Play-offs in the Isthmian League Premier Division commence on Wednesday evening and Dartford host one of them when entertaining Cray Valley PM.

Ady Pinnock’s Darts have home advantage by virtue of finishing one place above Cray Valley, with only the champions winning automatic promotion. Had Dartford won at home to Carshalton Athletic on Saturday, they would have finished level with Horsham and Billericay Town, but still third on goal difference. Therefore, the defeat didn’t affect the placings.

Kola Salami put Carshalton ahead in the eleventh minute and the visitors took a two goal lead through a Brian Ifeanyi tap in, in the sixth minute of first half stoppage time. Pinnock made a triple substitution at the break and George Whitefield headed home a lifeline for the Darts after twenty minutes of the second period.

As Dartford pressed for an equaliser, not certain of what was happening elsewhere, Carshalton substitute Nabeel Ghannam scored with eight minutes remaining before adding a fourth deep into stoppage time.

Although already guaranteed to finish in fourth place, Cray Valley manager Steve McKimm would have liked to have extended their five match winning run but it was not to be as the Millers went down at home to Folkestone Invicta. Dan Smith put the visitors ahead in the fourth minute and they doubled the lead through Matthias Fanimo in the eleventh minute of the second period. Andre Coker pulled one back in time added on but it was no more than a consolation goal.

At home, Dartford have recorded twelve victories, five draws and four defeats. The Millers’ away form is similar as they have won eleven, drawn five and lost five.

In the league meetings between the two sides this season, Dartford hold the advantage. When they met in Eltham for the season’s curtain raiser, the Darts had a one-nil lead at half time through a goal by Callum Jones. Tom Chambers levelled just after the hour mark however, Denzelle Olopade put Dartford back ahead eight minutes later and that proved to be enough. There were no goals in a tight return match at Princes Park in November.

Although Dartford will start as favourites, due to having finished seven points ahead of their visitors and having home advantage, another tight encounter may well be on the cards based on the two previous meetings.