No title stress from within, says Edge

Dartford assistant manager Roland Edge insists there’s no expectation on their title-chasing squad. The Darts are five games away from potentially winning the Isthmian Premier as they lead nearest rivals Billericay by a point and are four points clear of third-place Horsham. It’s been a magnificent season for Ady Pennock’s squad but they will now be keen to return to National League South at the first time of asking.

“It‘s been a fantastic season for them,” said Edge. “We said that to them at the weekend, look, lads, you’re punching. “No matter what anyone else thinks because we’ve come down from the league above, but all of those players weren’t here.



So that expectation should have been removed immediately. “Ady’s worked brilliantly, got a group of lads in that believe in themselves and believe in each other. And we’ve shown that and that’s why we are where we are.

” While Edge admits there’s always pressure on players to deliver, he’s urged Dartford not to change what’s worked for them this season. Despite a slow opening in a 3-0 win at Dulwich last weekend , the Darts quickly looked a side that knew exactly what they were doing. “We’re a good camp and the players are all together,” he added.

“When it comes to the pressure moments, and there is pressure, whether it’s being relegated or trying to win a cup or whatever, there’s always pressure. “But because they all go together and they lean on each other, that pressure gets turned into a positive and they went out there knowing what they had to do and they executed it brilliantly. “Whether you change personnel or whatever due to the game, due to who you’re playing, tactics and stuff like that, we’ve just got to be together and work together.

Read more: Title bid leaves Bullas feeling blessed “At the end of the day, let’s see where we end up. It’s not going to change our lives but it’s brilliant to do what we’ve done so far - let’s work together and see where we end up.” Three of Dartford’s last five matches include Kent derbies, with home games against Folkestone this Saturday and Dover on Good Friday among them.

Edge knows that a raucous Princes Park crowd can help the players get over the line. “We’ve got a couple at home, which is great,” he said. “Hopefully the crowds will turn up because they’re going to be really, really important games and we need everything we can to get over the line.

“A good support is the first thing you want. So, I’m hoping that those games are going to have a good crowd pushing us on.” Edge is up against his former club when Folkestone - who named Jay Saunders as their new boss this week - arrive at Princes Park.

He spent several seasons as assistant to manager Neil Cugley before making the step up as joint-boss, leaving Invicta in November 2023 . “I had great times there and met some great people,” said Edge. “Cugs is a great man who introduced me to the non-league game and educated me in those circles, to be fair, but he’s not there anymore.

“They’re just a club now that we need to beat to get where we want to be. “Yeah, I’ll always like them - I spent too long there not to. But the name of the game is get the points and get the job done.

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