On a random date for a local derby, Dartford and Welling United meet on Tuesday evening following very different weekends.

Hosts Dartford enjoyed a thrilling 4-3 victory at Bromley to sweep themselves into the second round of the F.A. Cup and a money spinning tie at Bradford City.

Jamie Day’s Welling United team had already been knocked out of the cup so had a free Saturday and will come into the match having not played for ten days.

Victory at Bromley has sent the Darts into the second round of the cup for the first time in 30 years. They went behind in the first minute and that turned out to be the only goal in the first half.

Three minutes after the break, Danny Harris levelled. Ryan Hayes put the Darts ahead for the first time in the 57^th minute but Moses Ademola restored parity one minute later. Elliot Bradbrook put the visitors back in front but Danny Waldren levelled. Tom Bradbrook scored the all important winner with nine minutes remaining.

As delighted as Tony Burman will have been, he knows that the priority is for Dartford to climb out of the relegation zone of the Vanarama Conference Premier as quickly as possible however, Wings boss Jamie Day will be just as keen to win with his team just two points above the Darts.

He may have appreciated the break to give players the opportunity to rest niggling knocks. The injury that Tyrone Marsh picked up at Maidstone has caused an early end to his loan spell with Welling and he has now returned to Oxford United. Jon Nouble has also been recalled by his parent club, Dagenham and Redbridge, and has now gone out to St. Albans City.

More bad news came Welling’s way when they were told that Loui Fazakerley’s injury picked up at Southport needs an operation and a recovery period that may keep him out for the rest of the season. Jamie Turner will also be absent for the final game of his suspension.

In the meeting between the two clubs at Park View Road in September, the spoils were shared. Harry Beautyman put Welling ahead in the sixth minute but Peter Sweeney levelled three minutes later. Jamal Fyfield put Welling back ahead with still less than 15 minutes gone but Elliot Bradbrook equalised nine minutes before the break. The second half was goal-less as both teams tightened up at the back.

It promises to be an enthralling contest between the two sides with little between them both in mileage and in league positions.

Picture supplied by Dave Budden.