Although a random time of the season, Dartford entertain Welling United on Tuesday night.

It might have been expected for the two teams to have met over the festive period or on a Bank Holiday. However, that is not the case and the teams meet at Princes Park with both keen to prove a point.

On Saturday, the Darts shared the points with league leaders Maidenhead United in a goalless draw at home. The closest either team came to scoring was when the Magpies’ Sam Barrett struck the bar. Sean Marks netted with the follow up but had strayed offside.

Meanwhile, Welling United were enjoying their first win of the season with a thumping 5-0 victory at bottom club Concord Rangers. Lyle Della-Verde scored the only goal of the first half but when Pierre Joseph-Dubois added a second, the floodgates opened. The Beachboys fell apart and Adam Coombes took full advantage with a hat-trick in the last 30 minutes.

Unbeaten at home, the Darts have one victory and three draws from their four played. They started with a 2-2 draw with Wealdstone and followed up with a stalemate against Gosport Borough.

Their one home win came against Hungerford (2-0), a week after their impressive win at Weston-super-Mare..

While Dartford’s best form has been at home, Welling have enjoyed more success away, claiming all five of their points on the road. After a disastrous start at Oxford City where they conceded two penalties in a 2-1 defeat, they claimed their first point at East Thurrock United in a 1-1 draw.

They then drew 1-1 at Truro City before their first clean sheet and first victory of the season came at Concord on Saturday.

There are two former Wings in the Dartford team. Andy Pugh was a big fans favourite when at Park View Road whilst Luke Wanadio will be keen to show Welling manager Mark Goldberg on what he has missed out on by releasing him.

Meanwhile, Darts supporters hoping to see their former player, Harry Crawford, will be disappointed as he is likely to be out injured for another two or three weeks.

Whatever the date of the meeting, there should be a little more edge for this local derby with both teams’ supporters keen in claiming early season bragging rights.

Image courtesy of Dave Budden