Dartford joint-manager Jamie Coyle says morale is soaring ahead of visit of high-flying Bath
Published: 00:00, 08 February 2019
The feelgood factor is back at Dartford following their most significant win of the season.
Tuesday night’s last-gasp victory at high-flying Woking was about more than three points for this Darts squad.
In transition under new management this season, they’ve been hit-and-miss at times but now look stronger than ever.
Since the turn of the year they’ve taken points off five of their National League South promotion rivals and now they face another on Saturday.
Fourth-placed Bath are the visitors to Princes Park with Darts knowing another victory would lift them to within a point of the Romans.
Dartford joint-manager Jamie Coyle said: “It’s all about confidence.
“We’ve been believing and trying to input that belief into the players since we came to the football club and it’s taken a little bit of time.
“We do forget sometimes how young this team is. In the back four, Jordan Wynter, Ronnie Vint and Dan Johnson are under 23 so they’re only going to improve with time.
“Coming to a place like Woking, getting three points and putting a performance on like we did, will only benefit them moving forward.
“We need to use this now as a springboard to go on another run, put four or five good performances and results together and see where it leads us.”
It’s been a tough start to 2019 for the Darts with games against Welling, Wealdstone, St Albans, Chelmsford and Concord before Woking.
Coyle said: “It seems like we’ve had some colossal opposition recently. It’s been relentless but they’re the kind of games you enjoy.
“When you leave with three points like we did on Tuesday, it’s only going to build a great feeling around the club and it’s something we can use to push us forward.”
Coyle reserved special praise for right-back Jordan Wynter who was superb at Kingfield.
“That’s the best he’s played for us,” he said. “He was the best player on the pitch by a long way.
“Rhys Murrell-Williamson is a very good winger at this level but he had him in his back pocket the whole game. He was so comfortable one-on-one and I’m pleased for him.
“He never really wanted to play right-back but I think that’s his best position and he’s shown that. He’s got the energy to get up and down as well and he was fantastic.
“Everyone defended for their lives and that’s what we need between now and the end of the season if we’re going to get in the play-offs.”
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Steve Tervet