Dartford FC boss Tony Burman wants his team to show more consistency in National League South
Published: 00:00, 08 September 2016
Dartford are a team on the up but manager Tony Burman admits they still haven’t found top gear.
Four points from two games this week represents a good response to Burman’s criticism of his players after the 4-1 defeat at Hampton & Richmond.
But although he was pleased to draw with leaders Maidenhead and beat local rivals Welling, the boss knows there’s more to come.
Burman said: "We’re playing games in third gear and not getting out of that gear. It could be because the guys who have been injured are coming back and doing another pre-season.
"It’s frustrating again because I feel we can do better. We don’t want little spurts of good play, we want to be more consistent."
Midfielders Elliot Bradbrook (ankle) and Lee Noble (groin) are still not 100% fit while defenders Keaton Wood (dead leg) and Ronnie Vint (wrist) both missed the Welling game.
Strikers Andy Pugh and Duane Ofori-Acheampong, meanwhile, are still working on both their sharpness and building an understanding up front.
"We’ve had a lot of games," Burman said. "Sometimes you just need to do the training and do bits and pieces you can be in control of.
"We’ve got a game Saturday, a game Tuesday and another game next Saturday before we have some breaks. It’s a lot to ask.
"They’re fit but it’s the sharpness we’re looking for. Pughy lacked a little bit of sharpness on Tuesday.
"They’ve done a pre-season, stopped and then had to start again. That’s where they’re at and it’s the same with Duane.
"We get spurts of how quick he actually is and how awkward he’s going to be. He’s going to be a handful but he hasn’t done a pre-season and his touch will only improve."
Read the full story in the Dartford Messenger.
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Steve Tervet