CAFC vs Dartford – Preview
Following a 3–3 draw at champions-elect Folkestone Invicta, the Robins return to Colston Avenue on Saturday to take on play-off hopefuls Dartford.
PLEASE NOTE THAT U16’S WILL NOT BE ADMITTED UNLESS ACCOMPANIED BY A RESPONSIBLE ADULT
Carshalton Athletic
Since the departure of Peter Adeniyi, Steven Bates has taken charge of seven games so far. The first three did not go to plan, with three consecutive 2–1 defeats to Ramsgate, Welling United, and Potters Bar Town.
Bates then picked up his first win as Carshalton manager with a 3–1 victory over bottom side Canvey Island.
The Robins fell behind early on when Mike Finneran headed home from a free-kick, but Carshalton levelled in the 26th minute when Bryan Ifeanyi converted a penalty following a handball in the area. The visitors were reduced to 10 men in the 51st minute when Luke O’Neill brought down debutant Nathan Young-Coombes as the last man. The numerical advantage allowed Carshalton to control the remainder of the game, and goals from substitutes Tolu Ladapo and Charlie George secured a vital three points.
After waiting nearly four months for that win, the Robins made it two in a row with a 1–0 victory at Cheshunt. Carshalton prevailed in a tricky encounter, with Nathan Young-Coombes’ 74th-minute strike proving the difference.
Steven Bates’ side then extended their run to three consecutive wins with a 4–1 home victory over Wingate & Finchley. Nathan Young-Coombes opened the scoring in the 3rd minute, before Denzel Akyeampong doubled the lead after 19 minutes. Carshalton led 2–0 at half-time and made a fast start to the second half, going 3–0 up through Fabio Saraiva. Wingate pulled a goal back through Romeo Akinola, but Tolu Ladapo’s late penalty made it 4–1, and the Robins saw the game out to secure another three points.
Bates made it 10 points from four games in March with a 3–3 draw at league leaders Folkestone. The hosts took the lead through Ben Mason, but the Robins responded with three first-half goals from Ryan Huke, Tolu Ladapo, and Nathan Young-Coombes.
However, Folkestone were a different side in the second half and hit back through Liam Smith and Ryan Kingsford. Carshalton were forced to withstand a late onslaught but held on for what could prove to be a crucial point in the race for survival.
Those results lifted Carshalton out of the relegation zone, although the job is not yet done, with Welling United and Hashtag United four points behind, and Cray Valley five points back. However, Hashtag United shocked the footballing world during the week by announcing a voluntary relegation, which could boost Carshalton’s survival hopes if they are placed at the bottom of the league by the FA.
Carshalton have just five games remaining, and the fixtures look challenging on paper: trips to Aveley (2nd) and Dulwich (11th), alongside home matches against Brentwood (5th), Dartford (6th), and St Albans (10th). There are no easy games in the Isthmian Premier Division, and Steven Bates will be looking to collect as many points as possible to ensure his side avoid a bottom-four finish.
Dartford
Dartford F.C. was founded in 1888 by members of a local working men’s club, making it one of the oldest football institutions in Kent. In its early years, the club competed in regional leagues such as the Kent League and Southern League, gradually building a strong reputation in non-league football. Over the decades, Dartford experienced periods of success, including Southern League titles and notable FA Cup runs.
In more recent history, Dartford’s resurgence began after returning to the town and opening Princes Park in 2006. The club quickly climbed the non-league pyramid, winning the Isthmian League Division One North in 2007–08 and the Isthmian Premier Division title in 2009–10. These successes led to promotion to the Conference South, where they continued to progress.
The peak of this modern era came in 2011–12, when Dartford won the Conference South play-offs to reach the Conference Premier (now the National League), marking their return to the top tier of non-league football for the first time in decades. They remained competitive at that level for several seasons, even pushing towards the play-offs at times.
More recently, Dartford have been regular contenders in the National League South, consistently challenging for promotion. A notable example came in the 2019–20 season, when a strong late run saw them finish sixth and reach the play-off final, narrowly missing out on promotion.
However, Dartford’s stay in Step 2 came to an end in 2023/24 after finishing 21st out of 24 teams and suffering relegation to the Isthmian Premier League. They nearly bounced straight back in 2024/25, finishing third, but lost the play-off final to Dover Athletic. This season, Dartford sit sixth, four points off the play-offs with just five games to go.
Head to Head
Last season, Dartford travelled to Colston Avenue in August and came away with a 1–0 win, courtesy of a first-half goal from Eddie Dsane. Matt Kerbey was in goal for Dartford that day, joining the Darts on a one-month emergency loan, and impressed with a number of key saves to secure a clean sheet.
The return fixture, however, was a very different affair. Played on the final day of the season at Princes Park in front of a crowd of over 1,800, Dartford entered the match sitting third in the table, level on points with rivals Billericay and Horsham but behind on goal difference. A win, combined with favourable results elsewhere, could have crowned them champions on home soil.
However, Carshalton – then seventh – produced a dominant display to run out 4–1 winners. Goals from Kola Salami, Bryan Ifeanyi, and a brace from Nabeel Ghannam denied Dartford the title and saw them finish third, heading into the play-offs.
This season, the Robins made the trip to Princes Park in August. Carshalton took the lead through a penalty from Tommy Bradford, but Dartford stormed back to reverse last season’s scoreline, running out 4–1 winners thanks to goals from Olly Box (2), Dan Smith, and Jez Pinder.
Team News
Carshalton Athletic
The Robins have been in fine scoring form in recent games, netting 11 goals across their last four matches against Canvey Island, Cheshunt, Wingate & Finchley, and Folkestone.
Nathan Young-Coombes has continued his impressive start to life in Carshalton colours, scoring his third goal in four games against Folkestone. Tolu Ladapo has also hit a rich vein of form, with three goals in his last four appearances. His strike at Folkestone was the standout, curling an effort into the top corner from outside the box. Manager Steven Bates will be hoping both players can maintain their form with five crucial games remaining.
Pre-Match Analysis
With Carshalton sitting precariously above the bottom four, Steven Bates will know his side still have work to do to secure survival. Ten points from the last four games have lifted both their league position and the mood within the squad and fanbase.
Dartford, meanwhile, sit sixth, just four points outside the play-offs with five games remaining. The Darts will need to collect as many points as possible and hope those above them slip up.
They also come into the game in strong form, sitting third in the form guide with 13 points from their last six matches. Last weekend, Dartford recorded their biggest win of the season with a 7–0 thrashing of Hashtag United – a statement victory they will be keen to build on at Colston Avenue.
Key Player
Following Hashtag United’s announcement of voluntary relegation earlier this week, Evans Kouassi made the switch to promotion-chasing Dartford.
Prior to joining Hashtag, Kouassi signed for Folkestone Invicta in the summer of 2024, making 34 appearances and scoring nine goals, including an equaliser against Carshalton on the opening day of the season. He also enjoyed a brief loan spell at Bowers & Pitsea, making seven appearances and scoring once.
Before that, Kouassi spent four seasons at Canvey Island, where he became something of a club legend despite missing much of the 2023/24 campaign through injury. He scored five goals in 19 appearances that season, following a 24-goal haul in 2022/23 and 31 goals in 47 matches during their 2021/22 promotion campaign.
Earlier in his career, Kouassi also represented Heybridge Swifts, Mildenhall Town, Wealdstone, Bishop’s Stortford, Hayes & Yeading, Chelmsford City, and Concord Rangers.
This season, he was a key player for Hashtag United, scoring 13 league goals, including braces against Lewes, Dartford, and Canvey Island. He has also scored three goals against the Robins this season, including a late equaliser in a 2–2 draw at Colston Avenue and twice in a 3–1 win at Parkside.
Now at Dartford, Kouassi swaps a relegation battle for a promotion push as he looks to help his new side secure a play-off place.
The Gaffer
Adrian Pennock’s managerial journey has taken him from the lower tiers of English football to the Premier League sidelines and even to success abroad. After a solid playing career – most notably with Gillingham, where he captained the side to promotion at Wembley – Pennock took his first managerial role at Welling United in 2005.
During two seasons in the Conference South, he guided the club to strong finishes, earning a reputation for building competitive teams on limited resources. His work attracted the attention of Tony Pulis, who brought him into the backroom staff at Premier League side Stoke City, where Pennock served as first-team coach for six years.
In 2013, he returned to management with Forest Green Rovers in the National League, leading the club to their highest league finishes at the time. He later took charge of Gillingham in League One in 2017, before moving to Barrow, where he successfully steered the club clear of relegation.
In 2019, Pennock moved abroad to manage DPMM FC in the Singapore Premier League, winning the league title in his debut season.
Appointed Dartford manager in March 2024, Pennock was unable to prevent relegation from the National League South but remained in charge for the 2024/25 season. He oversaw a full squad rebuild, leading Dartford to a third-place finish and a play-off final. He was named Manager of the Month in December 2024 and signed a contract extension in May 2025.
Known for his leadership, tactical adaptability, and ability to rebuild teams, Pennock has brought renewed optimism to Princes Park and continues to drive Dartford forward with ambition and clarity.
Match Details
Date: Saturday 4th April 2026
Opponents: Dartford
Venue: Colston Avenue
Competition: Isthmian League
Kick-off: 3pm
Admission: Adults £12, Conc £9, U18 £6, Women & Girls FREE
Tickets: Here or purchase at the turnstiles
