Dartford have been moving positively up the Isthmian Premier League table in recent weeks and on Saturday welcome Welling United to Princes Park. 

Ady Pennock’s side who went so close to promotion back to the National League in May haven’t lost in eleven League games and go into the weekend in fifth place on the back of last weekend’s 2-0 win at Flamingo Park against Cray Wanderers. 

Pennock spoke to KSN this week, and admitted, “Really looking forward to the weekend. It’s a good one for us, and I think both sets of supporters are really looking forward to it – I hope they’ll be a decent crowd there too. Forget the form book, it goes out of the window in derbies, but it’s a game that we are looking forward to.” 

After a slow start, the Darts are bang in form going into November – “Very similar to last season,” Pennock confessed, “It has taken time for some to settle it. We have some young players, a young squad, with some new faces, but the other thing is that we’ve had injuries – a couple of really bad knee injuries – and then we have had a lot of red cards that didn’t help! But we are in a good vein of form at the moment and long may it continue.” 

“It will be difficult on Saturday as Rod (Stringer, the Welling boss), will have them fired up, I’m sure. They have had a difficult time this year, especially after relegation. They’ve just come into the division, the same as ourselves did last year, and they’re just finding their feet.  

“It’s the same for any team who find themselves in a new division – it does take a little bit of time in to settle in, but I am sure that they will be fine, but hopefully after Saturday!” 

“Our win last weekend was very good. To go away from home and limit the home side to just two chances, we really controlled the game from start to finish, and it was a very good performance as it was their first home defeat in the League. So, we were very pleased.  

“Yes, it was our first away win of the season as the form hasn’t been great – the point at leaders Brentwood was a great point mind – be we are just looking at the bigger picture; we knew it would take a little bit of time for things to settle in for the season, we’re pleased with everything at the moment, but we know that football can change very quickly, but if we can carry on the form that we are doing, then we will keep climbing the table.” 

The Darts lost the play-off Final last season to Dover, and Pennock admitted that it was a defeat that hurt everyone at the Club. “I do think that the inconsistent start that we had was a hangover from last year,” he told us.  

“To lose the final was tough, especially for some of the younger players. There were tears after the game and looking back today, we have had a little bit of a hangover but, they are young still and loved the run we had last season.  

“It took a bit of time to settle this season with everything going on, but I think we are in a good place at the moment. But we are under no illusions that we must keep working hard together – there is a great togetherness at this Football Club from top to bottom – we’re just enjoying it at the moment, really looking forward to Saturday and beyond!”