Dartford v Brentwood Town Sat 31 Jan 2026

[Lars Resort]

Probably the best side to come to Princes Park this season. Although we did play a big part with a terrible display. How we won it is beyond me. But no doubt on Eddie scoring once he was through on goal, no doubt at all. Great surging run from Dan Carter I believe..
Non stop attacking from Brentwood. Discipline out the window again, but as ugly as it was, I'll take it anyday..
Sam Okoye my MOTM but as said Jonny Henley pushed him all the way.

[danson7park]

Heard someone say that Eddie has been carrying a knock in recent weeks. At 2-2 thought there was only going to be one winner and it wasn't us ! but real important 3 points and they looked a decent side with some of their play.

[Odd-ball]

What a game ! Absolutely loved it Sam okoye was a well worth Man of the match and Henley a close second but Eddie......super Eddie!!!! Needs to start not come on in the last 5mins !!!

[rambo]

Excellent first half to watch , good football played by both teams and we almost went in 3-1 at half time.
Second half a very good Brentwood team penned us in and deserved to get back to 2-2. We hardly won a challenge all the second half and with a man it all looked bleak and could have been the end of our season
We stayed in the game and somehow conjured up enough stamina to get the winner and hang on for the three points
Johnny Henley played his best game for us and I gave him the motm vote
Also very well done Eddie

[rambo]

Does anyone know the 50/50 number I forgot to listen with all the excitement

[Bkev180]

Brentwood were by far best team to come PP this season 1st 25 mins we controlled it 2up seemed to sit back but fair play to them very good on the counter attack
Discipline is beyond a joke ady needs to sort this we were lucky it was only 1 red tbh
Im sure there player had already been booked then 2nd yellow but ref did nowt

UP THE DARTS ONTO TUESDAY

[Park Life]

Really strange feeling today as although we won with the dramatic last gasp winner, i felt we got out of jail.
Yes we went in 2-1 up at HT and played some good stuff at times, but Brentwood had the majority of possession as we just kept giving the ball away with poor passing which resulted in us being forced back.
Second half i was hoping we would improve but we didn't. We continued giving the ball away and they dominated possession and had they not been so wasteful in front of goal, we could easily have lost the game (i wonder what the score would have been if Eddie played for them).

Another game where all we did was make like for like subs and the only time we changed formation or tried something different, was when we had a man sent off and had to. Yes you can argue that it was a good use of the subs that won us the game with Dan Carters great run and Eddie's cool finish, but it was no tactical masterstroke for me, just circumstances which ultimately went in our favour.

As for Eddie, i don't know if he's been carrying an injury or not as there's been conflicting stories, but what i do know is that he is the one player who would get you at least 20 goals a season. But for some reason he's never been given a proper run in the side since he's been at the club? Why i have no idea but think it's been a big mistake and I said that last season as well.

What i do know though is he's clearly a disgruntled and unhappy player, and i don't blame him. I can't see him staying next season in the current circumstances as his muted goal celebration and Interaction with coaching staff at the end showed you exactly how he feels. Where we go from here i have no idea as the situation has got worse and now there's more pressure on everyone concerned. It's a right mess.

MOTM between Sam Okoye and Jonny Henley who both had good games. Changed my mind a few times but in the end i went for Henley. He had a decent game and had he not, we may well have lost.

Yes we're still in the play offs and just beaten a promotion rival but the atmosphere at PP is getting worse week by week and i don't sense any feel good factor at all, nor do any of the other fans i speak to. This is no reflection on the players who never give up and always keep battling away, for me it's down to the connection between the club and fans, or lack of it.

[Grassbank]

Quick post as heading to ther pub. Great to win so late in the game against opponents who spent the match conning and controlling the ref. Whilst I am pleased for Eddie to get the headline, the ball was served on a silver platter and he only had the keeper to beat. Carter, or whoever it was, ran out of defence, rode two challenges and commited three defenders in the process and also had the whereabouts to see Eddie in space and provide the perfectly weighted pass. No disrespect Eddie, but I think you had the easy job in that particular attack.

We have to keep up this home form on Tuesday night and start to win on our travels if we are serious about trying for promotion this season.

Good to see a number of travelling fans today, many of them possibly younger than the ground requirement for unaccompanied access. Not so many young fans at our end of the ground which was reflected by the general lack of atmosphere. To my knowledge, they all behaved themselves and gave their team strong support even having lost when they were expecting to win against 10-man opponents.

[Dart of Herts]

Wasn’t there but it’s interesting that others think Brentwood were the best side to come to PP. Today was their 4th consecutive loss. I felt going into the game it was winnable but I honestly had given up hope at 2-2

I think Eddie starts in a must-win game, but impact sub suits him. He runs at tired defences after Samir has controlled the game for an hour. Good game management in my opinion

Brentwood go to Chatham Tuesday so a win against Ramsgate would take us up to 4th whatever happens!

[PeteSamson]

To be fair, whatever the performance, goals win matches, and that is what we've done. And what an important win with the teams behind us all winning too. Brings us to within 2 points of Brentwood.

Didn't get to hear the commentary as other events took precedence. Thanks for the goals though Kev. Both well taken goals. Can't comment on the performance, but to get the winner with 10 men , brilliant.

[Bagdhad Billy]

What’s happened to our youth supporters again have they been pushed away by the club ? Never seen any issues in the ground previously against away fans so I hope this isnt the club pushing away supporters again

[Bagdhad Billy]

To be fair, whatever the performance, goals win matches, and that is what we've done. And what an important win with the teams behind us all winning too. Brings us to within 2 points of Brentwood.

Didn't get to hear the commentary as other events took precedence. Thanks for the goals though Kev. Both well taken goals. Can't comment on the performance, but to get the winner with 10 men , brilliant.

The Brentwood manager said that’s their best performance for months including wins so I think it’s a positive we have won especially with 10 men

[Robbo6]

This is going to make the Fans Forum interesting!

The fans forum will be the same as usual, the same long term fans blowing smoke up the a**e of Steve Irving for doing nowt but taking the club into further decline. It’s being run as a social club for most of the directors and Steve Irving won’t have anyone challenge his authority. It’s a sorry state of affairs.

[DA Mikey]

I think Eddie starts in a must-win game, but impact sub suits him. He runs at tired defences after Samir has controlled the game for an hour. Good game management in my opinion

Understand the ‘Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’ super-sub angle, but this only really applies when the regular forwards are scoring freely. Pennock’s reluctance to start Dsane reeks of stubbornness now and he must yield, lest our season finishes in April. Entertaining game today, won by the weaker team. Great resolve to see the victory through though.

Anyone know how the BTFC drumstick ended up on the pitch!?

[DartfordHero]

I think Eddie starts in a must-win game, but impact sub suits him. He runs at tired defences after Samir has controlled the game for an hour. Good game management in my opinion

Understand the ‘Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’ super-sub angle, but this only really applies when the regular forwards are scoring freely. Pennock’s reluctance to start Dsane reeks of stubbornness now and he must yield, lest our season finishes in April. Entertaining game today, won by the weaker team. Great resolve to see the victory through though.

Anyone know how the BTFC drumstick ended up on the pitch!?

It got thrown on by one of their supporters after their first goal

[WillDfc42]

Really strange feeling today as although we won with the dramatic last gasp winner, i felt we got out of jail.
Yes we went in 2-1 up at HT and played some good stuff at times, but Brentwood had the majority of possession as we just kept giving the ball away with poor passing which resulted in us being forced back.
Second half i was hoping we would improve but we didn't. We continued giving the ball away and they dominated possession and had they not been so wasteful in front of goal, we could easily have lost the game (i wonder what the score would have been if Eddie played for them).

Another game where all we did was make like for like subs and the only time we changed formation or tried something different, was when we had a man sent off and had to. Yes you can argue that it was a good use of the subs that won us the game with Dan Carters great run and Eddie's cool finish, but it was no tactical masterstroke for me, just circumstances which ultimately went in our favour.

As for Eddie, i don't know if he's been carrying an injury or not as there's been conflicting stories, but what i do know is that he is the one player who would get you at least 20 goals a season. But for some reason he's never been given a proper run in the side since he's been at the club? Why i have no idea but think it's been a big mistake and I said that last season as well.

What i do know though is he's clearly a disgruntled and unhappy player, and i don't blame him. I can't see him staying next season in the current circumstances as his muted goal celebration and Interaction with coaching staff at the end showed you exactly how he feels. Where we go from here i have no idea as the situation has got worse and now there's more pressure on everyone concerned. It's a right mess.

MOTM between Sam Okoye and Jonny Henley who both had good games. Changed my mind a few times but in the end i went for Henley. He had a decent game and had he not, we may well have lost.

Yes we're still in the play offs and just beaten a promotion rival but the atmosphere at PP is getting worse week by week and i don't sense any feel good factor at all, nor do any of the other fans i speak to. This is no reflection on the players who never give up and always keep battling away, for me it's down to the connection between the club and fans, or lack of it.

Totally agree with the last point. Very big result today, lifted at 3-2 due to a last gasp goal but at 2-0 up against a promotion rival, in the stands it was like we was losing. I would never go to a game of football for an atmosphere, but it really does feel as though majority of our fans are really disconnected and would rather have a chat than watch the football/ get behind the team. Hope this gets addressed sooner than later.

[rick]

[rambo]

I’ve just realised that the first Brentwood goal was scored by Khymani Thomas and a superb goal it was.
I saw this player at my local club Walthamstow in a couple of fridndlies and a couple of league matches at the start of last season
I recommended DFC should take a look at him and I assume they didn’t
Now that we can see what he can do perhaps we can approach him in the summer
Or is this a non starter as we don’t like wingers

[Ozytalksbull]

This is going to make the Fans Forum interesting!

The fans forum will be the same as usual, the same long term fans blowing smoke up the a**e of Steve Irving for doing nowt but taking the club into further decline. It’s being run as a social club for most of the directors and Steve Irving won’t have anyone challenge his authority. It’s a sorry state of affairs.

Absolutely spot on this club has been ruined by the old boys club, there will never be the big crowds or top non league division for Dartford fc until there’s a change of board

That is fact and for all the people that still support this board it’s time to wake up and realise how far the club has been left to decline
Glad the darts won today but it’s papering over huge cracks

[Dart of Herts]

This is going to make the Fans Forum interesting!

The fans forum will be the same as usual, the same long term fans blowing smoke up the a**e of Steve Irving for doing nowt but taking the club into further decline. It’s being run as a social club for most of the directors and Steve Irving won’t have anyone challenge his authority. It’s a sorry state of affairs.

Absolutely spot on this club has been ruined by the old boys club, there will never be the big crowds or top non league division for Dartford fc until there’s a change of board

That is fact and for all the people that still support this board it’s time to wake up and realise how far the club has been left to decline
Glad the darts won today but it’s papering over huge cracks

Genuine question from someone who doesn’t know much about the inner workings of DFC: what have the board done (or failed to do) that has resulted in decline?