After the nightmare of the match against Kidderminster, the only match in the Blue Square Premier league to go ahead due to the appalling weather Dartford faced a home Derby on Boxing Day. On the way up the M1 to Kidderminster, spied an odd numberplate, presumably owned by a MK Dons supporter…
The Harriers’ ground is just behind the ‘Severn Valley Railway’ station. So there are frequent clouds of steam coming from behind the fairly new East Stand. Looks a bit like somethings on fire.
The Harriers pitch at Aggborough Stadium was declared fit to play, but turned into a quagmire fairly quickly as the rain came down right on queue for the kickoff and mercilessly poured down during the entire 90 minutes! Adding injury to insult, Dartford lost against the Harriers, giving them a step up towards the play-off zone, while Dartford dropped down.
There was the usual example of dodgy ref-ing, penalising Dartford by not giving a handball foul inside the 18yd box.
Not to mention some blatant kit grabbing that went unnoticed by the ref.
At any rate, some of the Harriers’ young supporters enjoyed the match, even if they got pretty wet.
Well, after that sorry debacle, Dartford played local rivals Ebbsfleet on Boxing Day starting at 1pm which at least meant there was going to be good light – or at least as good as it gets in December. I was looking for some supporter(s) to snap before the match started, when one gentleman asked me if I was going to take his picture. “But you’re not wearing a Dartford scarf” I returned. “I support Ebbsfleet” came the the reply. “Oh, well, I guess someone has to” – fortunately he saw the funny side.
Dartford were given the run around in the first 20 minutes or so, and eventually went 0:1 to the Fleet 48 minutes into the game. I was, again, down the wrong end of the pitch to capture much of the action. In the second half I stoically went to the other end of the pitch and this time things were a little different. Harry Crawford changed Dartford’s fortunes, scoring 2 goals, and Elliot Bradbrook scored a third for a decisive win. And in front of 3,100+ supporters. Great turn out.
Now Dartford have to face Ebbsfleet in a return match on 1 January, a Bank Holiday Monday – if their pitch is playable. Ebbsfleet have now conceded 11 goals in the last 3 matches. They next play away at Luton before a return match against Dartford on New Year’s Day. Regrettably the match doesn’t start until 3pm, so the light will be going fast and Ebbsfleet’s lighting is notoriously poor. Heaven help me!