This is the start of our week from hell - Burman

Friday 12th March 2010

DARTFORD embark on what manager Tony Burman has described as “our week from hell” with a trip to Imperials Fields to face Tooting and Mitcham United, writes Mike Green.

Facing four games in eight days (at Tooting Saturday, then home to Boreham Wood on Tuesday before a Thursday night trip to Horsham before welcoming Maidstone United to Princes Park next Saturday), Burman was a happy man following Lee Burns’ winner against Maidstone United at Homelands on Tuesday night – especially as it came just 72 hours after their crushing defeat at home to Billericay.

After the game at Homelands – which incidentally re-established the Darts eleven point lead at the top of the Ryman Premier – a relieved Burman admitted to www.kentishfootball.co.uk, “yes I’m pleased tonight with the result and this is always a difficult place to come to. The ground was heavy and it was nice to get back to winning ways especially after getting beat by Billericay on Saturday!

“We had to get back on track tonight and we know that we put in a poor performance at the weekend, but it wasn’t to be.

“But tonight showed why they’re good players bouncing back like that – we’ve been consistent all season and we’ve managed to get the points with a cracking goal – sure I’d have liked another goal but three points is three points and means that we’re eleven points clear again!”

Looking ahead to the weekend, Burman said, “Tooting have fallen into the same trap that a lot of teams in this league have this season – they win two or three and then lose two or three. But we know we’re in for another tough game on Saturday and it always is.

“But it’s the start of our week from hell when we play Saturday, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, which is going to be a really tough week for us, that’s for sure and I’m going to have to use all the squad if we’re going to get through it! That said, we’ll go to Tooting and knowing what we’re got to do.”

On facing four big games in eight days, the Darts boss admitted that, “I think this ahs just been a freak season really the way things have panned out. I think that if we’d have been playing Horsham the next night we’d have been OK but its strange and it is difficult but the bottom line is that we have to do what people tell us to do – that’s the rules and we’ve got to get on with it.

“I still don’t think that anyone can try and predict when (or if) we’re going to win the League – there’s still a long way to go. We had a good weekend when we won at Boreham Wood and others lost, but this weekend we lost and others won so there are still a few things to go on yet before I get the silver polish out.”

The Darts seeming relentless march towards the Ryman Premier title is definitely gathering momentum, with one forum already trying to predict where and when the Darts will win the title – rest assured that wherever it is www.kentishfootabll.co.uk will be there too!

At least the excitement level is rising in most parts of Princes Park as Burman conceded “We’ve averaged two points a game this season and that was our target at the start of the season. We feel that if we go over 70 points you’ve a chance of being in the Play offs and if you get over 80 you’ve a chance of winning the whole thing and that’s what we’ll endeavour to do.

“There’s a long way to go yet – I cannot emphasise just how big a week it is for us next week – four defeats and everyone will be on out case, whilst four victories may just break the back of it.”

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

Tooting & Mitcham United v Dartford

Ryman Premier League

Saturday 13th March 2010

Kick Off 7:45pm

At Imperial Fields, Bishopsford Road, Morden, Surrey SM4 6BF