATH LINES FROM CRAYFORD AND BARNEHURST STATIONS. PLEASE CONSULT NATIONAL RAIL ENQUIRIES www.nationalrail.co.uk
By Car
From A2 (London):
- At the Dartford Heath roundabout, take the 1st exit onto A2018/Shepherd’s Ln Go through 1 roundabout – 0.8 mi
Turn right at B2174/Princes Rd Continue to follow Princes Rd – 1.4 mi
3. Turn right at Darenth Rd traffic lights – 384 ft
4. Turn second left at Grassbanks – 200ft
From A2 (Kent):
Take the exit toward M25/Dartford/A225 (it’s the second junction) – 0.2 mi
2. At the roundabout, take the 3rd exit toward London(SE)/London(C)/Bexleyheath/A2/M25(N)/M11/M1/Dartford/A225 – 1.0 mi
3. At the roundabout, take the 1st exit onto A296/Princes Rd heading to Dartford/Crayford/A225 Go through 1 roundabout – 0.6 mi
4. Turn left at Darenth Rd traffic lights – 384 ft
5. Turn second left at Grassbanks – 200ft
From M25:
Anticlockwise
Leave the M25 at junction 2 for Canterbury/M2/Dartford/A225 – 0.2 mi
2. At the junction take the third exit for Dartford (A225) – 1.0 mi
3. At the roundabout take the second exit for Dartford (Princes Road) – 0.6 mi
4. Turn left at Darenth Rd traffic lights – 384 ft
5. Turn second left at Grassbanks – 200ft
Clockwise
Clockwise: At junction 1b, exit toward Dartford/A225 – 0.2 mi
2. At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit toward Dartford/A225 – 0.1 mi
3. At the roundabout, take the 1st exit onto A296/Princes Rd heading to Dartford/Crayford/A225 Go through 1 roundabout – 0.6 mi
4. Turn left at Darenth Rd – 384 ft
5. Turn second left at Grassbanks – 200ft
If travelling by car, parking is free and is suggested arriving 45 minutes before kick-off for most games to ensure getting a space. For bigger matches it is advisable to arrive earlier. Upon arrival, entry is through turnstiles at either end of the ground. Once inside you can find a club shop, tea bar / food bar selling a variety of burgers, sausage in a roll, pies etc, or access the bars up the stairs behind the dugouts. Bars are open to all fans before and after the game, with access to the outside balconies. Occasionally the main function bar will be closed after half time due to functions in the evening.
By Rail:
Dartford is the nearest station to Bericote Powerhouse Princes Park. However, Dartford station will be closed during the half term week of 14th – 22nd February so to get to the station you will require a rail replacement bus from Crayford or Barnehurst.
If you find yourself at the station go straight ahead towards the Orchard Theatre/Shopping Centre. Do NOT cross the bridge but take the steps/ramp down to the Bus stops, then take the Fastrack B service towards Bluewater/Gravesend and alight at the Princes Park stop.
Buses run every 10 mins during the day, with a slightly longer interval in the evenings.
To Ebbsfleet International: Exit the station and take the Fastrack B service towards Bluewater/Dartford and alight at the Princes Park stop.
By Bus
The Fastrack B route provides a direct service to the ground, ask for the Princes Park stop. Buses usually run every 10 mins during the day.
On Foot
It is a 15-20 minute walk from Dartford town centre largely alongside the Fastrack busway. Descend the steps as above (or at the bottom of the station approach road), keep to the left along the main road and at the roundabout take the exit signposted Central London (A2). At the next traffic lights cross over and then walk straight on using the wide footpath beside the dedicated bus route.
When this footpath ends, go up and into Darenth Road and follow this road to the right. (If you want to visit the Malt Shovel pub, then after crossing at the traffic lights go up the hill and the first road on the right is Darenth Road.
Turn right and the Malt Shovel pub is on the right). Proceed along Darenth Road to the main road, which is Princes Road. Crossover at the lights. If you wish to catch a bus back into the town centre after the match has ended, then as you crossover the road, note the location of the bus shelter over on the left, in front of you. Continue straight on up along Darenth Road and then take the second left into Grassbanks and up the hill into the car park and the ground.
Nearest pubs: The Ivy Leaf (Darenth Road, DA1 1LS), The Malt Shovel (Darenth Road, DA1 1LP) are the nearest if walking to the ground. The Rose Overy Street (DA1 1UP), The Wat Tyler (High Street, DA1 1DE), The Flying Boat (JD Wetherspoon. DA1 2DT), The Royal Oak (57 Spital Street, DA1 2DX), The Stage Door (37 Hythe Street, DA1 1BE), The Hufflers Arms (110 Hythe Street, DA1 1BN) and The Rose & Crown (43 West Hill, DA1 2HJ) are all highly recommended. The Ivy Leaf has live music and events through the week. There are other pubs around Dartford itself if you have time to have a wander through the High Street and surrounding area.
Dartford is a famous commuter town in the Borough of Dartford in Kent with the River Darent flowing through. The town grew as an industrial hub over the centuries and has been a vital link to the East of London and Essex via the Dartford Crossing and two bore Dartford Tunnel first opened in 1963 and revamped in 1980. The town centre is a mixture of classic Kent architecture and modern design. The Orchard Centre and Theatre are located close to the very busy Railway Station. Two of British rock music’s legends grew up in Dartford, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards and bronze statues in the town and a plaque at Platform 2 at the Railway Station highlight this.
