The Dart(s) Board

Hopefully Samir coming off is just as a precaution.

FT 2-2

Over the 90 minutes a fair result as both teams edged a half.
Some things to work on but overall it's been a decent pre-season, few injuries a concern though.

Now the serious stuff starts....

Really..........................................

And that right there highlights the arrogance of our nosey neighbours. What I would like to know is how can Ebb$fl££t be allowed to continue operating on a 37k a week loss and an overall debt of 20 million and counting.

On 37k a week as a non league club, they soon will be
' roofless '.

I thought Wright had a habit of talking out of his arse while fighting relegation last season. It felt to me when he was interviewed on Radio Gillingham that he was always berating his players for not doing what he wanted. All the time HIS team was still sliding toward the trap door.
I thought the arrogance left when Dennis got shown the door but obviously not.
It's nice that we have a gentleman for a manager, sometimes too nice, but I'd hate to have arrogance in our manager.

Jonty wrote: Sat Aug 02, 2025 11:05 pm And that right there highlights the arrogance of our nosey neighbours. What I would like to know is how can Ebb$fl££t be allowed to continue operating on a 37k a week loss and an overall debt of 20 million and counting.

Indeed. The old: ‘We could have beaten them if we’d played better. Which we can. But chose not to.’

A typical never has been.

He Finked and Fought they should have been more Roofless and they would have won - Thucking Idiot

Park Life wrote: Sat Aug 02, 2025 8:39 pm Really..........................................

So they should have been out of site and 2-3 goals ahead even though their keeper saved a penalty and had a blinder .

Deluded much

https://www.kentonline.co.uk/dartford/s ... sh-328105/



Honours were even in the final pre-season friendly for Dartford and Ebbsfleet at Princes Park on Saturday.

The Fleet twice led during a competitive clash but lower-league Darts hit back to ensure their neighbours didn’t leave with the bragging rights.

An early slip by Fleet’s Mustapha Olagunju let in Samir Carruthers but his right-foot bender from the edge of the box wide of the target. Then keeper Mark Cousins produced an excellent point-blank save to deny Denzelle Olopade.

Ebbsfleet went ahead on five minutes when Toby Edser’s delightful cross was headed in via the foot of the post by Ronny Nelson.

The visitors looked free-flowing in attack, Lennon Peake saw his snapshot beaten away by Jonny Henly. Then Kwesi Appiah’s low shot was parried by keeper Henly and Aaron Cosgrave put the rebound wide.

Dartford thought they’d equalised on 13 minutes but Michael Olarewaju’s challenge on Cousins saw the goal ruled out.

The lively Peake had another effort just wide at the other end and Cosgrave’s 20-yard right-foot shot was inches wide.

Carruthers produced a stunning save from Cousins just past the half-hour as his 20-yard free-kick was heading towards the top corner.

Dartford were awarded a penalty on 35 minutes when Olagunju shoved Olly Box in the box but Carruthers’ spot-kick was saved low down to his left by Cousins.

The Darts did equalise a minute before the break, albeit fortuitously, as Carruthers’ 20-yard shot took a wicked deflection to loop over Cousins into the far corner.

Ebbsfleet restored their lead nine minutes into the second half when Kwesi Appiah returned a right-wing corner and substitute Maxx Manktelow fired in at the far post.

Manktelow presumably enjoyed his goal so much, he strode forward and almost added a second eight minutes later. Twisting inside, Manktelow let fly from 25 yards but his right-foot piledriver came crashing back off the crossbar.

Then Manktelow came to his side’s rescue three minutes later, diving to block Callum Jones’ low shot after a good advantage from the referee saw the Darts break forward through Jeremiah Pinder.

Dartford levelled the scores again with 12 minutes left. Sam Odaudu’s inviting free-kick was met by the head of Callum Jones to score beyond Cousins.

The game ended level but it was a more than useful workout for both managers. The Fleet open their campaign at Dagenham next Saturday with Darford visiting Dulwich.

Dartford: Henly, Odaudu (Williams 86mins), Carruthers (Pinder 58mins), Smith, Whitefield, Jones, Olopade (Dsane 76mins), Box, Eze, Frampah, Olarewaju. Subs not used: Trialist, Omara-Knapp, Atkins, Pinder, Campbell, Taylor.

Ebbsfleet: Cousins, Hessenthaler, Ehmer, Passley, Edser, Cosgrave, Appiah, Nelson, Peake (Moncur 83mins), Chapman, Olagunju (Manktelow 40mins). Subs not used: Bellagambi, Dallinson, Samuel, Kennedy, Barnes, Anthony.

Referee: Ben McDonald.

Attendance: 986.