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Darts' first pre-season match

Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2025 9:37 am
by TonyDart
Sunday 13 July 2025 kick-off 1pm Princes Park Stadium.

Dartford FC Women played their first pre-season friendly against Moneyfields FC Women, from Portsmouth who last year finished runners-up to a very high-spending AFC Bournemouth who didn't lose a league game all season.

Moneyfields play in the FA Women's National League South West (Tier 4) and on a hot afternoon at Princes Park ran out winners 3-2.

Moneyfields got off to a flying start, 1-0 up after only 4 minutes and 2-0 after 8 minutes they played a smooth inter-passing game and also showed great awareness of how to play the ball into danger areas in Darts' defence.

Dart's were slow to settle but there were many changes from last season and some players were still away on their holidays, so was a good opportunity to introduce some new players into the squad.

More information on new players coming in and those who have left during the summer will be made available over the next week or so.

Due to a heavy knock that 'keeper Jade took after half-an-hour it was decided by the referee to break the game up into three 30 minutes 'halves' - although it was quite apparent that many of the crowd were unaware of this, and were a little taken aback by the timings. Soon Moneyfields got a third and Darts' backs were against the wall.

However, Dart's best period of the match was in the final 30 minutes when they finally took the game to Moneyfields and Shauni Griffiths scored just inside the penalty area to reduce the deficit and eight minutes later Lizzie Adams coolly lobbed the keeper after a great back-header assist from Shauni.

A great thunderous shot from a young trialist saw Money's keeper pull off a tremendous tip-over-the-bar save

Before the game, a group of (infamous) Darts' fans had clubbed together and bought this latest flag.


MEM - FLAG 62 DFC Women - Princes Park Stadium.jpg


It's a great addition to the stadium, so well done to all concerned. (we know who you are!)

Re: Darts' first pre-season match

Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2025 10:03 am
by Ring of fire
Thanks Tony.
Good account of parts of the action & goal that I missed.

The new flag shows the strong and undeniable support DFC Women receive from those who are interested in Women's football, the value (not just potential finances) of maintaining and supporting the club's Women section.

It's early years for the women's game but we're all witnessing an undeniable surge in this area, nationally and internationally.

After the World Cup and 2022 Lionesses' success, the current women's Euro finals with more locally, our fledging DFC 16+ Girls' Academy and the revived Development, are there to prove it all, amongst other F.A and F.I.F.A initiatives.

Dartford.F.C Women and their respective energetic management teams have already set the standards at a relatively higher step towards Championship and prove that they can also contribute towards the club's prestige and finances, given the opportunity, recognition, support and investment.

Re: Darts' first pre-season match

Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2025 9:51 pm
by Ajaxman DFC
I enjoyed reading your post Tony. So Moneyfields finished the season runners up courtesy of money bags Bournemouth of the Premier League.
An all too familiar story.
And one too close to home to boot.

Re: Darts' first pre-season match

Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2025 11:22 pm
by TonyDart
What is really strange - with all the premier & championship sides wanting their women in the top echelons of football, Southampton seem to be on their own....... at the BOTTOM

Re: Darts' first pre-season match

Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2025 3:12 pm
by Lol
Nice match report, Tony. And nice comments from Ring of Fire too. We are slowly building a good fan base for DFC Women and they deserve it. We need to keep chipping away at the resistance and get more to come and watch.

Re: Darts' first pre-season match

Posted: Fri Jul 18, 2025 6:57 pm
by Ring of fire
DartfordFCWomen: "Next up in preseason...
Sunday 20.07.2025 🆚 ActoniansLFC 📍 1.00 pm - Dartford FC Community Pitch DA1 1RT. Don't miss the fun! Come support us! 🎯 Up the darts!

Re: Darts' first pre-season match

Posted: Fri Jul 18, 2025 11:24 pm
by Ajaxman DFC
I see the National League fixtures are out. Sudbury v Chatham, Fulham v Cambridge.
No news from the Mickey Mouse League yet. I guess we'll know at some point who our first opponents are, where and when. Probably at 9 am on Saturday. The day before the game.

Re: Darts' first pre-season match

Posted: Sun Jul 27, 2025 9:44 pm
by Ring of fire
A mere fortnight after stating that given the Opportunity, Recognition, Support and Investment, DFC's Prestige and Finances could benefit from current developments.
As we celebrate Lionesses retaining their Euro Champions Title, over world champions Spain, investments into the Women's game are bound to increase and improve clubs' outlook.
Let's Stay Alert at the DFC and Reap the Enhanced Benefits, at all levels of the Women's Ladder.
Our DFC Women have already shown multi - Success!
On to the Academy and the Youth Schemes.

Re: Darts' first pre-season match

Posted: Mon Jul 28, 2025 1:24 pm
by Ajaxman DFC
Last night's performance at international level epitomises why more and more people are turning to the women's game at clubs at all levels of the pyramid.
Not least among them is our own team. If we can emulate the dressing room spirit of the past few seasons we have a bright future.
Yesterday, England prevailed against a very dangerous Spanish side and it was clear to see they aren't World Champions for nothing.
We got through with shear grit and determination.
Every member of that squad wore their shirt with pride.

Re: Darts' first pre-season match

Posted: Tue Jul 29, 2025 10:29 am
by Lol
Ajaxman DFC wrote: Mon Jul 28, 2025 1:24 pm Last night's performance at international level epitomises why more and more people are turning to the women's game at clubs at all levels of the pyramid.
Not least among them is our own team. If we can emulate the dressing room spirit of the past few seasons we have a bright future.
Yesterday, England prevailed against a very dangerous Spanish side and it was clear to see they aren't World Champions for nothing.
We got through with shear grit and determination.
Every member of that squad wore their shirt with pride.
The last two sentences sums up our girls. We have lost a few influential players but I'm confident their replacements will be just as dangerous to the opposition.