Isthmian Premier leaders Dartford welcome neighbours Hashtag United to Princes Park with boss Ady Pennock keen to extend the Darts winning run to ten games and in the knowledge that defeat could see his side drop from first to fifth depending on other results.

The top of the table is ridiculously tight with the Darts top on with 57 points and ahead of Billericay on goal difference, and then come Dover Athletic, Horsham and Cray Valley PM all on 56 points with Hashtag a further nine points behind in sixth. 

“Absolutely delighted to be in this position of course,” Pennock admitted when we spoke to him this week.

“It’s all down to the players and they have been incredible. It’s great to be up there – of course it is, but we’re not going silly and there’s still a long way to go – 14 games to go – but we are honestly enjoying it.”

“We don’t shout from the roof tops; we just go about our business quietly and we will see where it takes us come the end of the season. I’m very proud of the boys so far.” 

Dartford are currently enjoying a run that has seen them take twenty- seven points from the last nine matches – “It’s an incredible run that we’re on the moment and long may it!” Pennock said.

“It does happen very often at any Club around the World which is what I have been saying to the players, and that is what we are doing.”

“We don’t bang the drum, it’s not our style to do that, but what we do is give one hundred percent every game. We’re scoring goals from different areas and different players and are being solid, and there’s a good togetherness at the Club as well from top to bottom.”

“The Club has had a tough time of it – and it’s still tough off the pitch where everyone is still working very hard to get things right, but all I can do is to concentrate on the pitch and that’s what we are doing!” 

Pennock is taking nothing for granted on Saturday as he told us, “Hashtag are a very good side – we drew 3-3 at their place and the result was in doubt right till the end; they are a very good side going forward and we are under no illusions that it is going to be a very tough game; everyone we have played bring us different types of problems.”

“I just want us to keep doing what we have been doing, keep our heads down and then we have seventh placed Chichester on Tuesday which will be another tough game.”

“It’s very tight at the top and there are some big teams in this league and we respect them all whoever we play.”

Tuesday’s game at Princes Park is Dartford’s game in hand on all the other Clubs around them at the top. 

“I think the position at the top just highlights just how tough this League is to get out of. My assistant Roland Edge told me when I first got the job how tight it was going to be as I had no idea as I’d been out of the country for so long and I had lost touch, but Roland has come in and been fantastic; his knowledge of the League is excellent and he told me from the start that it is a hell of a tough League to get out of.” 

“I keep hearing that the so-called big teams bounce straight back, but I’m telling you that is not easy, it’s really not.”

“It is very tight at the top and all we can do is to look after ourselves and not worry about other people around us really. Don’t get me wrong – after every game we’re always asking how teams have got in, but that’s why we love football isn’t it?”