We stand a good chance of getting to Wembley, says Dartford co-chairman David Skinner

DARTFORD co-chairman David Skinner hopes the expected milder temperatures will enable their FA Carlsberg Trophy Last Sixteen clash against Wealdstone will go ahead on Tuesday night.


Dartford’s Blue Square Bet South clash against fellow play-off chasers Sutton United was frozen off following a pitch inspection this morning.

All football in Kent today fell victim to frozen pitches, as games were called off on Thursday, Friday and this morning.

The last game to fall victim was Ebbsfleet United’s home game against Derbyshire outfit Alfreton Town in Blue Square Bet (Conference) Premier.

And the Darts worked tirelessly to get today’s game on but there was a sense of bitter disappointment when local referee Darren Blunden deemed the pitch unplayable.

“We cleared the snow off the bit where the sun is yesterday and that was not looking too bad but when the shadow of the stand where we had the covers that was still fairly sold but we can always hope,” said Dartford stalwart Mr Skinner.

“But what can you do in exceptional weather circumstances (temperatures around minus ten) that we’ve got at the moment?”

Dartford’s last home game was against Thurrock on 28^th January.

And Mr Skinner revealed that the current cold snap is hitting the club’s finances.

He said: “When a league game gets postponed and gets re-arranged for another day, particularly from a Saturday to a Tuesday, you do lose revenue from the crowd and that is part of your budgeted figure.

“When we lost the Trophy game, although you will get a smaller crowd, it’s not part of your budget so it’s not financially as bad as losing a league game.”

Mr Skinner says he is hopeful that The FA Carlsberg Trophy clash against Wealdstone – which has already been frozen off twice – goes ahead on Tuesday night.

He said: “I’m fairly hopeful.  The weather forecast gives plus seven (degrees) Monday and Tuesday so I’m hoping that the frost and ice will all melt away and disappear and we get a game on.  I think everyone’s getting fairly desperate for a game now!”

Tony Burman’s side are favourites to beat Ryman Premier Leaguers Wealdstone to progress into the quarter-finals of the competition.

The Darts reached the last sixteen last season when they lost to Blue Square Bet Premier side Gateshead in the North East.

But Wealdstone may claim to hold an advantage over the Darts as they held the Kent side to draws when they met in the Ryman Premier League.

Mr Skinner added: “We reached this stage last year so you always like to progress so to get through one more round at least will be an improvement on last year and Wembley is on the horizon particularly with all the Premier sides knocking each other out this year we stand a good chance.”

It’s a big seven days for the Princes Park outfit as they travel to Kingfield Stadium to face league leaders Woking next Saturday.

 The Cards are eleven points clear of second-placed Dartford, although Burman’s boys have two games in hand.

Mr Skinner added: “We’re in a better position than last year, which was our aim for this season.  The play-off’s are a possibility.  If we happen to go and win at Woking next Saturday then I think the league title is well up for grabs.”

But Dartford will go into the week full of confidence as they have won all of their seven games in 2012.

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

Dartford  v  Wealdstone
The FA Carlsberg Trophy Third Round
Tuesday 14^th February 2012
Kick Off 7:45pm
At Princes Park Stadium, Grassbanks, Darenth Road, Dartford, Kent DA1 1RT