Dartford manager Ady Pennock praised for successful season by assistant boss Roland Edge after finishing third in Isthmian Premier

Dartford boss Ady Pennock deserves more credit than he’s received for an excellent season.

That’s the verdict of assistant manager Roland Edge, who has seen at close quarters the brilliant job Pennock’s done to turn the Darts around.

Dartford were relegated from National League South 12 months ago. But Pennock has built a totally new squad while others with bigger budgets around them have faltered, guiding the team to still be in with a chance of winning the title in the final week of the season.

Finishing third in Isthmian Premier means it’s a play-off semi-final at home to Cray Valley on Wednesday night but, whatever happens, Edge believes Dartford’s season will be classed as a success.

Asked if Pennock had got the credit he deserved this year, Edge responded: “Nowhere near. He’s my friend, I’ve known him for a long time, but I’m also a very honest person.

“Everyone comes past Dartford and sees a fantastic stadium. But we’re not in the top (payers) of this league, even though we’ve come down from the South.

“Ady’s gone and found players. If you watch Denzelle Olopade, Ady’s gone and found him from Phoenix Sports because everybody in this league that’s known we were kind of priced out of.

“George Whitefield scored on Saturday - a brilliant young player who Ady has developed this year. That’s all Ady, you know.”

There were question marks over Pennock’s appointment in some quarters. Relegation was already on the cards when he took over last term, but he was always going to be judged on what happened this season.

“There’s a real expectation,” said Edge. “Let’s be fair, here. Everyone goes, they’ve come down from the National South, they should bounce straight back up.

“But Ady’s worked tirelessly on the training ground,