As we enter the final quarter of the season Dartford are currently occupying one of the playoff places in 6th place and will be aiming to still be there, if not higher, at the end of April.

Looking at their remaining fixtures it is going to be a tough challenge. The first thing that sticks out is that they now only have four home games remaining and have to play six of their games away from Princes Park.

Dartford’s away form earlier this season was one of the reasons why they are where they are so it may not be seen as a hindrance. It was at home they were struggling but that has since been turned around.

When you look at the remaining fixtures, it doesn’t look easy. Three of the games are against teams in the current top five who will all want to finish as high as possible for home advantage in the playoffs.

Defeats at Weymouth and Bath and a home point against Havant and Waterlooville meant The Darts were only able to take a point from a possible nine in the reverse fixtures.

The three teams occupying positions 9th-11th are also teams Dartford have to play. All three will believe that a good run now will see them sneak into the playoff places.

Dartford struggled in the reverse fixtures against these sides only taking two points with a heavy away defeat to Chelmsford and home draws against Hemel Hempstead and rivals Maidstone United.

Perhaps more favourable opponents might be the four teams who are currently part of the bottom five. These teams however, will be fighting for their league status and will be a bigger challenge than their position suggests.

As you would expect, Dartford’s results have been better against these teams taking eight points from twelve. They managed to beat Billericay Town and Braintree as well as draw with St. Albans at home whilst they picked up a draw away to bottom side Hungerford.

If Dartford can’t improve on their previous return of eleven points against the same ten opponents then they may well come up short in the race for the playoffs. Although a lot of those games were played under different management and with different players.

With all remaining opposition currently having something to play for it is going to be a bumpy ride to the end of the season with points won and lost.

The old adage of taking each game as it comes springs to mind, starting at St Albans on Saturday.