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Manager Ady Pennock has urged his Dartford players to start their big FA Cup tie on the front foot this Saturday.
Isthmian Premier Darts will look to pull off an upset and move into the fourth qualifying round of the competition when they visit National League South Worthing.
“I love the competition,” said Pennock, whose team went down 2-1 at home to Bowers & Pitsea in the league last weekend. “I have been very blessed as a manager and as a player to have done okay in it.
“Obviously, it’s a big game for the club but it’s a tough one.
“They’re a very good side. We have looked at Worthing already.
"We have to be on the front foot from the start.
"If we give them loads of time and space, they’re a very good footballing side so it’ll be over by half-time.
Report: Dartford 1-2 Bowers & Pitsea
Pennock: First-half display costly in Darts defeat
“If we start like we did last Saturday, it’s going to be over by half-time. We have got a big week ahead where we’ll be training hard, working on our shape.
“I’m really looking forward to the game.”
While Pennock admits their weekend hosts will head into the match as favourites, the Darts squad does possess players who are capable of causing the Rebels problems at Woodside Road.
He added: “We’re the underdogs, aren’t we?
“We have got to enjoy it but enjoy it while getting a result, whether we get a draw and bring them back here on Tuesday or get the win.
“I’m sure we’ll take a few supporters down there with us. They’ll be nice and noisy.
“Especially at this level, it’s all about what it can do for the club financially.”
Dartford sit just outside the Isthmian Premier play-off positions in sixth after a topsy-turvy start to the season for their new-look squad, which have won four of their first seven league fixtures.
They found themselves 2-0 behind against Bowers at Princes Park inside 30 minutes and, although four-goal Callum Jones gave them late hope before the visitors were reduced to 10 men in 10 minutes of stoppage time, an equaliser wasn’t forthcoming.
Pennock said: “I think it’s going to be up-and-down but I don’t want to make it an excuse around us being a young squad.
“You just cannot give teams goals. We did that at Dover and we did it on Saturday. But we need to give the opposition credit, as well.
“I didn’t like the way we started and that’s collectively as a team.”
Ironically, both of Bowers’ goals were scored by midfielder Alfie Evans, a player who used to be in Dartford’s youth-team system.
And teenage Dartford midfielder Jeremiah Pinder caught Pennock’s eye in the defeat.
“I love our Academy and I thought Jeremiah Pinder was absolutely fantastic,” said Pennock.
“He didn’t stop working hard. On the ball, he was very good and he always wanted the ball.
“He didn’t hide so it just shows that the Academy is doing well.”
Duane Ofori-Acheampong made his first competitive appearance since his summer return.
But the forward was sent off after the final whistle so he misses out this weekend due to suspension.
Pennock added: “I’m just very disappointed that he got the red card but the cards have been given to us, so we have to get on with it.”
