Dartford 2-0 Southend United - I've got some big decisions to make, says Burman

Friday 16th July 2010

DARTFORD 2-0 SOUTHEND UNITED
Pre-Season Friendly
Friday 16th July 2010
Stephen McCartney reports from Princes Park Stadium

DARTFORD boss Tony Burman has urged trialist left-back Ashley Probets to fulfil his true potential and earn a deal with the club.

The former Arsenal and Rochdale defender spent last season playing Ryman League Division One South football for Chatham Town and was previously with VCD Athletic.

“We’ve been talking about Ashley for four or five years,” Burman told www.kentishfootball.co.uk.

“Ashley has got a superb pedigree, he was with Arsenal and he played for Rochdale in the League.

“I think he has lost his way a little bit and he felt he wanted to go and play his football with, if you like, a few of his mates, because he had enough of the pro game and the pressures of it.

“I spoke to him in the summer and he couldn’t go on playing in (the Ryman League).

“He’s a decent player, he’s got to want to want it enough and have a look at it himself and I’ve asked him to come here and have a look at him.

“Adam Gross pulled up in the warm-up (with a knock to his ankle) and was starting for the first 45, so Ashley had an opportunity to play 90 minutes and I’ve had a look at him during that time.”

Probets was one of two players to play for the entire 90 minutes against troubled Southend United tonight, as goals from Ryan Hayes and substitute Adam Burchell sealed an impressive 2-0 win over the amateurish Npower League Two outfit.

The Essex visitors may be a professional football club, but newly appointed manager Paul Sturrock refused to issue any details on his players that turned out for their first pre-season game.

The club’s media team only recognised seven of their starting eleven; Peter Gilbert (number 3), Craig Easton (4), Ryan Hall (7), Anthony Grant (8), Harry Crawford (9), Blair Sturrock (10) and Zofiene Zaaboub (11), who sent an early left-footed volley crashing against Deren Ibrahim’s crossbar.

Southend were the better side in the first half and they should have scored after 32 minutes when Hall sent a right-footed curling free-kick just over the crossbar.

Dartford failed to trouble the strong Southend back four during the first half - the only highlight was spotting Teddy Sheringham in the crowd behind the goal that Dartford were attacking.

Burman made six changes at the interval, with a new partnership at the heart of defence (Tom Champion and Tom Bonner) and up front with Charlie Sheringham and Danny Harris tormenting the Southend defence.

But Southend almost broke the deadlock early in the second half when Hall’s chip had beaten Ibrahim, but Billy Burgess was on hand to avert the danger on the line at the far post.

But Dartford went on to dominate Southend and winger Ryan Hayes caused the Essex side all sorts of problems with his crossing ability.

His cross from the right was met by the unmarked Harris and his header agonisingly bounced off the post and 36 seconds later Elliot Bradbrook headed across goal when maybe he really should have hit the target.

But Dartford stunned their visitors by taking a 58th minute lead.

Full credit must go to Probets, who won the ball and released Harris racing down the left flank on the break. He beat two lagging defenders and once inside the box he cut the ball back for Hayes to sweep the ball into the net with his lethal left-foot.

Hall went close again for Southend with a shot on the run, which sailed just over Ibrahim’s crossbar, before Dartford wrapped up the impressive win with 13 minutes left.

Intelligent play, that his father would have been proud of, outside the box from Sheringham released Harris in behind the Southend defence and his cut back was tucked away by Adam Burchell from close in.

As time ticked on, dominant Dartford embarrassed their League opponents and they even had the luxury of missing two great chances.

Michael Shinn swung in a corner from the left, which was headed towards goal by Tom Bonner, but he was denied his third pre-season goal, by a fine save from the Southend substitute goalkeeper.

Sheringham blasted over another Harris cut back in the last minute, but Burman was pleased that his side defeated another Essex club, following their success over Dagenham & Redbridge here at Princes Park six days ago.

He said: “Yes, I’m pleased with the performance. We’re not that too much worried about the results - but the main thing is to get minutes under their belts and get the cobwebs away and hopefully we’ll move on and improve on that.”

Burman added: “We’ve won the game and it’s nice, but it’s not the be all and end all.”

Burman returned from his holiday in Greece a couple of days ago and has been informed of players’ levels of fitness by his coaching staff.

“They’ve said they’ve been encouraged what’s happened,” said Burman. “It’s the fitness things that are the really most important for us. The organisation bits come in a little bit more later.

“It’s our job to get everyone gelled and that’s what we’re doing over the next four weeks and it’s been encouraging, it’s been nice and they’ve worked hard for 45 minutes a lot of them. We were in training last night and we’re pleased with what’s happened.”

With three games under his players belts, Burman will decide which players he will keep for their inaugural Blue Square Bet South campaign, which kick’s off at home to Havant & Waterlooville on 14 August.

“Everyone’s managed to get 90 minutes over the three games and that’s what it’s about,” he said.

“They’ve had a hard week. The majority of the players trained last night.

“They’re good players and we still have to keep that momentum going and by the time we start the season hopefully I’ll know exactly what we’re doing.

“I’ve got some big decisions to make over the next week or so. We can’t carry on with 20 odd players, we’ve got to get it down to 16-18 players and that’s what I’ll do.”

You never know, in over 12 months time, these two club’s might be playing each other for real - in the Blue Square Bet Premier - then Southend United might offer Dartford a little bit more respect and provide details of their players.

Dartford: Deren Ibrahim, Billy Burgess (Conor Mead 83), Ashley Probets, Joe Bruce (Tom Champion 46), Paul Goodacre (Tom Bonner 46), Michael Shinn (Jack Pallen 77), Ryan Hayes (Adam Burchell 68), Ollie Berquez (James White 46), Carl Rook (Danny Harris 46), Lee Burns (Charlie Sheringham 46), Lee Noble (Elliot Bradbrook 46).

Goals: Ryan Hayes 58, Adam Burchell 73

Southend United: Declined to issue a team-sheet

Attendance: 619
Referee: Mr Phil Crossley (Bromley)
Assistants: Mr Darren Blunden (Dartford) & Mr Andy Mead (St Mary Cray)
Fourth Official: Mr Lee Dyson (Gravesend)