I've learnt a lot this year and I will endeavour to get things right, vows Darts boss Tony Burman

Thursday 03rd March 2011

DARTFORD boss Tony Burman says he has learnt more about his players when they were struggling for form this season, writes Stephen McCartney.

The Kent giants were tipped by many to enjoy a successful first campaign in Blue Square Bet South, but they have saved their best form for Cup ties.

The Darts were knocked out of The FA Cup in the First Round, having taken League Two side Port Vale to a replay, and sent Crawley Town out of The FA Carlsberg Trophy en-route to the last sixteen, when they lost 3-0 up at Blue Square Premier side Gateshead last month.

Dartford were languishing inside the relegation zone at the turn of the year but a run of six wins and three draws in their last ten league games has taken the club to thirteenth place with 36 points from 29 games.

“We’ve had no talk of relegation,” insisted Burman, following his side’s hard-fought 1-0 home win over Basingstoke Town this week.

“The doom and gloom was about in January, when we were in the bottom three, which is disappointing for us but we’ve had a hell of a lot of games. We’ve played 29 games now and 15 Cup games, I think, and that’s a season.

“We’re disappointed with where we are in the table that’s for sure, but I’ll understand this a lot better for the future. I’ve learnt a lot this year but that’s happened in the other league’s I’ve been in. I’m learning all the time and I will endeavour to get things right.”

Burman wants to build on their midweek win for the visit of Maidenhead United on Saturday afternoon.

“They’re all tough games but we’ve just have to keep plugging away,” he said.

“We’ve had our scare about giving away results too cheaply. Hopefully we can carry on with the good work that we’ve been doing in the last couple of games.”

Former Maidstone United manager Peter Nott brings his in-form Whitstable Town side to Princes Park to contest a Kent Senior Cup Quarter-Final next Tuesday night.

Burman says he will take the County Cup tie seriously and wants to knock the Ryman League Division One South side out of the competition and go on and win the silverware.

Speaking about team selection, Burman said: “The squad is 17-18 (players) and whatever team I put out I think it’s a good side so the players are not here making up the numbers. They’re good players so whatever we do on that game - we’ll see what happens on Saturday first - and then pick a team for the Whitstable game on Tuesday night.”

When asked if winning the Kent Senior Cup is on his list of priorities this season, Burman replied, “I’ve being told we’ve got to do it, so it’s another game and we’ll take it very seriously.

“It’s a Cup competition so why not try to get through to the next round and that’s what we’ll endeavour to do.”

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

Dartford v Maidenhead United

Blue Square Bet South

Saturday 5th March 2011

Kick Off 3:00pm

At Princes Park Stadium, Grassbanks, Darenth Road, Dartford, Kent DA1 1RT