FA Trophy
Saturday 14 November, kickoff 15:00
Dartford will look to keep their FA Trophy campaign on track when they host AFC Totton at Princes Park this Saturday, 14 November, with a 3pm kickoff. The Darts will be eager to extend their impressive run in this season’s competition and give their supporters another reason to celebrate on home soil.
The form guide
Dartford head into this tie in fine FA Trophy fettle. J. Coyle’s side have won both of their FA Trophy ties in this season’s competition, posting a perfect 100% form rating in the process. Their defensive record in this season’s FA Trophy has been particularly impressive, with a defence rating of 92%, suggesting the Darts have been difficult to break down when it matters most. While their attack rating of 23% in this season’s FA Trophy ties indicates they have been measured rather than free-scoring, the results have clearly been going their way, and clean sheets and hard-fought victories are often the currency of cup football.
AFC Totton arrive without any FA Trophy ties under their belt so far this season, meaning manager J. Ball’s side step into this fixture with no cup form to assess. That makes them something of an unknown quantity in this competition, and Dartford’s greater experience of FA Trophy football this term could prove a telling advantage.
The head-to-head record
There is little historical precedent to draw upon ahead of this fixture. The two clubs have no recent meetings on record, meaning Saturday’s tie represents something of a fresh chapter between these two sides. With no prior encounters to reference, neither team will be able to take any psychological edge from past results, and the match promises to be a genuine contest decided purely on the day’s performance.
The men in the dugout
Dartford
AFC TottonDartford are guided by J. Coyle, who will be looking to steer his side further into the FA Trophy with another positive result at Princes Park. Coyle’s men have responded well in this season’s competition, and the manager will be keen to maintain that momentum in front of a home crowd. Opposite him in the technical area, AFC Totton’s J. Ball faces the challenge of navigating a cup tie against a side who have already demonstrated their credentials in this season’s FA Trophy. Ball will need to have his side well-organised and ready to compete from the first whistle.
Players to watch
No standout individual scorers have been flagged from either side ahead of this fixture, which perhaps underlines the collective, team-oriented nature of both clubs’ approaches. For Dartford, the strength of their defensive unit in this season’s FA Trophy ties has been a defining feature, and the players responsible for keeping things tight at the back will once again be central to their hopes. For AFC Totton, the onus will be on their attacking players to make an impression against a Dartford side that has proven difficult to breach in this season’s competition. Whoever steps up to influence proceedings could well be the decisive figure on the day.
The prediction
Bookmaker advice: No predictions available
On paper, Dartford carry the clearer form credentials in this season’s FA Trophy, having won both of their ties and conceded very little along the way. That defensive solidity in particular gives J. Coyle’s side a strong platform, and home advantage at Princes Park adds another layer of confidence. AFC Totton are an unknown quantity in this competition this term, which cuts both ways — they could surprise, or they could find the step up a challenge. With the prediction engine returning an even three-way split of 33% across all outcomes, this is far from a foregone conclusion. A tight, competitive tie seems the most likely outcome, but Dartford’s greater FA Trophy experience this season gives them a narrow edge. Expect the Darts to edge a close contest, though Totton will make them work hard for it.
Match details
| Competition | FA Trophy |
|---|---|
| Kick-off | Saturday 14 November, 15:00 |
| Venue | TBC |
| Home | Dartford |
| Away | AFC Totton |
Preview data via api-football. Form, head-to-head, standings, manager and prediction figures sourced live at the time of compilation; squad and team-news availability subject to last-minute change.