Darts face double injury blow despite their rise into play-off picture

DARTFORD may be currently sitting in the Ryman Premier League play-offs - but it came at a price with two key players picking up injuries, writes Stephen McCartney.

Yesterday’s 2-0 home win over Billericay Town puts the Princes Park outfit in fifth place for the first time this season, but Danny Dafter (ankle) and Ryan Hayes (hamstring) are causing boss Tony Burman concern this weekend.

Goals from striker Brendon Cass and defender John Guest secured the points against the Essex side and thanks to Maidstone United’s late fight-back at Sutton United, securing a 2-2 draw at Gander Green Lane, the Darts leapfrog over the Surrey side into fifth place.

“Danny Dafter has gone up for a ball and fell awkwardly on his ankle and we’ve heard last night that he’s fractured his ankle and will be in plaster for four to six weeks,” Burman told www.kentishfootball.co.uk this morning.

When asked if Dafter will be ruled out for the rest of the season, Burman replied, “No! He might get the last month, we will have to see how that goes.”

He added, “Ryan Hayes has pulled up with a hamstring after making the goal for Brendon (Cass). It’s another big blow for us and Ryan will be out for two or three weeks.”

But despite those couple of set-backs, Burman is pleased that his side have climbed the league table and are sitting above the dotted line for the very first time.

“It’s nice to get into that position when a lot of people didn’t think we would be there,” he said.

“All along this season we felt we had a good side. We played some good football at the beginning of the season but didn’t get the results we felt we should have done.

“The players have been brilliant for the last few months, getting on with their football and reaping their rewards.”

Burman has challenged his side to retain their position in the play-off zone and collect three points at Ashford Town (Middlesex) next weekend.

“All season we’ve always been four or five off the relegation, at one point we was in it, but we’ve never been that far off the play-off positions,” said Burman.

“There’s always a team that goes on a really good run and at the moment, we’re on a good run and it’s obviously improved our position.

“We’ve become a difficult team to beat; last week at (bottom side) Heybridge, people were criticising that we should have got three points, but they’ve got a good defensive record. The teams who are at the bottom at the moment are winning games, like they did yesterday.”

But before they make the trip to bleak Short Lane, a ground renowned for having big petrol tanks behind one of the goals as it backs onto Heathrow Airport, the Darts travel down to Worthing on Wednesday night to tackle Horsham in the fourth round of the Ryman League Cup.

When asked it his side can go all the way and win the competition, Burman replied, “Well yes, it’s the Ryman League Cup, we’re in the premier division, it’s one of the cups we can win and we’d like to do that this season.”

With Scott Holding cup-tied, and two key players picking up injuries yesterday, Burman is forced to make changes.

“We said this year we want to go as far as we can in that competition, but problems with yesterday they make some decisions for you,” he said.

“But we’ll put the strongest team that we can out, but Scott Holding is cup-tied so he can’t have a game.

“We’ve got one or two knocks, which we will have to look at on Monday night (at training), but we’ll try to play the strongest side, but there will be some players missing.”

Burman confirmed this morning that he has NOT made an official approach for striker Tom Bradbrook.

The Darts boss released Bradbrook, who was his third-choice striker, at the end of last season but the Dartford resident has been impressing Sittingbourne supporters with his performances at Bourne Park, where he has scored ten goals, along side Richard Brady, who has six more.

“We’ve made a number of approaches for players, but Tom Bradbrook wasn’t one of them,” confirmed Burman.

“When I talk to them I want to know if they want to play for us, players like James White, Lee Noble, Cody McDonald, when I first spoke to them and we’re talking about finances, all three of them said they were not worried (about money) and said ‘I want to play for you’ and they’re the players who I want at the club and to look after.

“We’ve made players very reasonable offers, we don’t need to go extravagant and upset everyone else. I make players good offers and if they refuse them, that their prerogative.”

Burman heaped praise on Cass, who has remained professional during the devastating partnership between McDonald (now at Norwich City) and Rob Haworth, which kept him on the sidelines and now last season’s golden boot winner has seized his chance and scored his sixth goal of the season yesterday.

“I’ve not been able to give Cass a fair crack of the whip this season,” admitted Burman. “But he’s been excellent for Dartford Football Club and his approach has been first class.

“I think everybody was delighted that Brendon got on the score sheet. He’s been a true professional and we’re delighted for him.

“I’ve not had the opportunity because of the partnership (between Cody and Rob), but he’s got a chance and it’s up to him to take it.”

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

Horsham v Dartford
Ryman League Cup Fourth Round
Wednesday 18^th February 2009
Kick Off 7:45pm
At Woodside Road, Worthing, West Sussex RH13 5AD