We won't give up trying to catch Woking, insist highflying Kent rivals'

JAMIE DAY and Tony Burman both share one thing in common – trying to catch Blue Square Bet South runaway league leaders Woking during the second half of the season, writes Stephen McCartney.


Welling United and Dartford did themselves no favours when they drew each other 1-1 at Park View Road on Boxing Day – in front of the Wings’ largest crowd of the season of 1,815.

Lee Clarke gave Welling a first half lead from the penalty spot, but there was late drama when Dartford keeper Louis Wells’ saved Clarke’s second penalty and the Darts broke away and Lee Noble’s first goal of the season ensured the massive Kent derby ended all square.

Woking, meanwhile, secured their seventeenth league win of the season when Ben Smith scored the only goal of the game in a 1-0 win over Farnborough, in front of a bumper crowd of 3,014 at Kingfield Stadium.

The Surrey outfit sit proudly at the top of the Conference South table with 56 points from 23 games, 12 points clear of second-placed Welling, who have a game in hand.  Dartford remain in fourth place with 39 points from 21 league outings.

Welling United player-manager Day said: “We’ve got to try to cement a play-off place now.

“Woking are the best team in the league and the table shows it.  We, like the other teams, have to try to catch Woking and as they’ve improved the lead today it’s going to be very difficult.

“But for us, we’ve got to look at getting the play-off place and I think we can do that.

“Off the pitch we’re in a better position.  We haven’t really got the resources to add further to our squad.  That’s always been a problem at Welling, so the players that we’ve got have done a fantastic job up to now, so we’ve got to hope we can put together another 21 games like we’ve had so far and hopefully stay in the top six.”

Dartford boss Burman added: “I won’t come away from a belief that we can catch Woking.  They’ve done fantastically well, won again 1-0, but the teams at the top of the league, that’s what they do.

“But I can’t give it up in December, I just can’t.  There would be no point in being in football if I thought that way.

“I’m pleased with our position and feel we’ve done well enough to be in this position.  The second ten games we’ve played have not been as good as the first ten, so now we’ve got to try to improve over the next ten.

“If we’re in the same position in February, ask me the question about Woking then.  But we want to be in the play-offs as a minimum, but the closer we can get to Woking, all well and good.”

Day, meanwhile, is looking forward to the return match at Princes Park next Monday.

He said: “I think if we play like we did on Boxing Day, we can go to Princes and get a result.  We’ve got to get on with it and play the same way.”

Burman added: “The fans’ were great (at Park View Road) and hopefully they’ll turn up on Monday and we can put a day on with a bit more quality in the last third.”

STAT ATTACK
Welling United are the sole side to beat Woking in the league this season – a 3-2 win at Park View Road back on 3 September.
Welling United’s leading goalscorer is 19-goal striker Andy Pugh.
Dartford’s leading goalscorer remains Charlie Sheringham, who now plays for AFC Bournemouth, but influential skipper, Elliot Bradbrook has nine.
Dartford’s largest attendance at home this season was when 1,558 watched them beat Kent rivals Dover Athletic 3-1 on 3 December.
Woking are also beating these two Kent club’s on the terraces, averaging crowds (in the league) of 1,587.  Dartford follow next with average gates at Princes Park of 1,199. Essex side Chelmsford (931) are the third best supported club, followed by Dover Athletic (910) and Welling United (755).

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

Visit Welling United’s website: www.wellingunited.com  

Dartford  v  Welling United
Blue Square Bet South
Monday 2^nd January 2012
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Princes Park Stadium, Grassbanks, Darenth Road, Dartford, Kent DA1 1RT