DARTFORD SWINDON TOWN

DARTFORD were one of Sutton United’s victims in last year’s FA Cup, and now Darts boss Tony Burman wants to emulate the U’s giant killing run.

Sutton won a thriller 6-3 in last year’s first round at Princes Park, and the National League side went on to knockout Leeds United and AFC Wimbledon before eventually losing to Arsenal in the fifth round.

Now it’s Dartford’s turn. The National League South side host League Two high-flyers Swindon Town this afternoon in front of an expected 3,000 fans as they look to beat Football League opposition for the first time since 1968. That came over Aldershot and Burman wants to bring the glory days back to the Kent club. Burman told The NLP: “We are very much looking forward to it. It’s always nice to get to the first round and it’s even nicer if you draw a league club at home. It gives the whole place a bit of a buzz, and that’s a nice feeling for everyone involved with the club. Obviously the cup brings financial benefits, but it’s the limelight and we’ve got cameras here.

“All of a sudden you’re at work and there’s a camera there and all the players like that sort of thing. You see it on TV and sometimes you think ‘that’d be nice if it was our club, our players and our supporters’.

“Sutton and Lincoln were obviously in a higher league than us but what they both did was a fantastic achievement. Sutton beat us on the way but it could have been us. You have to try and emulate that, but it’s all about on the day. You have to respect league positions and you need that little bit of luck, but it’s all about those 90 minutes.”