Dartford continue their Vanarama National League South campaign on Saturday afternoon as St Albans City travel to Princes Park.

It was a game to forget last weekend for the Darts. After a progressive draw against league-leaders Yeovil the week before, they suffered a humbling 4-0 defeat away from home, dealt by Jay Saunders’ Tonbridge Angels.

One positive to take from the game, however, was the return of Harvey Bradbury from suspension. Bradbury is Dartford’s leading goal scorer in the league this season and will be looking to form a partnership up front with the on-loan George Alexander, who already has nine league goals this term across spells with Slough Town and the Darts.

Contrastingly, St Albans emerged victorious at home against Chelmsford last time out. After finding themselves 0-1 down early on courtesy of a Callum Watts goal, Luke Jenkins’ dismissal in the 23^rd minute gifted the hosts numerical superiority for the remainder of the game. Shaun Jeffers clawed the Saints level swiftly after, and Ryan Blackman’s 82^nd minute goal completed the comeback. 

Following the weekend’s results, both sides are level on points. Dartford currently sit two places above the Hertfordshire outfit in 13^th, separated only by goal difference. 

In this season’s reverse fixture, the Saints claimed a 1-0 victory at Clarence Park, with Mitchell Weiss’ second half goal settling the game. This is the first time the two sides meet at Dartford since last season’s Play-off Semi-final, which St Albans won on penalties.

Prior to the Play-offs, Dartford won the April fixture 2-1 via a late Pierre Fonkeu (now of Oxford City, who St Albans faced in the Play-off Final) winner, and in October 2022 the two sides were inseparable at Clarence Park, as the game ended 1-1.

The division’s head-to-head statistics between the sides certainly do not provide a likely winner. Of their 18 meetings in the National League South, Dartford have claimed victory eight times compared to St Albans’ seven, with three draws being played out alongside them.

Alan Dowson will ultimately be seeking a result that can lay some foundations for consistency, as the Darts have been unable to win back-to-back games since early October.

In their 22 games played, they have won eight, drawn five, and lost nine, yet still boast a positive goal difference of +2 (35 scored, 33 conceded). 

A search for consistency will also likely be sought after by Saints manager David Noble, with his side finding themselves in equally inconsistent form.

St Albans have won nine, drawn two, and lost eleven of their opening 22 games, with a negative goal difference of -5 (32 scored, 37 conceded). 

Entrance for the game is £16 for adults and £11 for concessions, kick off is at 3pm.