Leiston are going to be a difficult side to beat, warns Burman

Sunday 17th October 2010

DARTFORD boss Tony Burman says Leiston are a side that are well capable of preventing his side reaching the FA Cup First Round proper for the first time in 21 years, writes Stephen McCartney.

The Suffolk side play in the Ridgeons Premier League - three league’s lower than the Darts - and Burman insisted that although their opponents play at the same level as the Kent League they are a strong outfit, as Folkestone Invicta found out in the Second Qualifying Round.

Neil Cugley’s side were held to a 1-1 draw at Cheriton Road, before being dumped out in the replay at Victory Road.

“Although they’re three league’s lower we all have to understand where they are and they’re a bit isolated to what league’s they can play in,” Burman told www.kentishfootball.co.uk.

“We know a lot off their players and their manager especially and the majority of the players are from AFC Sudbury and they’re good players who shouldn’t be playing at that level, but obviously circumstances with travelling, players can now not get time off work, so they’re going to be a difficult team to beat.

“I’m not looking at what league they’re actually in. I know their players are good enough for the Ryman Premier, that’s for sure.”

Suffolk is certainly enjoying a good time at present. Lowestfoft Town (who clinched the Ryman League Division One North title last season) are sitting at the summit in their first ever Ryman Premier League campaign, and Bury Town are four points behind in fourth place.

Needham Market are in fourth place in their inaugural Ryman League Division One North campaign, whilst AFC Sudbury are in eighth place.

Leiston, meanwhile, are in fifth place in the Ridgeons League, with 8 wins and a draw from 10 league games, although they do have games in hand over all of the sides above them in the table.

“Suffolk is a good area and they’ve got some good footballing teams from that way,” said Burman.

“We played Lowestoft and they’re decent so are Bury Town when we played them.

“We’ve got to go to Leiston but we’ve got an opportunity to progress into the next round and that’s what we’ll endeavour to do.

“We’re in the fourth qualifying round and we haven’t done it for a long time so again it’s an improvement on previous seasons, which I’m pleased about.”

Visit Dartford’s websites: www.dartfordfconline.com & www.dartfordfootballclub.co.uk

Leiston v Dartford

FA Cup (Sponsored by E.ON) Fourth Qualifying Round

Saturday 23rd October 2010

Kick Off 3:00pm

At Victory Road, Leiston, Suffolk IP16 4DQ