Goals have given us an air of confidence, admits Flanagan

Scoring thirteen goals during their last two games has given Dartford the belief that they can clinch the Ryman League Division One North title at the first attempt, says defender Adam Flanagan, writes Stephen McCartney.

The Darts have outclassed both Witham Town (7-2) and fourth placed side Enfield Town (6-1) in their last two games at Princes Park.

And they remain at the top of the table on 35 points from 18 games, three points clear of Edgware Town and Maldon Town.

Tony Burman’s title chasing men now have the prospect of playing Brentwood Town and Maldon Town (both away) and Canvey Island, three sides currently in the top nine this month.

And it was former Folkestone Invicta skipper Flanagan that got breathtaking Dartford off to a great start, scoring a brace inside the opening eleven minutes.

Enfield Town found themselves 4-0 down at half-time, courtesy of Jay May’s tenth goal of the season and winger Ryan Hayes netting from a stunning but audacious free-kick.

Eddie McClements and striker Brendon Cass, who netted his 21^st goal of the season, wrapped up the rout, as Dartford played some stunning football, which is not that of Ryman League Division One North standard.

David Bastian netted his third goal of the season to score a 66^th minute consolation for the shell-shocked north Londoners, who also had a goal from Ricci Crase ruled out for offside late on.

But Flanagan believes last Tuesday’s victory over Witham Town was the catalyst for Dartford’s players to start believing in themselves - and dishing out thrashings that they’re more than capable off.

“Tuesday was a pleasure, I think it gave us a lot of confidence,” Flanagan told www.kentishfootball.co.uk yesterday.

“We knew if we started well (against Enfield Town), then the guys up front and individuals that we’ve got in this tem, the goals are likely.

“I think after 10-15 minutes, because we were 2-0 up, I think everyone’s that little bit more confident and I think that’s what drove us on.

“As the way the half ended, another two good goals, and went in at half-time
4-0 up.

“We would have taken 4-0 any day of the week at full-time, so 4-0 at half-time was incredible really.”

Dartford travel to ninth placed Brentwood Town next weekend, a side that scored the only goal of the game at Wingate & Finchley yesterday, in full confidence.

“I think as a team we’ve got the potential to do that to a lot of teams,” warned central defender Flanagan.

“I guess in general you don’t expect to do that to other teams at the top but I think these two games now we’ve got that little air of confidence and that’s mainly what we didn’t have when we had a little bit of a bad spell in the middle of the month. But hopefully now we can keep that.

“We’ve got some big games coming up against teams at the top as well and I think we can go into those games knowing that we’ll create chances and everyone’s chipping in with goals at the moment.”

Having climbed to the top of the table for the first time after their 7-2 win over Witham Town last Tuesday, Flanagan has challenged his team-mates to stay there.

He said: “When you’re top of the league it is harder because you want to stay there and everyone wants to know you off the top spot and take your crown.

“But I think as a team it’s what you want to be fair. You want to be top of the shop and you know teams are going to come here and try and do a number on you.

“But its about raising your level and raising your performances and the last few games as a team we’re doing that and I’d like to think that will continue.”

Boss Burman asked for a performance from his players against rivals’ Enfield Town yesterday - and boy did he get one!

“I was very pleased scoring six,” he said after his side’s master-class.

“To be fair to them (Enfield Town), they came out with a little bit of a tallyho style and it put us on the back foot for a little while second half, but the job was done, to be fair, in the first half.

“But the attitude, we scored from free-kick’s, but some of our play was excellent.

“I asked them (my players) to give us seven out of 10. I said if everyone can give me seven out of 10 then we would win the game and I felt there was a little higher than that.

“I’ve been asking them to get out of third gear, and for longer spells, I think that happened as well.”

Dartford were defeated 2-1 at home to Bury Town eight days ago, but Burman knew his side were more than capable of responding in style.

“I think we could have scored more goals than Bury, although we lost the game,” said Burman.

“It didn’t work for us that day, it didn’t work for a number of reasons as well.

"We ironed out a few things in midweek. I wasn’t happy, players weren’t going where I was asking them go and If I’m honest with you, we had a little clear the air in midweek an they’ve got to go where I want them to go until it’s stops working.

“Our set-pieces are good. We are very strong on set-pieces and as long as players do what they are told and go where I want them to go, and that’s happened in the last two games.”

Their last two performances prove that no other team in their division can live with them - but Burman knows his side must maintain their very high standards to ensure they clinch promotion into the Ryman Premier League in four months time.

“We know we’ve got some tough games coming up. We don’t get promoted in November, December but we start laying the foundations,” he explained.

“If that means that we’re top, so be it. That’s the aim.

“We know January and February, the winter months are going to come in, the pitches will start going to be heavy and then the games have to be adjusted again.

“But we just want to get up there and stay with the leaders and if we’re top and got more points, then so be it, keep digging in there.

“If I can get all the players to believe in themselves, because I know that I’ve got a quality squad and half of it is I’ve got to make sure they’ve got to believe it and I’ll do my best to make them believe it!

Burman will make wholesale changes to his side for the Ryman League Cup third round tie against Whitstable Town on Tuesday night.

Marc Seager’s side climbed up to 16^th place in the Ryman League Division One South table, following their 3-0 win over Kentish rivals, Chatham Town yesterday - Phil Miles last game in charge of Chatham following his decision to step down due to new work commitments.

“We won’t be playing everybody who played against Enfield Town,” revealed Burman.

“The lads that have been waiting patiently on the bench they will play and they will play ninety minutes.

“I want to win the game and I want to stay in that competition but I’ve got to rest some players.

“We’ve got to give some other players a chance to get 90 minutes and I’m sure will be watching closely and I want them to impress me. The main thing is to get 90 minutes from them.

“I’m happy to go as far as we can in it but it will be a mixture of players who haven’t been getting 90 minutes recently and players doing well in Paul (Hennessey’s under 21) side.”

Due to Enfield Town’s physical approach yesterday, two-goal hero Flanagan received treatment afterwards, and midfield rock, Alex O’Brien picked up “quite a bad gash on his shin.”

Visit club websites:

www.dartfordfc.co.uk & www.dartfordfootballclub.co.uk

www.whitstabletownfc.co.uk

Dartford v Whitstable Town
Ryman League Cup Third Round
Tuesday 4^th December 2007
Kick Off 7:45pm
At Princes Park Stadium, Grassbanks, Darenth Road, Dartford, Kent DA1 1RT