"Darts duo raise cup spirits"
https://www.kentonline.co.uk/dartford/s ... ts-293379/
Dartford given permission to play on-loan defenders Moussa Diarra and James Golding in FA Cup home game against Welling United
Loan defenders Moussa Diarra and James Golding are set to provide Dartford with a double FA Cup boost.
Frenchman Diarra, 33, and 19-year-old Golding are with Darts on loan from National League Barnet and League 1 Oxford United respectively.
Diarra made his first Dartford start in last weekend’s National League South 1-0 loss at St Albans, where he played alongside Golding.
The pair have been given permission to play for Alan Dowson’s troops at home to rivals Welling in the FA Cup Second Qualifying Round this Saturday by their parent clubs.
Dowson said: “Moussa did well. We’ve just got permission to play him in the FA Cup, we’ve just got permission to play James Golding in the FA Cup.
“They’re two good lads so it’s good news all round.
“James is a young lad who is getting better and I’ve got a lot of belief in Moussa as well.”
Dartford have lost three straight matches but Welling, now led by Danny Bloor, have two points less than them after nine league fixtures and head into the cup clash after back-to-back losses.
Dartford lost at this stage of the competition last term - a shock 2-1 defeat to Isthmian South East Beckenham at Princes Park.
“It’s a massive game,” noted Dowson, who made the FA Cup Third Round with Woking facing Watford in 2019.
“It’s a local derby. Danny’s a very experienced manager.
“I’ll get our players up for it and Danny will do the same. But in local derbies, anything can happen.
“Against the local teams we were very good last year and we want to do that again. We want to beat the local teams.
“The FA Cup’s the greatest competition in the world for non-league clubs because the financial gains are massive.
“We were awful in it last year so we want a good run in it this year - it’s as simple as that.
“There should be a good crowd as well.”
Winger Brandon Barzey, who has been away on international duty with Montserrat, will be available for the Darts.
He endured a sticky start to life with his new side, giving away a late penalty in a 1-1 home draw against Farnborough and was sent off against former club Hampton & Richmond in another 1-1 draw.
Dowson said: “He’s been on international duty and missed the last two games so he’ll be back now.
“He was sent off and gave a penalty away. But maybe international duty was good to get him away from the environment where he’d just done that.”
Others due to come back into contention are defenders Maxwell Statham and Tommy Block, as well as midfielder Luke Allen and frontman Alex Wall, while defender Sam Odaudu battled through 83 minutes on his return from injury at St Albans.
Dowson said: “I love the Academy boys but we’re having four Academy boys around the team or the squad all the time. That’s wrong.
“Sam Odaudu probably shouldn’t have played on Saturday - but he did. He should probably be back now [to full fitness]. Maxwell Statham isn’t too far away.
“I’ve always said, when we get our first XI out, we won’t be bad.”
The winners of the FA Cup tie will earn £3,375.