Dartford can look back on a great campaign in their first season since securing promotion to the Conference Premier. The Darts have absolutely exceeded expectations and can really lay the claim for being the team that have performed the best relative to their resources in the whole division. Manager Tony Burman kept mostly the same side that sneaked through in the play-offs of the Blue Square South the previous season and the assumption was that the rather inexperienced group at this level will struggle and find it very hard. And indeed, three defeats in the first three games was not the best start of the world. However, a 1:0 win over Kidderminster at the end of August seemed to free the players from the pressure and inhibitions and they went on to win the next three games, getting the better of early pace-setters Newport County. They also claimed thumping wins over Alfreton and Hereford and any fears by the fans that the team will find the new level too hard to adjust were dispersed by mid-September. The base of the team was a solid defensive partnership that was aided by a physical presence in midfield where skipper Elliott Bradbrook was shining. Ryan Hayes was the danger man down the wing and overall there was a good balance in the team and the extreme work ethic of every player was making up for the relative lack of talent. The Darts continued to upset the odds as they secured big wins against Grimsby, Luton and Mansfield and were siting in the play-off zone going to December. The manager knew that this run was unsustainable though due to the lack of squad depth and Dartford dropped nearer to mid-table after a run of disappointing results either side of the festive period. However, the team managed to get to the latter stages of the FA Trophy where they set-up a semi-final against Grimsby. They were beaten 3:0 on aggregate and the rest of the season was basically a formality for them but to their immense credit, Dartford kept going and delivered a few good results in the last couple of months of the season, beating Wrexham at home and finishing on a very respectable seventh place in the table. It was a season that unfolded much better than Burman would have hoped but he faces a challenge on building on that achievement next season when his side will not be plucky newcomers but a team that will be reckoned with and taken seriously.
