RYMAN KINGS CLINCH TITLE: I've learnt a lot in two years, says Burman

Sunday 11th April 2010

CHAMPIONSHIP winning Dartford manager Tony Burman has criticised the football authorities over the amount of games side’s are forced to cram into the business end of the season, writes Stephen McCartney.

The Darts clinched the Ryman Premier League title in style with an emphatic 6-2 away win at second-placed Kingstonian yesterday, courtesy of goals from Elliot Bradbrook (2), Ryan Hayes (2), Danny Harris and substitute Lee Burns.

Kingstonian went into the top-of-the-table clash on the back of four games in the previous seven days and tiredness certainly took it’s toll, especially when Dartford raced into a 2-0 lead after just 13 minutes at Kingsmeadow, before wrapping up the title in style and leaving K’s shell-shocked.

The Darts boss, who was speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk following his side’s glorious display, isn’t happy that semi-pro footballers - who must work for a living - are being forced to play so many games in a short space of time.

Burman, whose side play six more league games, starting away to Harrow Borough on Tuesday night, said: “We want to win every single game now, but it was going to be tough.

“We’ve got games Saturday, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and we can’t do it. The non-league club’s can’t do it. We’re not strong enough in depth and Kingstonian, you have to remember, have gone through this week and they’ve had four games and it’s difficult for them.

“They’ve worked hard in those three or four games that they’ve had and all of a sudden you’ve hit your wall, especially when you’ve conceded two or three goals.”

Dartford romped to a 5-0 home victory over Kingstonian at Princes Park back in August, but the K’s bounced back after losing their opening four games and are now fighting for the runners-up spot.

“They’ve come back to be fair to them,” he said. “What a fantastic season they’ve had. They’ve had a poor start to the season and they’ve come back and they’ve been second near enough all of the time so they will bee up there and they’ll have a go and they’ve got to regroup a little bit and get on with it.”

Burman guided the Darts to the Ryman League Division One North title exactly two years ago - despite going down to an emotional 2-1 defeat at Edgware Town.

And he was determined that he was going to enjoy the day at Kingsmeadow yesterday.

“I was reasonably confident before the game because we’ve had a couple of good games last two matches and the belief was back,” he said.

“I’m absolutely delighted, for obviously myself, Steve (Moseley) and Paul (Sawyer), who I may add, they’ve been my sort of rock if you like. We’ve done something and we’ve done it our way and in style!”

Burman recalled: “I was more nervous when we got promoted from the (Ryman One) North when we we’re over at Edgware for some reason, but I learnt from my mistakes that day.

“I made my mind up that I wanted to enjoy myself and that’s what I did. It’s very important what you say to people before the game in the changing room and if they saw me, Paul or Steve nervous then it wouldn’t have been any good.

“I wasn’t nervous. I was quietly confident. I knew Thursday night in training we had the bit between our teeth.

“We wanted to come here and get three points.”

Two-goal hero, Hayes, meanwhile, wants his team-mates to end their championship-winning campaign with good form.

“We’re still going into those games wanting to win,” the former Slade Green winger told www.kentishfootball.co.uk.

“We want to get as many points as we can, score as many goals as we can.”

Such is the revolving door of non-league football, Dartford’s squad had changed immensely in two-years as only Hayes, Jamie Coyle, Adam Flanagan (and Tony Kessell, who wasn’t involved in yesterday’s sixteen-man squad), have won both titles with Dartford.

But Hayes admitted that winning the Ryman Premier League title was the better achievement on a personal level.

“It’s a much better league, much better players you’re playing against,” he said.

“Even though we won at Edgware, it was my first trophy, but today was special.”

Speaking about his special left-footed volley that sent Dartford into a 2-0 lead after just 13 minutes, he added, “It was alright, one of my better ones. It was a good one, on the day we won the league!”

Meanwhile, the club have appealed to any supporters with players shirts to hand them back to the club - the Darts still have five away games to play!

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

Harrow Borough v Dartford

Ryman Premier League

Tuesday 13th April 2010

Kick Off 7:45pm

At Earlsmead, Carlyon Avenue, Harrow, Middlesex HA2 8SS