by Kevin Redsull

Tony Burman has warned repeatedly in recent weeks that all sorts of factors could yet disrupt what many people see as Dartford’s steady progress toward the Ryman League Premier Division title.

One of those factors was the weather and events at the weekend underlined the wisdom behind the warnings.

Only one match went ahead on Saturday because of the snow, with second-placed Hastings United making the most of the Darts’ postponed game at Horsham to cut their lead at the top to eight points by beating Boreham Wood 2-1.

Although Dartford have four matches in hand on their nearest challengers, Burman, pictured, pointed out: "It just goes to show that we can’t afford to be complacent in any way.

"Hastings did well to get their game on and they got their reward by picking up three points."

The Horsham game was Darts’ second postponement this month and, mixed in with last week’s 5-4 Championship Manager Cup defeat by Aveley, it means that the last few weeks have probably been the least satisfying of the season as far as Burman is concerned.

"December hasn’t been a particularly good month for us," he admitted.

"But I have said all along that you don’t win anything by Christmas and we’ve got to move on again."

The first chance comes on Boxing Day with the home game against Cray Wanderers, whose recent revival of three straight wins has been halted by two defeats.

Burman said: "I talk to their management team, Ian Jenkins and Joe Francis a lot and they felt they had turned the corner with those three wins but then they’ve lost their last two home games.

"But that’s what happens in this league, anybody can come unstuck."

The one positive from Saturday’s postponement was that four players who had been injury doubts, James White, Billy Burgess, Lee Noble and Lee Burns, should all be fit for this weekend. But Burman said that striker Jay May was still struggling with a swollen ankle.

Saturday’s game kicks-off at 1pm while the Darts' festive double-header is completed by a trip to Canvey Island on Tuesday.