30thsept05

Darts concentrate on ending losing run

After picking up 13 points from their opening five Southern League Division One East games, they have lost to Boreham Wood (1-3), Corby Town (1-4) and Kent rivals Sittingbourne (0-1) and Chatham Town twice, by the same 1-0 scoreline (once at home in the Errea Cup and away in the league).

But their performances against their Kent rivals in the past seven days suggests they will return to winning ways when Berkhamsted Town - whose last visit to Kent saw them lose 3-0 at Chatham Town - visit Stonebridge Road.

"After our defeat at Sittingbourne I think its time to stop talking about our good start to the season and concentrate on getting out of this poor run of results that we find ourselves in," Burman told www.dartfordfc.co.uk

"I have said before seven days is a long time in football and I look back to see if I have got my own preparation right for these games and wonder why we have slipped into this poor run of results.

"I know that the Corby game was our worst performance so far and the players needed to be told some home truths."

And Burman admits he has the players at the club to end their run of defeats.  He added: "There has been a lot said about formations that we have played.  In some games it has worked superbly and in recent games maybe not so good.

"Whatever formation the manager wants his team to play the players must perform to the best of their ability.

"At the end of the day they must try to play football and win the game.  The players have set themselves high standards with some great performances but over the last couple of weeks maybe through lack of confidence, which I cannot understand, have fallen below that level.

"I know that you make your own luck but in the last two games I do think we deserved a little bit more luck than what we received.

"The games against Chatham and Sittingbourne I think could of gone either way and we deserved some thing from both games.

"It is disappointing to be in this run of poor results but we must continue to work hard and as easily has we have slipped into it we will come out of it and wonder how it ever happened."

Burman asks fans to continue supporting their team - as they did at Maidstone Road in midweek.

"We must all stick together to help see us through this difficult spell," he said. "There have been some postings (on the fans' forum) regarding the lack of vocal support at recent games.

"This could be due to the performances that we have put in but all I can say is when we do have your vocal support from the terraces it without doubt helps us to improve our performance."

Dartford v Berkhamsted Town
Southern League Division One East
Saturday 1st October 2005
Kick Off 3:00pm
at Stonebridge Road, Northfleet