General Information
• Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased by clicking here.
• The Bees shuttle bus will be in operation from Underhill to The Hive, for details please click here.
Introduction
• Barnet host Dartford on Saturday looking to make it three wins out of three since their last defeat away to Grimsby Town.
• Since losing at Blundell Park the Bees have won back to back matches against Dartford in the Skrill Premier and Hayes & Yeading United in the FA Trophy.
• They also progressed in the Herts Senior Challenge Cup beating Hatfield Town 4-1 to set up a quarter-final tie with Bishop’s Stortford.
• The FA Trophy provided little inspiration for the Darts who battled to an initial 1-1 draw against Forest Green Rovers only to be beaten 1-0 in the replay.
• Dartford are currently enduring a miserable run in the Skrill Premier losing seven on the bounce meaning they sit 23rd in the table.
• Barnet on the other hand sit seventh, just three points away from a play-off place, with plenty of reason for optimism thanks to the imminent returns of Jake Hyde and Dani Lopez.
• The Bees and the Darts have only met on two previous occasions, one came two weeks ago in the Skrill Premier and the other came in the 1965 FA Cup.
• In the first encounter the Darts emerged victorious with a 2-0 away win but the Bees exacted their long-awaited revenge with a win two weeks ago via the same score. This also means neither side has beaten the other at home.
Team News
Barnet Football Club
• Jake Hyde could make a long-awaited return from injury against the Darts but he is unlikely to start with George Sykes expected to lead the line once again.
• Luke Gambin could also return as he continues his recovery from a knee injury. Anthony Acheampong and Mauro Vilhete could also feature.
• Dani Lopez is making excellent progress but is still a week or so from a return. Harry Crawford and Marciano Mengerink also miss out.
Dartford
• Last week Dartford signed Jim Stevenson on loan from Luton Town and the midfielder is expected to feature.
Last Time Out
30th November 2013
FA Trophy
Hayes & Yeading United 0-1 Barnet
Barnet: Stack; Weston, Fletcher (Stephens 80), Davids, Yiadom; Abdulla (Nurse 61), Byrne, Villa; Marsh-Brown, Cadogan, Sykes (Casabella 90).
Subs not used: Jupp, Casabella, Johnson
Goals: Sykes 89.
3rd December 2013
FA Trophy
Forest Green Rovers 1-0 Dartford
Dartford: Stirling, Clark, Bradbrook, Harris (Dembele 83), Essam, Collier (Woodyard 72), Birchall, Martin, Burns, Smith, Stevenson (Cornhill 79)
Subs not used: Julian, Vint.
Goals: N/A
The Opposition
• Like Barnet, Dartford were formed in 1888.
• Dartford play their home matches at Princes Park in Kent. It has a capacity of 4,100 of which 642 are seated.
• The stadium has been described as one of the most ecologically sound ever built and the pitch level is two metres below ground level to reduce noise and light pollution.
• It is estimated to have cost around £7 million and opened on 11 November 2006.The environmental aspects of the stadium include a sedum roof blanket, which is a living roof that provides a natural air filtration system, solar panels and a water recycling system that serves the toilets and clubhouse.
• Just six-years ago Dartford were playing in the Isthmian League Division One North when they were promoted as champions in the 2007/08 season
• They finished eighth in their first season in the Isthmian Premier before being promoted the following season as champions. They finished 10th in their first season in the Conference South before being promoted in their second season via the play-offs.
• Barnet striker Harry Crawford spent six months with Dartford last season before being snapped up by the Bees after scoring 12 league goals in 24 matches.
• He also returned for a brief loan spell in February 2013, scoring one goal in two league appearances.
Overall record – W 1 D 0 L 1
Previous Meeting
Tuesday 26 November Dartford 0-2 Barnet
Barnet secured a 0-2 win over Dartford to clinch their first away Tuesday night win since 2005. The Bees were home and dry with just 33 minutes played after racing into a 0-2 lead following a dominant start to the match. With 19 minutes on the clock Keanu Marsh-Brown opened the scoring when he lashed the ball home from a tight angle after latching onto an incisive Ahmed Abdulla pass. 14 minutes later it was 0-2 and game over when Luisma Villa curled a free-kick into the top corner from 20-yards. The Bees were rarely troubled and with a bit more luck they would have added to their lead had Luke Gambin not been denied by the woodwork on two occasions in three minutes.
Dartford: Smith; Collier, Clark, Martin, Sterling, Harris, Burns (Godden 60), Bradbrook, Essam, Prior (Woodyard 41), Birchall.
Subs not used: Mitchel-King, Fry, Akinwande.
Barnet: Stack; Yiadom, Stephens, Saville, Johnson; Weston, Abdulla; Marsh-Brown, Villa (Cadogan 65), Gambin (Fletcher 70); Sykes (Nurse 73).
Subs not used: Byrne, Jupp.
Attendance: 803.
