Green opts for move to home-town club Dartford - Dover sign Innocent striker

Local boy Mark Green jumped at the chance of joining his home-town club Dartford and has been added to the squad for tomorrow’s trip to Dover Athletic, writes Stephen McCartney.

Longfield resident Green, 21, was one of two players released by Tonbridge Angels boss Tony Dolby earlier in the week and the left-sided player was quickly snapped up by Darts boss Tony Burman.

“We heard Mark was probably being released from his contract and we made an enquiry,” Burman explained EXCLUISVELY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk on the eve of the big Kent showdown.

“He lives in Longfield, he’s a Dartford lad, so there wasn’t much persuading to be fair.”

Burman explained why he has brought the former England Schoolboy, Gillingham, Margate, Welling United and Eastbourne Borough player to Princes Park.

“First of all he’s a left-sided player,” he said. “He can play at left-back or on the left of a midfield four.

“To be fair that’s what I’ve been looking for since Dave Martin left the club.

“I’m not saying he’s a Dave Martin but he’s solid and has played in the higher division.”

Both Dartford and Dover Athletic have hit a patch of inconsistent form recently - but Burman is happy with his players ahead of tomorrow’s Crabble clash.

“I would say we ourselves are going through that stage that clubs go through, players injured and suspended,” said Burman,

“You hope you go through that stage with some points. We haven’t played badly in the games we’ve lost recently.

“You look at the team and your players and you hope they’ll do their best and my players have done the best for me.”

Since winger Dave Martin left the club to join Crystal Palace, following Darts’ entertaining 4-3 win over Ashford Town on 20^th January, Burman’s side have collected four points out of a possible 15.

Last weekend, Fleet Town joined Sittingbourne as the only sides that have beaten the Darts at Princes Park.

“Fleet Town have been up in the top four all season and over the last month they’ve had four or five players out suspended or injured and they returned against us,” said Burman.

“I felt they are a good side and they’ll beat people.

“What I want from the players is that I’m going to get the best from them.

“Although we lost last week we didn’t play terrible - we didn’t play badly.

“The game could have gone either way as far as I’m concerned and we’ll get a result from tomorrow’s game.”

Central defender Lew Watts serves the last of his three-match ban tomorrow and former Dover Athletic midfielder Steve Hafner is expected to be missing for a minimum of four weeks with a fractured wrist.

Midfielder Eddie McClements is rated doubtful but prolific striker Jay May is itching to return to action following his three-match ban.

Burman said: “It’s a big boost for us. Jay’s been excellent for us all season. We’ve missed him with his presence and we can’t wait for him to come back.”

Dover Athletic go into tomorrow’s clash with Dartford having lost their last three league games and as a result have dropped into the last play-off berth.