Dartford FC top of National League South ahead of St Albans City clash
Published: 00:00, 26 October 2017
Dartford will be out to get one over bogey side St Albans in Saturday’s top-of-the-table clash at Princes Park.
Tony Burman’s team claimed the No.1 spot on Tuesday night but they’re one of four sides level on 28 points at the summit of National League South.
And there are old scores to settle this weekend as well as trying to get ahead in this season’s title race.
Burman said: “They’ve been a bit of a bogey side for us in recent games. The guys know that and I’m sure they’ll want to get one over St Albans.
“We know they’re a good side although they lost (to Hampton & Richmond) on Tuesday night.
“Hopefully it’ll be a good game but it’s about time we got a result against St Albans and I hope we can do that on Saturday.”
Dartford have already been top once this season but lost their next game, 3-0 at Weston. The test now is to keep the lead for longer although Burman isn’t overly concerned with six months of the campaign still ahead.
“It’s still early in the season,” he said. “It’s nice to be where we are but it’s a tight league and people are losing. It’s whoever’s going to go on that consistent run and get five or six wins under their belt at the right time.
“Under the circumstances, we thoroughly deserve to be where we are. We’ve scored the most goals and we’re close to having the best defensive record. We’ve done ever so well.
“On Saturday (when Dartford lost 1-0 at Chelmsford) it didn’t quite work out for us and it’s not going to happen every game but no-one can criticise us for not scoring this year or trying to keep clean sheets.
“We’ve done that really well so far this season and hopefully it’ll continue.”
Keaton Wood serves a one-match ban on Saturday but Richard Sho-Silva comes back into the squad and Tom Bonner could also feature having been concussed at Chelmsford.
Mark Onyemah could train tonight (Thursday) and the club may appeal Andy Pugh’s red card at Bath although his suspension isn’t due to start for another week.
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Steve Tervet