It's a fantastic feeling to be up there with Wrexham, says Dartford boss Tony Burman

Wednesday 19th September 2012

DARTFORD boss Tony Burman says it’s a fantastic feeling to be in a position to take his side to Wrexham on Saturday.

The Darts face the Welsh giants for the very first time in their history to contest a Blue Square Bet (Conference) Premier fixture sitting proudly in sixth-place in the table with five wins from their opening nine games.

Wrexham go into the game sitting in fourth-place in the table with 18 points from their nine league outings.

It could be argued that Wrexham are the biggest club that the Kent club have ever faced in a League game.

Wrexham have bagged the Welsh Cup an impressive 23 times in their history, finishing runners-up on 22 occasions, and they also reached the Quarter-Finals of the European Cup Winners’ Cup back in 1976.

Burman’s side have exceeded all expectations so far this season and last weekend thrashed Hereford United 4-0 at Princes Park.

“Yes, it’s a great start, it’s what we wanted, but I think the players deserve everything that they’ve got, they absolutely deserve the lot,” said the 54-year-old Dartford stalwart.

“Wrexham is a massive game. It was great to get three points against Hereford. We’re going to Wrexham to go to enjoy ourselves but we’re on a level playing field.

“Wrexham are a massive, massive club and to be up there with them – and it’s not a Cup tie – is a fantastic feeling. We’ll go there and try to do what we can.”

Part-time Dartford humiliated a Hereford United side that according to sources will pick up around £340,000 in parachute payments over the next two years following their relegation out of The Football League.

Dartford cannot compete in those financial stakes but Burman’s side have players full of heart and want to cause another upset.

Reflecting on their win over the Bulls, Burman said: “I was expecting a point minimum against a team who have been in the League. The lads have played really, really well and they’ve taken their chances. It was a great three points.

“With that three points we can now go to Wrexham and enjoy ourselves but we’re not going there just to sit down and lose. We’re going there to do something there.”

Dartford make one of their shortest trips of the season next Tuesday when they travel to Essex to tackle fifteenth-placed side Braintree Town.

Braintree set the example of how a part-time team can compete in a division full of former Football League clubs when they finished in a respectable 12^th place last season with 62 points from 46 games.

“They were the team we looked at,” said Burman. “They went up last year and done brilliantly and it will be another tough game.”

Dartford have beaten Kidderminster Harriers, Cambridge United, Alfreton Town, Newport County and Hereford United this season and Burman says his side deserve to be where they are in the table.

He said: “I’m really pleased because I think the players deserve to be there. I don’t think that’s any fluke. I really do think the players deserve to be there. Hopefully it will continue.”

When asked what he has learnt from playing at the highest level of non-league football, the Darts boss replied, “You’ve got to be organised, you’ve got to take your chances when you get them.

“It’s a good league and I’m absolutely delighted that we’re in it.”

But Burman revealed he is still looking over his shoulder, despite being seven points clear of the relegation zone.

He said: “We’re still close to the relegation points wise. Listen, we’re on a good run, you could easily lose three games on the spin like we did at the start of the season and play very, very, very well in those three games.

“This league is unforgiving and you could play really, really well and you can still get beat.”

Two first half goals from Nathan Collier ensured Dartford defeated Faversham Town 2-1 last night to book a trip to either Margate or Sittingbourne in the Second Round of the Kent Senior Cup Sponsored by Portablefloodlights.com.

The Ryman League Division One South visitors’ pulled a goal back through striker Danny Hockton early in the second half.

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

Wrexham v Dartford
Blue Square Bet Premier
Saturday 22^nd September 2012
Kick Off 3:00pm
at The Racecourse Ground, Mold Road, Wrexham, Wales LL11 2AH