Caretaker Dartford boss Tony Burman praised his team’s defending after they reached the third qualifying round of the FA Cup on Saturday.

Goals from Darren McQueen and Luke Allen sent the Darts through as they kept their second successive clean sheet.

They were indebted to a series of fine saves from keeper Mark Smith as well as some excellent last-ditch tackles and blocks from the likes of Ronnie Vint and Josh Hill.

“In the first half as much as it wasn’t quite right that they had three shots blocked off the line – that for me was a massive plus for us.

“That to me is a little bit of an ‘over my dead body’ attitude and that was the turning point in the game.

“We’re getting a bit of belief in the players, what they should do and how they should do it.

“I know we’ve got the quality in the squad it’s just bringing out the work-rate, that bit of hunger and desire. We put our bodies on the line and that attitude was great throughout the game.”

Burman felt it was typified when substitute Adam Cunnington was back on the edge of his own penalty area in the closing stages to help thwart the home side.

“Adam Cunnington is a 6ft6 centre-forward and he was in the left-back area challenging for a ball to stop a cross coming in – how good is that for the team?” said Burman.

“If your team-mate sees that sort of attitude, they must love it, and it will always grow on you.”

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The victory puts Darts into Monday’s draw and leaves them just two rounds away from a potential tie against Football League opposition.

“We’re pleased to go through,” added Burman. “Horsham are a decent side and not fourth in their league for nothing.

“We stopped them from playing the way they wanted to do so it’s a very good result at a difficult place to come.

“The players have shown a really good attitude towards myself and Paul (Sawyer, assistant) and it’s shown on the pitch.

“We were under pressure a bit but we knew that, we worked on it on Thursday.

“We had to be patient but we won the ball back at times and showed our quality on the counter attack.

“They like to play it about at the back and then get it forward with diagonal balls. Charlie Sheringham has to finish the game off early on (in the second half) but he thought he was offside.

“Then I thought we got a bit sloppy but Mark Smith wasn’t going to get beaten, he pulled off some good saves and the defenders have made some good clearances.”

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