Dartford boss Ady Pennock says club are small in comparison to other promotion-chasing Isthmian Premier teams as 2-0 win at Chatham Town extends unbeaten streak

Ady Pennock insists Dartford are a small club in comparison to some of their promotion rivals.

The fourth-placed Darts, relegated from National League South last term, look to have a good chance of bouncing back to Step 2 football at the first attempt, having extended their unbeaten Isthmian Premier run to 14 games with a 2-0 derby victory at Chatham on New Year’s Day.

It was a result which leaves them four points behind leaders Dover.

But manager Pennock said: “We’re a small club.

“Okay, facility-wise, we’re a big club - but behind the scenes, we’re a small club, compared to others in Kent and some of the others in the league.

“We are a small club and people maybe don’t realise that. But what we are doing is we’re building.

“We’re building for the future and we have got some good players.

Report: Chatham 0-2 Dartford

“But this is a very competitive league so we just need to make sure we enjoy our wins.”

Any kind of promotion push looked unlikely when Dartford went down 3-2 against Wingate & Finchley in October.

They haven’t lost in the league since, though, drawing five games and winning the other nine, including six of their past seven matches in a remarkable turnaround.

“We’re not shouting from the rooftops or anything like that,” said Pennock.

“We’re just trying to go along quietly and we will see where it takes us, come the end of the season.”

After a goalless first period in front of a crowd of more than 3,000, Chats centre-back Reece Butler diverted young defender George Whitefield’s cross into his own net before substitute Eddie Dsane doubled the Darts’ lead.

Pennock reflected: “It was an excellent win and I thought it was thoroughly deserved.

“This is a very difficult place to come. They’re a very good side