We are fully focused to achieve play-off place, insists Darts boss Burman

Friday 21st April 2006

Unbeaten in their last four games (including a 2-1 win over league leaders Boreham Wood) has given Harlow Town slight play-off aspirations. But so do Dartford and boss Tony Burman is looking forward to tomorrow’s crucial clash against the Hawks, writes Stephen McCartney.
Harlow’s run has taken them up to ninth place in the Southern League Division One East table with 54 points – three points behind the flying Darts.

But Burman’s side are also in the hunt, just one point behind Wivenhoe Town and Burman will be hoping strugglers Berkhamsted Town and Enfield can pick up points against the under pressure Dragons to enable the Kent club to get a deserved place in the end of season lottery.

Second placed Enfield Town – without a game tomorrow – could lose that second automatic promotion place as third placed Corby Town can leap frog over them if they avoid defeat at Uxbridge.

Has it got the making’s off a lucrative play-off semi-final clash between Enfield Town and Dartford? We hope so.

“I have had many supporters tell me how pleased they are that the team are involved in such a crucial game at this stage of the season,” Burman told www.dartfordfootballclub.co.uk

“From a personal point of view I think it’s the most important game since we played Furness in the last game of the season all those years ago to get promoted to the Southern League.”

The Darts stalwart revealed the mood in the camp is excellent as they look forward to beating Harlow Town and Barton Rovers to get into the play-offs.

“The players are very focused on what is required over the last couple of games. They have been getting used to the circumstances regarding each game.

”The so-called pressure in these games is a much more enjoyable than the pressure put on teams at the wrong end of the table.”

The Darts boss has issued a rallying cry to the club’s excellent band of supporters for tomorrow’s big game.

Darts fans handed over a cheque of around £1,500 before last week’s exciting 3-1 win over local rivals Chatham Town, money raised by an internet acution.

“I would like everybody to come to the game tomorrow to enjoy the match as much as they possibly can and regardless of what is going on during the match, the team will need our full vocal support throughout the whole game.”

Speaking about the Hawks, Burman added: “They are on an excellent run of results, which has pushed them up the table and, results permitting, they could take the last play-off places themselves.

“I have to tell you that I am really looking forward to the game tomorrow as I feel the players have worked so hard to turn things around and are playing some very exciting football.

“This is our last home game and as a club I feel we are going in the right direction on and off the field and this is one of the most pleasing achievements as far as I’m concerned.”

Dartford v Harlow Town
Southern League Division One East
Saturday 22^nd April 2006

Kick Off 3:00pm
at Stonebridge Road, Northfleet