Dartford manager Steve King looks for new striker after Alfie Pavey returns to Barnet and Moussa Bakayoko joins Havant

By: Matthew Panting mpanting@thekmgroup.co.uk

Published: 06:00, 04 January 2021

Updated: 08:31, 04 January 2021

Dartford boss Steve King is ready to step up his striker search after two forwards left the club in the past week.

Alfie Pavey was recalled from his loan spell by parent club Barnet, who started him in their home defeat to Boreham Wood on Saturday.

Pavey, 25, never hit the heights of his previous spells at Dartford, failing to net in one start and three substitute outings.

Moussa Bakayoko, who was on non-contract terms, left to join league rivals Havant after scoring two goals in three starts and one substitute appearance for the Darts.

The 24-year-old former Derry City forward started Havant’s 4-2 league win over Hungerford on Saturday.

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“Moussa wanted to move on, as simple as that,” said King. “He lives in Guildford and it’s half an hour from their ground. They’ve given him a good deal and he’s gone.

“We need a striker - we definitely need one. We’ve got good strikers but it’s plain and simple that we’re not scoring so I am on the lookout for one.”

Charlie Sheringham remains on loan at Chelmsford, where he has scored four times since making the move at the end of November.

Dartford will host Tonbridge behind closed doors in a re-arranged fixture on Tuesday night. The match was originally scheduled for December 28 but was postponed due to Covid-19.

It will be another chance for King’s team to return to the top of National League South.

“We’ve got four games in 10 days,” said King. “We don’t want these breaks, our fitness levels were okay against Ebbsfleet considering they are full-time as well.

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“It’s not doom and gloom. We’re 13 games in, 26 points which is two per game. Ask any manager that and they’ll be happy – we’ve kept another clean sheet. It’s a positive, second half especially.

“Two points per game gets you somewhere near the top three. We’re on schedule for where we would like to be.

“We’ve not hit the levels we’re capable of in recent weeks but we should have won the game (against Ebbsfleet) at the end.”