Tait is desperate to show his full potential, says Burman

Friday 12th February 2010

DARTFORD boss Tony Burman says he is expecting an exciting game of football when he takes his off-colour side to Tonbridge Angels tomorrow, writes Stephen McCartney.

The Darts arrive at Longmead Stadium on the back of back-to-back defeats, having suffered rare defeats to Billericay Town and Sutton United, but still maintain a seven point lead at the top of the Ryman Premier League.

Tommy Warrilow’s Tonbridge Angels, meanwhile, ended a run of eight league games without a win in midweek with a 3-2 home win over Cray Wanderers.

Speaking about his side’s form, Burman, who was speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk said, “It’s no good moping or sulking over anything we just have to move on.

“I thought we was unlucky against Billericay and to be fair to Sutton, I thought they were the better side on the day. Having said that we’ve created enough chances in the first part of the second half to maybe get it back to one-all, but it wasn’t to be. It was a very disappointing performance.”

When asked if not scoring in their last two games was a concern, the Darts boss replied, “No! It’s not a concern for me because as long as your creating chances that will always change.

“We created enough chances last Saturday against Sutton, especially in the first part of the second half to maybe score a goal. It just hasn’t happened for us lately in that respect but you have to move on and I’ve got a lot of belief in the players and the squad that I’ve got.

“We’ve had a knock with two defeats and we’re all very upset about that.”

Tonbridge escaped the snow that fell in some parts of Kent in midweek, but a crowd of over 1,000 is expected at Longmead Stadium tomorrow and Burman is keen to avoid the heavy defeat of last season.

“We’re expecting a difficult game,” he warned. “They’ve got some good players still in their team and we've always had good games with Tonbridge.

“Last season they battered us at their place and we drew at home and we should’ve won at home with our second half performance.

“We played Tonbridge earlier on in the season and it was a really good game. We go to Tonbridge knowing it’s going to be difficult and we’ll try and do our best to get three points.”

Striker Carl Rook, who was Tonbridge Angels’ record signing when he arrived from Horsham after the club sold Jon Main to AFC Wimbledon, cannot play for Dartford tomorrow, having signed for the Princes Park outfit for an undisclosed fee last month, having scored 64 career goals in 82 starts for the Angels.

“One of the conditions of the transfer of Carl was he didn’t play against Tonbridge,” explained Burman.

“It was Tonbridge’s wish that it didn’t happen. The deal to get Carl Rook was all in Dartford’s favour but there was a couple of arrangements that I had to agree with and we’ll honour those agreements.”

It has, however, been a frustrating start to Rook’s Dartford’s career.

“He’s had one training session with the guys and we went off to Harrow Borough and that was called off and he missed Billericay and training, through illness,” revealed Burman.

“When he came on last Saturday against Sutton we were quite pleased with what we saw for twenty minutes and we know once he’s settled in he will be a good player for us that’s for sure.”

But Burman spoke about two other striker’s, former Tonbridge Angels hit-man Jay May and injury plagued Allan Tait.

“We’re nearly getting back to full strength,” revealed the boss. “Jay May, unfortunately, will need a cartlidge operation next week and hopefully he may get the last month of the season for us.

“Allan Tait has been training really hard and may come into the reckoning next week. Allan is desperate to do well for the club as he’s only shown his full potential in glimpses because of his niggling calf injury.

“He may come in for the last three months to show that because it’s been a difficult season for him.”

www.kentishfootball.co.uk will be covering this game.

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

Tonbridge Angels v Dartford

Ryman Premier League

Saturday 13th February 2010

Kick Off 3:00pm

At Longmead Stadium, Darenth Avenue, Tonbridge, Kent TN10 3JF