Visiting sides will raise their games at Princes Park, warns Burman

Dartford manager Tony Burman was pleased that his side bounced back following their 4-0 defeat at Cray Wanderers last weekend, writes Stephen McCartney.

 

The Darts scored the only goal of the game at Leatherhead in midweek, gaining revenge for their last minute defeat at Thurrock’s Ship Lane recently.

The win keeps them in the promotion mix and the Darts welcome their first Kentish visitors to Princes Park tomorrow when Sittingbourne visit.

Kick off has been brought forward to 1pm due to issues with the floodlights at Princes Park.

But Burman told www.dartfordfootballclub.co.uk that he delighted with the win in Surrey against a Leatherhead side that were knocked out by Torquay United in the first round of the FA Cup.

He said: “When you have a bad result and poor performance like we did at Cray last week you look for some sort of positive reaction in the next game.

“To be fair that is exactly what I got from the players on Tuesday night against Leatherhead.

“Although some of the football was not very pretty and that was down to the very poor playing condition of the pitch, I felt the commitment and attitude from the players was excellent.”

Burman expects visiting sides will raise their games when they play at their new £6.5m Princes Park Stadium.

“Tomorrow we have another tough game against Sittingbourne who are having a very good season so far and are just tucked in behind us in the league,” said Burman.

“All our opponents from now on are going to arrive at Princes Park and raise their game and I have told my players to expect this reaction and that it is them who have the opportunity to play at Princes Park every week and match that reaction with the help of a large vocal crowd.”

On the injury front midfielder Eddie McClements is rated 50/50 and Anthony Hogg is still a week away from being fit.

But defender Anthony Henry will be added to the squad following his one match ban.

Former Sittingbourne and Folkestone Invicta defender John Guest will be making his home debut after joining the club on a one-month loan period from Nationwide Conference South outfit Welling United, which should turn permanent.

But Lew Watts has received a four match ban following his sending off at Hayes Lane last week after shoving Kent referee Mr Gavin Hoare, albeit accidentally.

Burman explained: “Lew received a four match ban, 3 matches for the incident at Cray in which the referees report was very fair and one match because he was been sent off for the second time this season in which he has already served his punishment.”

Visit club websites:

www.dartfordfc.co.uk  & www.dartfordfootballclub.co.uk

www.sittingbournefc.co.uk

Dartford  v  Sittingbourne

Ryman League Division One South
Saturday 25^th November 2006
Kick Off 1:00pm
At Princes Park Stadium, Grassbanks, Darenth Road, Dartford, Kent DA1 1RT