Burman ready for Sudbury showdown

Dartford face their sternest test as a Ryman League Division One North club on Saturday - league leaders AFC Sudbury come to town, writes Stephen McCartney.

The Princes Park showdown is between two of the division’s heavyweights, and Darts boss Tony Burman cannot wait!

His side showed their true colours in midweek, thumping their Kentish rivals Sittingbourne 5-1 to win a FA Cup First Qualifying Round replay at Bourne Park.

Striker Brendon Cass took his tally to eight in as many games, with a hat-trick, with other goals coming from defender Adam Flanagan, and Eddie McClements, who was playing on the right hand side of a four man midfield.

And Burman’s side have issued a warning to their new league rivals, that they mean business.

“I want to be top of the league around the 30^th April and we’ve won promotion,” Burman told www.kentishfootball.co.uk after Tuesday night’s convincing win.

“We was top of the (Ryman One South) league around this time last year and Hastings, in seven days beat us twice, and they’ve been promoted and we haven’t.

“Our aim is promotion and it’s a marathon. We’re not having the best of times just right now but that’s not a bad thing.

“We’ve got to improve and we will improve and get stronger.”

Burman believes he has the players at the club that will adapt to all conditions during the winter months.

He said: “When the pitches become mud heaps, which some of them will do, I feel we’ve got strength in the players I’ve brought to the club, not just physical strength but mental strength as well.

Burman has told his players to stamp their authority on Saturday’s opponents - AFC Sudbury have won five of their first six games - and prove that they should be where they are in the table.

“They’re top of the league and flying high so we know we’ll have a big game,” he said.

“We know it will be a difficult game but we’re at home and we’ve got to take the initiative and if we want to go on (and win this) league, we’ve got to beat teams like Sudbury.”

Burman has completed the signing of star midfielder Junior Kadi from Blue Square South outfit Bromley and Kadi, who impressed during a stint at Princes Park during pre-season, goes straight into the Darts squad for this game.

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Dartford v AFC Sudbury
Ryman League Division One North
Saturday 22^nd September 2007
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Princes Park Stadium, Grassbanks, Darenth Road, Dartford, Kent DA1 1RT