Dartford v Horsham Sat 1 Mar 2025

[Dave T]

Doesn't sound like it was very pretty, but we ground out a vital win against our serious promotion rivals in the end.

Well done the Darts!

Still playing 5 at the back and Callum jones blagging another 90 mins.
Lazy management.

Are you Mark Sweet in disguise?

Boring reply.
If someone dares to go outside the wet wipes opinion ate then considered wrong?
We were awful today for most of the game, and got lucky with the subs.
Feel free to reply with a reply worthy of anything other than a 12 year olds view.
I’ll wait.

Yup, you're Sweet

[Dorset Dart]

Credit to Ady, as well as the players, for turning the match around. We came out in the second half with a much greater focus on possession football. That, and the early substitutions, eventually did the trick as Horsham tired and began to lose their control on the match.

Make no mistake though, without MOTM Jacob making several great saves, we would have been dead and buried long before the come back. Horsham will wonder how they came away pointless from that match but we showed great character to get back into it. Potentially a season defining result.

[Lars Resort]

Ade was very brave to sub Olly and Hayden early on in the second half. Normally would have been seen as a foot shooting decision. But really Olly was very ineffective and we could have persisted and got nowhere.
Ade could himself up for a lot of criticism from fans who have their favourites but fortunately things worked out for him and us.

[Ken Shabby]

I was at a barbecue yesterday following on web pages. Got to 90 minutescand we were losing. Refreshed the page at 8pm and it still said 0-1 so imagine the joy when I clicked on today to see the comments and found we won 2-1.
Results like that are where the season turns and we have the mojo back.
Let's do this.

[rambo]

Obviously relieysnd ecstatic to win three points.
Give credit to Horsham who are a very good team and played us off the park in the first half. We didn’t or couldn’t play any football in the first half. The defenders lumped every ball 40 yards to Callum or Olly at top of the chest level. They didn’t win a single ball doing this. Surely Olly wants ball to feet so he can wiggle turn and go and Callum wants a ball to run on to. These passes from the defenders smack of tired and fatigued players. Every punt of this type is a 70/30 against us.
As a result the midfield were not in the game
However once Samir came on he demanded the ball and made things happen. Jacob or George for me should have been motm but I gave it to Samir because without his input we would have lost the game
My conclusion is that I love the impact our young players have made and they are all potentially excellent players which will do well at thd next level if we get there. However I believe at this important stage of the season they need help and I would like Ade to consider bringing in a fit player who can step in at centre mid or centre forward to get us over the line. I feel that a combination of Samir and another experienced player will stop all this silly 70/30 punts up field. It’s not easy to get possession of the ball so why instantly give it back as soon as we have it.
I hope this doesn’t sound like a negative rant as that is not my intention as I am overjoyed at what Ade coaching staff and players have achieved so far this season. I just feel one extra quality player will make all the difference in the run in

[rambo]

Obviously relieved and ecstatic to win three points.
Give credit to Horsham who are a very good team and played us off the park in the first half. We didn’t or couldn’t play any football in the first half. The defenders lumped every ball 40 yards to Callum or Olly at top of the chest level. They didn’t win a single ball doing this. Surely Olly wants ball to feet so he can wiggle turn and go and Callum wants a ball to run on to. These passes from the defenders smack of tired and fatigued players. Every punt of this type is a 70/30 against us.
As a result the midfield were not in the game
However once Samir came on he demanded the ball and made things happen. Jacob or George for me should have been motm but I gave it to Samir because without his input we would have lost the game
My conclusion is that I love the impact our young players have made and they are all potentially excellent players which will do well at thd next level if we get there. However I believe at this important stage of the season they need help and I would like Ade to consider bringing in a fit player who can step in at centre mid or centre forward to get us over the line. I feel that a combination of Samir and another experienced player will stop all this silly 70/30 punts up field. It’s not easy to get possession of the ball so why instantly give it back as soon as we have it.
I hope this doesn’t sound like a negative rant as that is not my intention as I am overjoyed at what Ade coaching staff and players have achieved so far this season. I just feel one extra quality player will make all the difference in the run in

[Tony H]

I’m somewhat dismayed to read some of the negative s**t on here and on other social media channels. I read that we were awful for 80/85 minutes - what absolute drivel.

Fact - we played a very good team that are 1 of 3 challenging for the title and battered us in the first half. Should have been 2 or 3 up at HT….but weren’t! Second half, unless I was at a completely different ground watching a different game, we were the better team, finished the game much the strongest and fittest, and deserved to win the game.

What do Dartford fans want ffs? (Or are you just trolls wanting to see the club fail?) I thought early season that we were good for a mid-table finish and a seat at the play-off table would be a bonus, yet here we are with a good shout at the title with a play-off spot almost secure. We aren’t here by shear luck. We are where we are through hard work, determination, lots of good football and - points on the board.


So, ffs, let’s cut out the negative dross and get behind the team. If you are a troll, then just f**k off!

[Paulcanary]

I was at a barbecue yesterday following on web pages. Got to 90 minutescand we were losing. Refreshed the page at 8pm and it still said 0-1 so imagine the joy when I clicked on today to see the comments and found we won 2-1.
Results like that are where the season turns and we have the mojo back.
Let's do this.

Totally agree

It was 452pm and still 0-1 per FlashScore

Then. big chance for us came up meaning goal
! 1-1 I thought. I’ll take that then it showed 3-1

Refreshed and it says 2-1 so talk about uncertainty eh

Crazy but per friends there we need to improve despite stealing these 3 points. Ricky’s run in looks easier than ours but footies a funny old game eh !!

[Lars Resort]

Totally agree Tony. There's one thing giving a true account of the game and there's another talking b*****ks

[Dave T]

I’m somewhat dismayed to read some of the negative s**t on here and on other social media channels. I read that we were awful for 80/85 minutes - what absolute drivel.

Fact - we played a very good team that are 1 of 3 challenging for the title and battered us in the first half. Should have been 2 or 3 up at HT….but weren’t! Second half, unless I was at a completely different ground watching a different game, we were the better team, finished the game much the strongest and fittest, and deserved to win the game.

What do Dartford fans want ffs? (Or are you just trolls wanting to see the club fail?) I thought early season that we were good for a mid-table finish and a seat at the play-off table would be a bonus, yet here we are with a good shout at the title with a play-off spot almost secure. We aren’t here by shear luck. We are where we are through hard work, determination, lots of good football and - points on the board.


So, ffs, let’s cut out the negative dross and get behind the team. If you are a troll, then just f**k off!

Dead right Tony. I agree they are probably just sad trolls on a wind-up mission. No real Dartford supporter would disrespect our Manager and favourite to win player of the year this season after what they have achieved over the last 20 or so games

[Sleightly Deceptive]

It is an opinions based forum of course and our views vary. We will inevitably become fatigued with the relatively thin squad which Ady is doing wonders with.

Let’s look at it from another angle: the last eight halves we have played have been variable to say the least. Drawing two halves (v Chichester) losing four halves (v Hendon, Cheshunt x2 and Horsham and winning ‘only’ two (v Hendon and Horsham.)

Form has taken a bit of a hit and we have had some good fortune along the way (probably balances out the bad luck of earlier in the season.) BUT, to win the League, which we are capable of, is gonna require an extra 10% from all to try to regain our consistency over ninety minutes.

I think the play offs are nailed on but the title needs some sheer grit and determination that we showed latter in the game yesterday. Some of those aforementioned ‘halves’ we just didn’t show up. Can’t afford for that to happen again if we’re gonna win the darned thing.

Please, not the play offs. I don’t need any more blood pressure tablets!

[Tony H]

It is an opinions based forum of course and our views vary. We will inevitably become fatigued with the relatively thin squad which Ady is doing wonders with.

Let’s look at it from another angle: the last eight halves we have played have been variable to say the least. Drawing two halves (v Chichester) losing four halves (v Hendon, Cheshunt x2 and Horsham and winning ‘only’ two (v Hendon and Horsham.)

Form has taken a bit of a hit and we have had some good fortune along the way (probably balances out the bad luck of earlier in the season.) BUT, to win the League, which we are capable of, is gonna require an extra 10% from all to try to regain our consistency over ninety minutes.

I think the play offs are nailed on but the title needs some sheer grit and determination that we showed latter in the game yesterday. Some of those aforementioned ‘halves’ we just didn’t show up. Can’t afford for that to happen again.

Totally agree. IMHO it’s a 3 horse race for the title and, stating the obvious I know (sorry!) but the team that’s more consistent and holds its nerve over the next 9 games will win it. Point is that we’re one of those 3 horses. COYDs.

[Sleightly Deceptive]

Seen Kev’s excellent clips, of course, but is there any sign of match highlights? Itching to see that again.

[Lars Resort]

Sam Okoye's vain attempt at taking a throw in before it being given to Horsham was laughable considering Horsham's No 5 gaining up to 10 feet on some of his throws before the ref twigged.

[Park Life]

[KentC]

My opinion is based on this one game not the last 20+

First half, tore us to pieces to be fair. Got behind our back for on the wide areas with ease. They were well organised, playing excellent football and how they wernt 3 or do up is a surprise.
They time their runs to perfection and our defence positionally were all over the place. Back four were so disjointed they were leaving so many spaces, no straight lines, not moving together and they exploited it well. Marsden saved us a few times.
As for us, apart from the back 4 all over the place the ball was like a hot potato, we rarely strung any passes together and barely had control of the ball. Except one exquisite touch from a high ball from Olly. Unbelievable control.

Second half, I think they were knackered yet could have scored a few times and I think Marsden pulled off his at least 3rd one v one. While I don’t think we were much better in terms of quality from our first half we seem to be fitter and keep on going to the end, we did put them under pressure at times and miss a few half chances.

Credit to the boys and the management team, they seem to run out of puff yet we grew stronger , then bringing on Samir and and Dsane was huge. Samir almost grabbed the game by the neck and wanted to be involved with everything.

We could have lost that by some distance and Horsham will wonder how they didn’t.
But with our fantastic crowd , our seemingly fit side with quality on the bench turned it for us.
Who cares about the first half, we won and thats it.


Mom for me Marsden, on a day when our defence was run ragged for most of the game and being so disjointed that allowed them to slice through us with ease at times , yet our goalkeeper was not only saving us with his brilliant one v one reactions but positioning and decision making first class and performed excellent in all aspects , I’m surprised at defenders getting MOM.
What’s he got to do? He saved us.

But I appreciate its all about opinions and this is mine, based on just this game.

[The 5th Searcher]

Link for Ade’s interview

[Hitchin Dart79]

Frankly who cares if we were shit for 94 mins I opened the non league paper today and it said Darts 2-1 Horsham (nice league double). It’s results that matter now!

[DA Mikey]

Highlights definitely hid a fair few ugly bits there! Horsham have come a decent way in recent years though, no doubt the new ground has been a filip. Felt a bit sorry for Marsden who seemed to be saddled with getting a pretty big round in at the bar afterwards, is that the price of scooping MOTM honours?!
Going to be an exciting two months to the season’s climax, have enjoyed the Isthmian Premier more than I expected to, but we must not meander in it.
Next up Lewes…

[PeteSamson]

Frankly who cares if we were shit for 94 mins I opened the non league paper today and it said Darts 2-1 Horsham (nice league double). It’s results that matter now!

I too bought the Non League Paper, HD, and it opened up on the centre pages with our game featuring as the main reported game. Brilliant.

Thoroughly enjoyed my first trip down this season and catching up with so many of you. First time I have seen and used the Season Ticket holders bar, where many of the regulars were to be eventually found. Before then, the main bar was filling up and with a large contingent of Horsham fans arriving early, it made for an excellent atmosphere in there too!

My thoughts of the game probably summed up pretty well by KentC post. The highlights don't show it, but iWas disappointed the ref gave the foul that led to Horsham goal, as I didn't think it was one. But what do I know. Also hadn't realised until I saw their starting starting lineup that Chris Dickson was with Horsham, and for somebody who is now 40, he must be applauded for his efforts.

Have to say I was ecstatic when we scored those late goals, and yes it was a game of 2 halves, and given I was a little nervous prior to kick off as to what the outcome would be, I do think it was our fitness levels that saw us through.

Also have to say, I sense a camaraderie amongst the players, with all of them fighting for the cause, and never giving up, which I think had been missing in recent seasons.

Well done to Ade and the squad, and to returning to winning ways. Let's hope we can keep the pressure up on Billericay, and Horsham can still be in the mix, so a lot to look forward to as the business end of the season approaches.

COYD