The two busiest teams in the Vanarama National League South, Dartford and Hungerford Town, meet at the Bericoat Powerhouse Princes Park on Saturday.  

Looking to get their matches in where they can, they’ve been proactive and brought the fixture forward as both had a free Saturday. They have have played sixteen games each, which equates to forty percent of the current season.

That’s in stark contrast to Havant and Waterlooville and Slough Town who have only played ten games each, a mere twenty five percent of the present campaign.

Both the Darts and the Crusaders are in the top four with four points separating top placed Dartford from their visitors. 

Last Saturday, Steve King’s Darts fell to a surprise two-one defeat at Braintree Town which took the Iron off the foot of the table. However, Dartford bounced back on Tuesday night with an excellent second half display to beat Billericay Town three-nil.

Charlie Sheringham had spent a loan spell at Chelmsford City but returned full of confidence and netted a hat-trick.

Hungerford’s away form has been particularly good with five wins and a draw in their eight games on the road although their last away result was a four-two defeat at Havant.

Dartford and Hungerford have already met this season at Bulpit Lane where the Darts enjoyed a come from behind victory. Ryan Seager put the hosts ahead from the spot having been fouled in the penalty area. However, the introduction of substitute Jacob Berkeley-Agyepong seven minutes into the second half proved pivotal.

Just after the hour mark, he smashed home an Alfie Pavey knock-down from Jack Jebb’s free kick. Then, with a little under fifteen minutes left, he scored a spectacular long range winner. Although the Crusaders had three strikers on for the remainder of the game, the Darts contained them comfortably to claim the three points.

Picture supplied by Dave Budden.