We go to Burgess Hill in good spirits and we’ll give it 100% to try to get through to the next round, says Dartford boss Tony Burman

DARTFORD manager Tony Burman says getting past Burgess Hill Town in The FA Cup on Saturday will put his club back in the limelight.

The Darts travel to Leylands Park in The FA Cup Fourth Qualifying
Round, knowing a win will send them through to the First Round.


GOAL: Dartford striker Alfie Pavey (number nine) scores against Bognor Regis Town at Princes Park last Saturday.
Photo: Edmund Boyden - www.edboydenphotos.co.uk


Dartford go into the game on the back of a 3-1 win over Bognor Regis Town at Princes Park last weekend.

The Darts are in fourth-place in the Vanarama National League South with seven wins, four draws and two defeats and they are only two points adrift league leaders Braintree Town.

“It was good. It went to plan,” said Burman, who’s side suffered a 3-0 defeat at Weston-super-Mare in their last league outing.

“We had a poor result at Weston for our standards and that’s what can’t happen on Saturday.

“We need to be fully focused, which I’m sure we will do.  We got back on track in the league programme with a 3-1 win over Bognor. It was a fair result and the guys responded brilliantly.

“I’m pleased with where we are. We’ve had, like all club’s do, a spell with injuries and last Saturday was the first Saturday where I had to leave a player out of the sixteen.

“Ronnie Vint didn’t make the 16 even though he was fit so that’s a good sign but it was tough to leave him out.  It’s a good thing in a way and hopefully it gives us that competition for places and in all fairness with the injuries we’ve had and the guys starting to come back into it, I’m pleased with where we are at the moment.”

Burman is delighted with the goalscoring form being shown by ten-goal striker Alfie Pavey this season.

“Alfie’s a big targetman but he’s a young lad who really has to start again and earn his right. He’s doing that at the moment and long may that continue,” said Burman.

“I hope he does it for the rest of the season because that’s when players will get noticed. He’s come in  (from Welling United) and enjoyed his football and has managed to put goals in which will help him with what he wants to do.”

Burman is relishing the trip to Bostik Premier side Burgess Hill Town to reach The FA Cup First Round.

The Hillans are in nineteenth-place in their table with a playing record of three wins, three draws and four defeats.

“I think it’s going to be a tough game for us,” warns Burman.

“We’ve played them twice before in cup competitions. I’ve seen them play and had them watched in the last couple of games and in one of the games they were excellent.

“We won’t be taking anything for granted. We need to and want to get through to the next round and we’ll do our best to do that.

“Everyone wants to be involved in The FA Cup. It’s for obvious reasons but it always puts a bit of limelight for the supporters and puts your club out there in the spotlight as well so it’s something we want to be involved in.

“From our point of view you don’t want to have replays at this stage, you need to decide it on the one game and hopefully that will be the case.

“FA Cup football is completely different to league football and league positions and it’s all what happens on the day and we’ll be doing our best to perform like we did in the previous two rounds.

“We’ve got a fully fit squad and we go down there in good spirits and we’ll give it 100% to try to get through to the next round.”

Visit Dartford’s website:  www.dartfordfc.com

Burgess Hill Town  v  Dartford
The Emirates FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round
Saturday 14^th October 2017
Kick Off 3:00pm
at Leylands Park, Maple Drive, Burgess Hill, West Sussex RH15 8DL