I won't upset any of our rivals by saying stupid things - Burman

Sunday 21st March 2010

DARTFORD boss Tony Burman has explained why he is not giving his opponents any extra motivation to beat his table-topping side, writes Stephen McCartney.

Saturday’s comfortable 3-0 win over bitter-rivals Maidstone United at Princes Park - in front of 1,501 - their largest crowd of the season - ensures that they only need 14 more points to clinch the Ryman Premier League title and with it promotion into Blue Square South.

The Darts were knocked off stride earlier in the week by losing to Tooting & Mitcham United and Boreham Wood, but were back on track with wins over Horsham and Maidstone United all within 48 hours.

Dartford now have 70 points and with ten games to go, supporters are planning the day when they can enjoy their promotion party.

Hotels in Bognor Regis are being booked well in advance as supporters descent on the West Sussex coastal town for the final day of the season - but the title will be won well before then.

But Burman told www.kentishfootball.co.uk that he will not be show any disrespect towards any of his rivals in the Ryman Premier League.

“We want to go up and I do want to get promoted, but we’ve got to take one game as we can and we have to do,” he said.

“If I sound that sort of way (arrogant), upsetting people saying we’ve done it, it will incense the other teams that we play and it will give them an even bigger lift if I go saying stupid things like that then I’ll deserve what’s coming to us.”

Looking ahead to Tuesday night’s Kent derby against Margate, the Thanet side arrive at Princes Park sitting at the foot of the Ryman Premier League table and have nine games to preserve their current status (Iain O’Connell’s side are six points adrift of safety).

“Margate have obviously got a new manager and they’ve got some old players of ours who have gone down there so it’s going to be a tough game,” warned Burman.

“People are raising their games against us and there’s some managers who must be pulling their hair out as they’re playing well against us but the following match they’ve either lost or drawn.

“Eight day’s we’ve lost the first two games, we were all down but we’ve had two good results and the place is lifted again.

“In the last two games our work rate has been tremendous. The second half (against Maidstone United) we got to the 60th minute mark and a few of my players - having two games in 48 hours - it showed but a few of them have played all four games this week.

“Credit to them, they’ve done really, really well. They’ll have a good rest now and move onto Tuesday.

“It will be a big game, again, but we’re getting back to the way we was for the first fifteen games and that’s credit to them.

“The belief’s there with this lot, believe you me. We’re going to give Margate a good game.”

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

Dartford v Margate

Ryman Premier League

Tuesday 23rd March 2010

Kick Off 7:45pm

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