We're geared up to play Conference Premier football, says Dartford boss Tony Burman

DARTFORD boss Tony Burman says his club are geared up to enter the Blue Square Bet (Conference) Premier next season.



The Darts finished runners-up in the Blue Square Bet (Conference) South and face their third-placed Kent rivals Welling United in a winner-takes-all play-off final showdown in front of 4,000 supporters on Sunday afternoon.

All tickets were snapped up by three o’clock this afternoon.  Welling United sold all of their allocation of 1,000 tickets this morning, before the last remaining 400 were sold to eager Dartford supporters when their club shop reopened for business at two o’clock.

The winners of Sunday’s make-or-break showdown will clinch promotions with champions Woking into the top flight of non-league football.

Dartford last played at that level back in 1986 and Burman wants his side to cross the line and seal their return.

He said: “I thought it might be sold out, but I didn’t think it would be quite as quick!

“I’m pleased that on one side of things the team that finished second and the team that finished third have made the final and I think that’s right!

“We commence battle Sunday and hopefully we can progress to the next level.”

Sunday’s game will certainly be tense, with so much at stake for both Kent clubs.

Burman said:  “You can coach as much as you like or talk as much as you like.  It’s just what happens on the day for the 90 minutes. What team adapts to the conditions on and off the field on that day and I’d like to say my team have been absolutely superb.  They’ve stayed focussed throughout what’s gone on.”

Dartford came through the challenge of in-form Basingstoke Town to win 3-1 on aggregate to book their place in Sunday’s final against their Kent rivals.

Lee Noble’s first half injury time strike sealed a 1-0 victory at The Camrose, before influential skipper, Elliot Bradbrook and Danny Harris netted the goals in the 2-1 win at Princes Park last Sunday.

Welling United scraped past Sutton United 2-1 on aggregate.  Goals from Lee Clarke and Joe Healey proved enough as Jamie Day’s side came away from Gander Green Lane with a 2-1 win in the first leg, before they played out a goal-less draw at Park View Road.

Burman said: “We’ve beat a real in-form team twice to get through to the final, so I’m very pleased with the way things are going.”

Dartford finished seven points clear of Jamie Day’s side over 42-league games, but all that counts for nothing when the two Kent club’s do battle.

“Both teams have been consistent. The league positions says we’ve been a little bit consistent than Welling,” added Burman.

“You just hope the team remember all the good things they’ve done over the 42 games as for what’s happened over Christmas (against Welling United) is irrelevant really.  It’s just what happens on the day.

“I’m expecting a tough game. Welling have done ever so well and we’ve done really, really well.  I think it’s the team that adapts to the conditions on the day that will go through.”

Burman agrees that this is KENT’S BIGGEST EVER DERBY!

“I think so, because of what’s at stake,” said the Dartford stalwart.

“It’s to try to get at the top and play at a top level, with the ex-League clubs.  We definitely want to do that.  We’re geared up to do that. It might be a little bit in front of ourselves to be honest, but I’m happy with that.

“We’ve done ever so well and we deserved to be where we are.”

Visit Dartford’s websites: www.dartfordfconline.com & www.dartfordfootballclub.com

Dartford  v  Welling United
Blue Square Bet South Play-Off Final
Sunday 13^th May 2012
Kick Off 3:00pm
at Princes Park Stadium, Grassbanks, Darenth Road, Dartford, Kent DA1 1RT