I'm sure the players' will put in a good performance against Dover, says Dartford boss Tony Burman

DARTFORD boss Tony Burman says he is looking forward to a visit from arch-rivals Dover Athletic on Saturday, writes Stephen McCartney.


The Darts booked their place in the First Round of The FA Carlsberg Trophy with a 2-1 win over their Blue Square Bet South rivals Eastbourne Borough last night, courtesy of second half goals from Tom Champion and Danny Harris.

Burman takes his side to third-placed Evo-Stick Southern Premier League side Brackley Town in the next round on 10 December, but before that they face Nicky Forster’s Dover Athletic side in a tasty-looking Kent derby on Saturday, followed by a trip to Folkestone Invicta in the Kent Senior Cup Sponsored by Portablefloodlights.com tie on 7 December.

Dartford go into the big game against Dover Athletic sitting in fourth-place in the Blue Square Bet South table on 34 points from 17 games and they were unbeaten in all of their five games in November.

Dover Athletic, meanwhile, lie in seventh-place on 28 points from 18 games and have lost their last three games.

Burman said: “We always look forward to the Kent derbies.  We’ve had some good games against Dover over the years.

“We went to Dover at the start of the season (and drew 2-2) and felt we should have come back with the three points, but they’ve had a change of manager since then and we’ve got a job to do.

“Dover are in a good position.  I can’t understand the worries down there.  We’ll be just into December on Saturday and why people are concerned that they are just outside the playoffs is beyond me.”

Burman hopes claiming the Kentish bragging rights will cheer up a section of the Princes Park faithful.

“I just hope that our supporters’ have a positive attitude and really get behind the players’ on Saturday,” said Burman.

“We haven’t done that badly and I know that, although we haven’t been playing well, whatever eleven I put out will get their support.

“It’s a big game, a good game to be looking forward to, and I’m sure the players’ will react and put in a good performance.

“Dover’s supporters’ will come here in numbers and it will be a good atmosphere.

“It’s a big game, a derby game between two good clubs and I hope it’s a cracking game.

“I’ve got seventeen players in my squad and I hope whatever eleven I put out get the full support they deserve. We just want to put on a great performance and hopefully the crowd will get fully behind us.”

Burman revealed that club captain, Elliot Bradbrook, picked up a very slight tear in his thigh during training last Thursday.

Burman added: “I didn’t want to take a gamble with him if we had the chance to give him a bit more rest. The thing with the injury is that we don’t want to risk it becoming a full tear, but hopefully he should be ready for Saturday.”

Burman feels performances will start to improve, despite going through the entire month of November unbeaten.

He said: “We haven’t played that well in the last three or four games but we haven’t lost.  That shows the players’ have a bit of character. 

“We deserved to beat Eastbourne Borough last night and should put us in good stead for Saturday.”

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

Additional reporting by Paul Parkinson.

Dartford  v  Dover Athletic
Blue Square Bet South
Saturday 3^rd December 2011
Kick Off 3:00pm
at Princes Park Stadium, Grassbanks, Darenth Road, Dartford, Kent DA1 1RT