Thou shall not pass, says table-topping Burman - EXCLUSIVE

DARTFORD manager Tony Burman is delighted that his favoured back-four are keeping it tight as the Princes Park outfit go in search of the Ryman League Division One North title, writes Stephen McCartney.

The Darts should have beaten Great Wakering Rovers by more than two goals yesterday, but it was the club’s third successive clean sheet as they extended their unbeaten run to nine league games.

A brace from Ryan Hayes was more than enough in Essex yesterday, although Burman felt the score-line flattered their hosts.

“It was three points even though we won 2-0 our score could have been more than that,” Burman said EXCLUSIVELY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk tonight.

“It’s three points away from home, which I’m more than delighted about.

“It’s pleasing to get another win under our belt. We haven’t lost for nine games now but the most pleasing thing is we’ve kept three clean sheets in our last three games, which is a step in the right direction.”

Burman is pleased that Steve Norman, Adam Flanagan, John Guest and Jamie Coyle are shutting out their opponents’ attackers.

He said: “We had a talk with the players’ and we feel the longer we keep a clean-sheet the more possibility we’ve got of winning the game.

“I think everyone realises we create a hell of a lot of chances and we’ve been fortunate enough that we’ve got more than one player to take those chances.

“If we keep clean sheets, which is very important, we’ll win the games.”

Burman knows his side face stern tests in their remaining seventeen games and his side must come through these challenges unscathed.

He said: “We knew yesterday we were top of the league, we also expressed to the players’ although it’s nice to be top of the league we haven’t won anything yet.

“But if we win our games we’ll stay top. That’s our mentality at the moment.”

Meanwhile, The Darts are twice on the road in cup competitions in the space of seven days.

They travel to Ryman Premier League side Heybridge Swifts on Tuesday night before making their first return to Stonebridge Road seven days later for a mouth-watering Kent Senior Cup quarter-final against Ebbsfleet United.

“We’ve got a squad of eighteen fit players at this moment in time,” revealed Burman. “It’s very important that these players’ get 90 minutes under their belts.

“And the ones that didn’t play Saturday will play Tuesday night. Which ever team I put out will be a strong side.

“Our priorities are promotion this year but I still want to stay in the two cup competitions we’re in for as long as we can.

“Although I’m playing who haven’t played 90 minutes or not making the first team at the moment, they’re very much part of my plans at this moment in time.”

And on the club’s return to their former shared home, Burman added: “It’s a difficult cup tie for us against a Conference side but having said that we will try and field players who haven’t got 90 minutes in but are very much in my plans to try and get us promotion.”

Although the Fleet will be in FA Trophy action the following Saturday, it would bring the Kent Senior Cup competition back from the dead if both Burman and Liam Daish fielded full-strength sides - in front of a passionate crowd of over 1,500.

Meanwhile, Brad Potter will have a scan on his ankle next week, and Burman added: “The injury has taken a bit of time to put right.

“The last two weeks I’ve managed to have 18 fit players and that’s a fantastic position when we’re going into the difficult months of January and February.”

Burman revealed that it’s very quiet on the transfer front at present.

He said: “I’m happy with the squad I have at the moment and we do still look and if players become available with quality and will still improve the squad even further make no mistake I will look to bring these players to the club.”

Visit Dartford’s websites:

www.dartfordfc.co.uk & www.dartfordfootballclub.co.uk

Heybridge Swifts v Dartford
Ryman League Cup Fourth Round
Tuesday 22^nd January 2008
Kick Off 7:30pm
At Scraley Road, Heybridge, Maldon, Essex CM9 8JA