Winning at Eastleigh has to be our turning point, says Darts boss Tony Burman

Thursday 14th October 2010

DARTFORD boss Tony Burman says his side’s penalty success over Canvey Island in the FA Cup in midweek was “mind-boggling,” writes Stephen McCartney.

The Darts threw away a 3-1 replay ead to be pegged back by the Essex side but eventually booked their place in the Fourth Qualifying Round by winning 9-8 on penalties at Princes Park on Tuesday night.

“I wouldn’t say it was the greatest game but it was a bit mind-boggling really to be fair,” Burman told www.kentishfootball.co.uk.

“We didn’t play very well but we played well on Saturday (during the 2-2 draw) but we didn’t play well on Tuesday night.

“Having said that we were still 3-1 up with about 30 minutes to go and you thought that would be it - but fair play to Canvey they came and gave us a real good game and they deservedly got back into the game at 3-3.

“They hit the bar and you think that it’s over, it’s not going to be our night, but they stopped us playing, they closed us down very quickly and didn’t give us any time on the ball.

“We went into extra time and I thought the second period of extra-time Canvey had given their all and we probably was a little bit better than them in the second period but nevertheless it’s gone to penalties and the excitement, it was murder trying to concentrate on anything.

“I don’t really want to go through that to be fair. We went through it a couple of years ago against St Albans and we were the better side on that night but we lost on penalties and it’s come round again and it’s our turn. We probably weren’t the best team on the night but we’ve won on penalties.

“Brucie’s (Joe Bruce) missed the sixth penalty and their guy (Matt Game) gone up and if he scores their sixth penalty they’re through but Youngie (Andrew Young) saved it and pushed it on the post.

“All off a sudden no-one was missing and they were good penalties.

“At the end of it we’ve managed to score our tenth penalty (Paul Goodacre) and their guy (Jason Hallett) missed the target and we’ve gone through and we were a little fortunate to go through but the game should have been completely finished as we were by far the better team on Saturday.

“It was a typical Cup tie and that’s what Cup football’s all about.”

Dartford will travel to Rigeons Premier League side Leiston on 23 October, knowing it’s been 21 years since the club last appeared in the first round proper.

Burman admitted getting through the final qualifying round will be tough.

Before that, however, the Darts travel to ninth-placed Eastleigh in Blue Square Bet South on Saturday, looking to climb the table, especially as Burman’s men are sitting in the bottom six after 10 games.

“The games in the FA Cup are just one offs and it’s who wants it the most on the day really, but we’ve got to get some pattern back into our play in the league,” said Burman.

“As good as it was on Saturday it wasn’t very good on Tuesday night.

“Eastleigh are going to be a strong side, we know that, and we have to go down there and get something out of the game.

“Hopefully, maybe it’s a turning point. I would like to think it would be, but whatever happens we have to play a lot better than we did on Tuesday night.”

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

Eastleigh v Dartford

Blue Square Bet South

Saturday 16th October 2010

Kick Off 3:00pm

At Silverlake Stadium, Ten Acres, Stoneham Lane, Eastleigh, Hampshire SO50 9HT