Table Position: 2nd
Top Scorer: Alex Wall (11)
Manager: Alan Dowson
Nickname: The Darts
2022/23 average attendance: 1,178
Stadium: Mozzarella Fellas Stadium (Capacity: 5,007)
Table Position: 6th
Top Scorer: Shaun Jeffers (27)
Manager: David Noble
Nickname: The Saints
2022/23 average attendance: 1,301
Tomorrow afternoon Dartford and St Albans City will fight it out for a place in the Vanarama National League South playoff final as the two sides meet at Princes Park for the second time in less than a month.
On the 22nd of April the Darts entertained the Saints, in what was Dartford's last game on home soil, and the hosts ran out 2-1 winners as goals from Samir Carruthers and Pierre Fonkeu either side of an acrobatic Shaun Jeffers was enough to seal three points for the Kent based club.
Earlier on this week St Albans booked their place in the semi-final with a 1-0 eliminator victory over Chelmsford City. Jeffers was on target that night with the 30 year netting his 27th goal of the campaign in extra time.
This win was the Saints' second on the bounce and their fourth in five games as they stretched their unbeaten record away at Chelmsford to six games.
Meanwhile for Dartford they were last in action on the final day of the regular season, when a rotated Darts side played out a goalless draw in the capital against Hampton & Richmond Borough.
This result means Alan Dowson's side come into this game two games unbeaten. On top of this the men from Princes Park have three of their past four home games.
It is likely to be a tight affair with both outfits boasting mean defences. Dartford have kept 13 clean sheets this campaign whilst David Noble's team have kept marginally more with the Saints achieving 14 shutouts.
The head-to-head record between the two sides lies firmly in Dartford's favour. The hosts are four games unbeaten against their visitors; with St Albans winning just one of their past eight games against the Darts. However in the playoffs anything can happen and the Saints will be keen to repeat their midweek heroics against Chelmsford.
The winner of this tie will face the victor of the other semi-final between Oxford City and Worthing. If Dartford win then the final will be played at Princes Park whilst if St Albans win they'll make the trip to either Oxford or Worthing in the final.
Key Players
Samir Carruthers
Samir Carruthers is a name that will sound familiar to St Albans fans as the Irishman was on the scoresheet when the two sides met in April with the midfielder opening the scoring in the Darts' 2-1 win over the Saints.
Carruthers rejoined Dartford permanently in the summer from Hemel Hempstead Town having enjoyed a successful loan spell at the club from the Tudors last term, and so far the 30 year old has enjoyed a fine return to life with the Darts netting nine goals.
Carruthers brings with him both Premier League and EFL experience during his time with the likes of Aston Villa, Milton Keynes Dons, Sheffield United, Oxford United and Cambridge United.
During his time at Villa Park Carruthers represented the Republic of Ireland at Under 19 and Under 21 level.
Shaun Jeffers
St Albans' top scorer Shaun Jeffers has terrorised National League South defences all season long with 27 goals to his name and the 30-year-old comes into this game in fine form.
After coming through the youth system at Coventry City, Jeffers went on to play for a host of EFL clubs including Cheltenham Town, Peterborough United, Newport County and Yeovil Town.
Last season the former England Under 19 international bagged 27 goals for the Saints a figure he'll be looking to beat before the season's end.
Jeffers is likely to be a handful for the Dartford backline as he comes into this tie having bagged four goals in five games.
Jeffers will also be a familiar face to the Darts faithful as he has popped up with three goals in as many games against Dartford.
They've played for both
Three former Saints now don the white and black of Dartford and they'll all be hopeful to deny their former employers of a place in the playoff final.
Luke Allen, Jernade Meade and Harvey Bradbury now represent the Darts with the latter two joining the club in the second half of this campaign from Hemel Hempstead and Dorchester respectively.
Form
Dartford
W - 1-0 vs Tonbridge Angels (A)
L - 2-3 vs Concord Rangers (A)
W - 2-1 vs St Albans City (H)
D - 0-0 vs Hampton & Richmond Borough (A)
St Albans City
W - 3-0 vs Welling United (H)
L - 1-2 vs Dartford (A)
W - 2-0 vs Farnborough (H)
W - 1-0 vs Chelmsford City (A)
Head-to-head
22/04/2023: Dartford 2-1 St Albans City
22/10/2022: St Albans City 1-1 Dartford
23/04/2022: Dartford 3-1 St Albans City
14/08/2021: St Albans City 1-3 Dartford
17/11/2020: Dartford 0-1 St Albans City
My Prediction: Dartford 2-1 St Albans City
By Nathan Williams
1-0 Dartford
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