BATTLE OF THE GIANTS: Darts didn't see the real us last time, insists Nott

Thursday 18th March 2010

MAIDSTONE UNITED boss Peter Nott says his side will show their true reflection during their crunch-game at arch-rivals Dartford on Saturday, writes Stephen McCartney.

The Darts bounced back from back-to-back defeats by extending their lead at the top of the Ryman Premier League table to 10 points following their comfortable 3-1 win at Horsham tonight.

The Stones, however, arrive at Princes Park just five points clear of the relegation zone and haven’t won in their last four league games.

“I think it’s a good time to play them because they’re having a bit of a jittery spell,” Nott told www.kentishfootball.co.uk before Dartford’s win tonight.

“We’re keen to play the game as we were disappointed the way we played them at home and I think a lots changed since then.

“We’ve brought some new players in and we fancy having a good go at them as we didn’t do that last time.”

Reflecting on the 1-0 defeat at Homelands Stadium only three games ago, Nott added, “We kind of sat back, went a goal behind and we were content to keep it like that, that was my feeling.

“I don’t think they saw the real us last time and it will be good to get back at them. Undoubtedly their a quality team. It’s a good Kent derby and if the players don’t get themselves up for that one then we’ve got a problem so it gives us a chance to put the record right from last time.”

With a crowd of nearing 2,000 expected at Princes Park for the battle between two of Kent’s biggest football clubs, passions will certainly be running high both on and off the pitch.

“Kent derbies always add spice to the games and the supporters like it, they particularly like it if you win,” said Nott.

“I think it will be a good atmosphere. From my time as a player these are the games that you want to play in. The crowd will be nice and loud and it should bring out the best of us.”

Whilst Dartford have banged in the most goals (74) in the division, Nott is concerned that the Stones have found goalscoring hard to come by this season, scoring only 30 goals during their 32 league outings.

“I wouldn’t say the goals are drying up,” added Nott, “It’s been a problem all season. We’re the lowest goalscorers in the league and that’s been a concern since I’ve taken over.

“We’ve just made a new signing, Adrian Stone, and he’s got off to a good start, scoring on his debut. We’ve inherited the goalscoring problem and we haven’t sorted it out yet and we need to start creating chances and we’ve got to start converting them.

“That’s what it’s all about, scoring the goals, and that’s going to get us some positive results.”

Taking three points away to the league leaders will certainly aid the club’s survival bid.

“Everyone’s still fighting, the first thing we’re doing as soon as we’re getting back into the dressing room, when we’re having a debrief with the players, we’re looking at other results,” said Nott.

“We just have to make sure we get enough points on the board to stay in this league and then we’ll look forward to next year.

“It’s such an unusual league at the moment. You can look back on the stats over the last five years. Folkestone Invicta went down on 52 points and then you stay up with low 40’s. I can’t forecast (how many points we need to stay up). We just have to make sure we’re picking up points. We’ve got a five point cushion at the moment, which isn’t enough at the moment and we’ll just have to keep those five points and go from there.”

Dartford boss, Tony Burman, meanwhile, was pleased that his side resumed normal service, as their 13th win on their travels was comfortably secured at Horsham tonight.

Since Lee Burns’ goal won the bragging rights for Dartford earlier in the month, the Stones have claimed draws against Cray Wanderers and Horsham.

And Burman, who was speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk following his side’s job well done at Horsham tonight, knows Saturday’s game will be tough as form will go out of the window in such a big Kent derby.

“Listen, Maidstone have had some great results in the last two or three weeks since we’ve played them,” he warned.

“To stick together the way they have is good and we know it’s a big game.

“We know, again, that teams are going to raise their games against us and that’s the thing that we’ve found difficult since the turn of the year, but it’s a plus tonight to get our result.

“I’m sure it will be a good game on Saturday and it will be a tired game for some of the players. We have used the squad, it has worked for us tonight, but it hasn’t worked for the last couple of games.

“But having said that hopefully we’ve come out with no injuries tonight and we move onto Saturday.”

Now ten points clear at the top of the table - Kingstonian and Sutton United can only dream to be in Dartford’s pole position - Burman is single minded when it comes to the Battle of the Giants on Saturday.

“We’ve got another three points to play for on Saturday and we just want to not worry about anybody else,” he said.

With club chairman David Skinner (Dartford) and Paul Bowden-Brown (Maidstone United) donning other football shirts to raise funds for Sports Relief on Saturday, Burman knows his players must keep focused on the job in hand.

“We’ve got a lot of sponsorship things going on before the game,” said the Darts boss. “Nevertheless the most important thing regardless of anything else is the first team and getting three points on Saturday.”

www.kentishfootball.co.uk will be covering this game

Visit Dartford’s websites: www.dartfordfc.co.uk & www.dartfordfootballclub.co.uk

Visit Maidstone United’s websites: www.maidstoneunited.co.uk & www.bringthestoneshome.co.uk

Dartford v Maidstone United

Ryman Premier League

Saturday 20th March 2010

Kick Off 3:00pm

At Princes Park Stadium, Grassbanks, Darenth Road, Dartford, Kent DA1 1RT