The Dart(s) Board

KSTDART wrote: Sat Aug 10, 2024 10:06 pm Just realised Cray had ex Dart Andre Coker playing for them .

2 of their subs are ex Darts as well Marcel Barrington and Lyle della verde.

Della-Verde nice lad, did alright for us. Had a chat with him after the game, never realised he was a northerner.

You realise what relegation means when you play your opening game at Cray Valley's Artic stadium, with all due respect to them they will think they are at Wembley when they play at Princes Park. As for the game we had 3 great chances to score before Olly did a bit of magic and got the ball into Calum to tuck away from close range. Cray were a hard tough side to play and they had a loud shout for a penalty when the ball appeared to hit a Dartford defenders arm. Cray's luck changed with their equalizer a blatant bit of shirt pulling on our keeper. I thought they looked more dangerous playing with ten men. Denzelle's winner was a peach and I suspect many sides will struggle to get a result at Cray Valley.

You didn't notice the arms and legs KST?

Thanks mainly to The Futures White's info, we can track the players.
I use this forum to keep (or try to keep) up with updating my profiles page.

The Futures White wrote: Mon Jul 03, 2023 4:31 pm Lyle Della-Verde has joined Cray Valley PM from Enfield Town.

The Futures White wrote: Wed Jun 19, 2024 1:58 pm Andre Coker is on the move again. This time he has turned up at Cray Valley PM.

The Futures White wrote: Sat Oct 23, 2021 4:52 pm Marcel Barrington (hat trick) scores for Cray Valley PM who are 6-0 up at Sittingbourne

Although in the case of Barrington, he left Cray Valley and joined Herne Bay in 2022, joined Erith & Belvedere in 2023, before coming back to Cray Valley in 2023, as per: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marcel_Barrington

Della-Verde was born in Leeds: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lyle_Della-Verde

tommytollbooth wrote: Sun Aug 11, 2024 7:33 am You realise what relegation means when you play your opening game at Cray Valley's Artic stadium, with all due respect to them they will think they are at Wembley when they play at Princes Park.

In fairness, Valley had a nice set-up and well organised.
Makes me proud to say that visitors already familiar with PP will no doubt be impressed with the improvements made around our great stadium! Really looking forward to Tuesday

https://www.kentonline.co.uk/bexley-and ... ay-311138/

Cray Valley manager Steve McKimm reacts to 2-1 Isthmian Premier defeat against Dartford

Cray Valley boss Steve McKimm admitted his side paid the price for a slow start against Dartford on Saturday.

The Millers were short of their normal levels in the first half of the Isthmian Premier clash, before showing plenty of spirit in the second half – especially having played with 10 men after Hassan Ibrahiym’s red card.

It wasn’t enough after a wondergoal from Darts midfielder Denzelle Olopade but McKimm saw plenty in the second half to know his Isthmian South East title winners can compete at this level.

“We didn’t start in the first half and allowed too many balls in our box,” reflected McKimm. “They’re a good side, they were hurting us over the back of our right side, picking up the seconds and third-man runs.

“We didn’t get to grips with it early-doors but Max Ovenden made an early save (to deny Callum Jones). The disappointing thing is the cross that’s come in from our right for the goal, the player is allowed to turn inside the six-yard box and squeeze it in, which is not good.

“But, having said that, we didn’t play how I wanted us to play in the first half. We wanted to exploit certain areas and we didn’t do it, credit to them as they stopped us but we didn’t do it enough and we had plenty of opportunity to do it.

“I got them in at half-time and told them ‘Whether it was nerves or apprehension I’m not sure but go out second half and play how I want you to play’.

“I thought for the first five minutes before the sending-off we were on the front foot and then even with the sending-off they’ve scored a worldie with the winner, hit the side netting and put a free-kick over. So, with 10 men against a fancied side to win the league, my boys have got to take credit for that.”

McKimm felt Dartford keeper Matt Kerbey was fortunate not to be punished for an awkward-looking challenge as he came out of his box to clear in the first half while the hosts also had a handball shout at the end of the first half waved away.

“I’m not going to blame officials but I’m going to tell you how it was,” added McKimm. “The goalkeeper came flying out two-footed and if that’s an outfield player it’s a straight red.

“Then a free header at the back post was going in the net and it was handball, it was a red card and a penalty. The referee said he didn’t see it, the assistant said he didn’t see it either, everyone else in the ground saw it.”

As for Ibrahiym’s red card for two yellow cards, McKimm added: “I thought the first booking was harsh, the second one he won the ball but the referee is saying the manner he went in and won the ball.

“I don’t know, I don’t think the referee had a good game but that’s not me saying that’s why we lost. We lost because of our first-half performance, nothing else. Our second half proved that. My opinion doesn’t count on that as they are the three in the middle and on the sides who have a tough job.”

https://www.kentonline.co.uk/dartford/s ... me-311136/

Dartford manager Ady Pennock reacts to 2-1 Isthmian Premier win at Cray Valley thanks to Denzelle Olopade’s 30-yard goal

Dartford manager Ady Pennock saw Denzelle Olopade score a stunning winner on Saturday and then admitted: “It didn’t surprise me!”.

The 22-year-old former Norwich and Crystal Palace midfielder ended last season in step 4 at Phoenix Sports.

But he showed his pedigree with a blistering 30-yard right-foot finish to give Dartford a winning start in Isthmian Premier at Cray Valley.

“It didn’t surprise me!” said Pennock. “I’ve seen him do things like that before but I saw him do other stuff that I wasn’t happy with today.

“He’s a young man who I think has got lost in the system a little bit. He’s got incredible ability as he showed with that finish, he’s got great energy and those go-go gadget legs.

“It’s just consistency really now, if he keeps listening and doing the right things then he’s another one who could catch the eye. Obviously, we want him to go on this journey with us.”

Pennock was impressed with his team’s first-half display at Cray Valley, and knew they should have been more than one goal ahead by the break.

“We’ve got a good mix of youth and experience,” said the Darts boss. “I thought the first 25-30 minutes was excellent and we should have been 4-0 up by half-time.


“We had some great chances but when it’s only 1-0 then you know it’s always going to be difficult.

“They went down to 10 men and I didn’t really want that to happen – I know that sounds crazy. But you see it all the time when teams go down to 10 men, they seem to find that extra gear.

“We conceded the goal which was a free-kick for a foul on the keeper all day long, if there was VAR it would have been given. But we bounced back and scored a wonderful goal, Denzelle’s goal was great to see and it’s nice that it was a winning goal.”

On the red card picked up by Cray Valley’s Hassan Ibrahiym, for a second yellow card after what appeared to be a 50/50 challenge with Luther Williams, Pennock said: “I thought it was harsh to be honest.

“I was surprised it was a free-kick as they both went for the ball but I don’t want to get involved in referee decisions. It was harsh but I’m sure we’re going to have decisions go against us as well so we just have to move on.”

The key outcome was three points, however, and Pennock was impressed by the backing of Dartford’s travelling support.

“We’ve got to be very pleased with the three points,” he added. “You always want to start with a win.

“If we were standing here and it was 1-1 after playing against 10 men for so long, we’d be disappointed.

“The fans were great, they’ve turned up in big numbers and with so many games being quite local in the season that support will be a big advantage to us.

“The players are young but they’ve got to get used to our supporters. The youngsters aren’t going to be 9/10 week in, week out, because if they are then they won’t be with us for two minutes. But the players have to get used to the bigger crowds.”

Good to see an early win and a good team performance according to Ade.
Looking forward to the Tuesday night game. I hope we don't get too confident seeing the Potters Bar result, I'm sure that it was maybe a one off.
But well happy with the result against CVPM, I'm sure that Steve McKimm will have them winning and settled. Even though it seems the officials missed an awful lot.
Can't wait to see Ade's boys.
COYD's

https://www.kentonline.co.uk/dartford/s ... er-311161/

"It means a lot to score the winner"

Dartford midfielder Denzelle Olopade on winning goal at Cray Valley and aiming for promotion in Isthmian Premier
Matchwinner Denzelle Olopade knew he’d scored on his Dartford debut as soon as the ball left his foot.

The 22-year-old midfielder took centre stage for the Darts after they were wobbling at 1-1 against 10-man Cray Valley in Isthmian Premier.

Olopade didn’t think twice when the ball was laid back to him, curling a brilliant 30-yard right-foot shot beyond the reach of keeper Max Ovenden.

“I knew when I got the cut-back that there was only one place that ball was going – and that was in the corner,” said Olopade.

You know when you hit the ball from that far out, you can watch it and see it curl in. You can feel it when you kick the ball that it was going to go in, 100 per cent.

“It means a lot to me to score the winner as I just wanted three points by any means necessary – and we got that.”

Olopade started his career at Norwich and Crystal Palace but spent last season at Erith & Belvedere and Phoenix.

It’s a step up and he’s already been impressed by Dartford, who were relegated from National League South last term.

It’s a new team and we’re still gelling together but we’re getting there,” he said. “The team feels good, it feels solid and we’re still trying to understand how each other plays.

“It’s a different environment coming from Phoenix Sports but I’m enjoying it. I like the facilities, we’ve got a gym inside the changing room, and they’ve welcomed me with open arms which is good as well.

“I feel like Dartford should be a National League side, it doesn’t feel like they are meant to be in this step.

“When I’ve gone in there it has felt like a professional environment straight away so that has motivated me even more to put in the work and do well.

I just want promotion – that’s it. Nothing else. Just promotion.

“If we get promotion, it helps me, helps the team and helps the club so it’s a win for everyone.”

Thats the kind of person we want at the Darts , Jez Pinder has been getting the limelight so far but Denzelle has been solid , creative and gets stuck in [ NOT like last seasons tarts !!!] and scores goals , hope he and the team get their reward

Looking forward to Potter Bar

Thats the kind of person we want at the Darts , Jez Pinder has been getting the limelight so far but Denzelle has been solid , creative and gets stuck in [ NOT like last seasons tarts !!!] and scores goals , hope he and the team get their reward

Looking forward to Potter Bar

'ere 'ere

Fair play to the young lad who done the podcast thingy!!
Good quality but can I give you a tip as someone who has worked in the entertainment business for 45+ years now……….lose that Moustache, you’re a good looking lad but it just looks like a third eyebrow???

Was that you jumping off the stadium roof last night in Paris M1?

So are we not getting match highlights this season

Absolutely nothing from pre season and no sign of them for the season opener

Massive step backwards if so