Martin Tyler insists competition for places is vital as Dartford look to break into the National League South play-off places.

The Darts, who are without a league game this Saturday due to Maidstone’s continued FA Cup run, moved back into the top 10 last weekend by outplaying Torquay at Princes Park.

It was a dominant performance from Alan Dowson’s men, the kind that saw them finish as runners-up behind runaway champions Ebbsfleet last term.

The Darts signed Richard Chin and George Alexander on loan to add attacking impetus, having also recently added keeper Ryan Sandford.

“We had to leave a few players out of the 16,” reflected Dartford coach Tyler after the Torquay win.

“Paul Rooney is a senior player (not included) and we’ve got some young players that their pathway to higher levels is through our first team. But there’s been plenty of times this season where we’ve been at bare bones.

“Competition is the most important quality at any level of football. That’s changed a little bit as when I started playing and commentating, which was a long time ago, there was one substitute so it was hard to get on the bench - let alone in the team!

“Now you can sit people on the bench and to be brutally honest that’s why Premier League managers voted for nine subs as you can keep them happy and bring five on.

“It’s not to do with finance for players, it’s to do with their ability to get minutes on the field.

“It’s no different at our level, we want people who want to play and are driven. We haven’t solved all the difficulties in one go but we’ve brought in players who have got that drive and hunger and will play at a higher level.

“That’s the thrill of it, we had Shandon Baptiste who’s at Brentford in the Premier League, Jamal Lowe, who’s at Bournemouth, and has had a great career, those kind of guys.

“Josh Casey was a part-time footballer, an accountant and tax expert - he’s now a full-time footballer and captain of Woking and we’ve seen him develop at Kingstonian, Hampton and Woking.

“You feel that you are contributing something and that’s what we’re trying to do here.”