21stoct05

Friday 21st October 2005

Burman draws line under striker saga

Following their high-profile duals with Dover Athletic during the past week, Dartford return to Southern League action with a trip to Rothwell Town tomorrow, writes Stephen McCartney.

Two goals from Steve Hafner helped the Darts' beat Ryman League Division One side Dover Athletic in a five-goal thriller at Stonebridge Road on Tuesday night, but tomorrow's game is just as important.

"After the excitement of Tuesday night, we now must get our thoughts firmly on tomorrow's game," Darts' boss Tony Burman told www.dartfordfc.co.uk.

And Burman revealed: "We do have some problems for tomorrow with team selection with three players who are certainly unavailable."

Dave Martin - scorer of their first goal on Tuesday night, will miss out, so will Ryan Briggs and Kevin Spriggs, although Ian Pulman is added to the squad.

"This will almost certainly give me a chance to one of our very patient squad members," revealed Burman.

And he is delighted with their current form. "The games seem to be coming fast and furious with fixtures on Saturday's and mid week since the start of the season and it doesn't seem as though we have had too many training sessions.

"Our league at the moment seems to be very tight points wise and it's so important that we dig in and try to keep in touch.

"After coming through a poor run of results, we are now undefeated in three league games.

"I cannot guarantee that we will not slip into a poor run of results again this season but if the players are to learn anything from the situation it must be to pick up some points here and there from a poor run, even if we are not the best side on the day."

And Burman updated fans on the long running Tostao Kwashi saga.

"After the game on Tuesday I received a text from Tostao. It is with regret that I have to inform you that he will not be returning to England before the end of the year.

"I would like to put on record that Tostao would have been, and still could be, a valuable member of our squad.

"I think that we all must try and understand the political situation in Vietnam and Zimbabwe as their regulations and diplomatic relations with our country have been strained.

"I can assure you that when he eventually gets back in this county he only wants to play for Dartford Football Club.

"I feel now that I should draw a line under this saga and only report back to you when I am face to face with Tostao.

"Let's now move on and support the current squad of players and find a new hero for the time being - as I think there could be quite a few candidates."

Rothwell Town v Dartford
Southern League Division One East
Saturday 22nd October 2005
Kick Off 3:00pm