Part 2 of the North West Kent Skrill Premier Christmas/New Year derby takes place on the first day of 2014 with Dartford visiting Welling United’s Park View Road.

On Boxing Day, Dartford opened the scoring when Lee Burns netted from close range but Welling equalised after the break when Ross Lafayette slotted home from a flicked on player-manager Jamie Day’s corner.

Day stated afterwards that from that point “I thought only one team was going to win it. I just hoped we’d get that second goal.” That proved to be the case when Kurtis Guthrie was left to head home Joe Healy’s deep cross.

Tony Burman, Dartford’s manager, was very disappointed with how his team had played in the second half having not been unduly troubled in the first period. “If they did what we asked them to do better, I don’t think Welling would have come back as they did.”

Whilst Welling had another game on Saturday, a disappointing 3-1 defeat at Aldershot Town, Dartford were able to rest following the postponement of their game at home to Woking.

Lee Noble will miss the game for Dartford through suspension but Jim Stevenson will be available to play before his month loan period from Luton Town expires, and it will be his fourth game against Welling this season having played a Trophy and League game against them for the Hatters. Danny Harris’ fitness remains questionable.

Blaine Hudson was banned from the Boxing Day game but returned at Aldershot only to be sent off so will be suspended for the return fixture. Loui Fazakerley and Jake Gallagher are both improving, fitness wise, but the next two games may be too soon for them but Lee Clarke will hope to be in contention.

Although the Darts have lost ten in a row, they are not too far adrift and a turnaround in fortunes could see them achieve safety comfortably. Welling, meanwhile, will want to bounce back quickly from their disappointment on Saturday so both teams will be striving for the three points in front of a bumper New Year’s Day crowd.

Picture supplied by Dave Budden