20thsept04

Dartford suffer from FA Cup hard luck 

"We couldn't have played any better" was the comment from Dartford manager Tommy Sampson after their FA Cup dreams were dashed by Dorking at Stonebridge Road on Saturday, writes Stephen McCartney.

The Surrey side now face full-time side Billericay Town in the second qualifying round in two week's time.

The Dart's, however, were without five first team regulars and can count themselves unlucky not to be facing the Essex side as Dorking's goalkeeper had a lot to say in the matter with a "fantastic, world class performance" enthused Sampson.

Sampson revealed he was without his back-bone of his side, missing Paul Sykes, Jim Carter, Mark Horan, Barry Gibson and Brad Potter.

Sampson admitted: "We couldn't have played any better.

"I was without five first team players and we played really well.

"The Dorking goalkeeper had a magnificent day - he made four outstanding saves - world class saves - and saved a last minute penalty from Eddie McClements.

"We made and missed 4-5 really good chances, but it's another FA Cup hard luck story.  They had one shot in the game and scored from it when we lost our concentration.

However, the manager revealed he should have at least two players back available when they entertain Arlesey Town and Chatham Town at Stonebridge Road in their next two Southern League Division One East games.

"To be fair, they are both important games," he said.

Sampson will be without Carter and Gibson but Sykes is rated 50/50.  Midfielder Mark Horan is away on holiday but Potter should be back for Saturday's game.

Although he doesn't know much about the Herfordshire side, Sampson added:

"We are playing really well.  We either make a lot of chances and give away a goal or we score goals but make even more mistakes than we need to."

And when asked why this was the case, in-experience was the answer.

"It's a little bit of inexperience basically, and really that's it.  It's just that we need to know when to kick the ball out of the ground, or pass it out."

Sampson is pleased his side's attacking brand of football is drawing the crowds to Stonebridge Road.

"We are looking threatening going forward this season with Jim Carter, Eddie McClements, Tostao Kwashi and Tommy Planck, who started his first game of the season against Dorking.

"But we just don't concentrate for enough periods in our own half.

"It was such a one-sided game, if we had taken half our chances we would have won 4-1, but it's a harsh lesson in football."

Like many clubs, Dartford look to the FA Cup for a source of generating much-needed income, especially as they groundshare at Conference neighbours Gravesend & Northfleet.

Sampson joked: "We have now lost twice in a week when we shouldn't have - we have to start playing badly and win, I think!"

"Our supporters are terrific!  Our gates are going up, we are creeping up to the 300 mark now, with the way we are playing.

"We just need to win for them now!"