Dartford’s caretaker boss Tony Burman on a much-needed 2-1 National League South win at Dover Athletic

Caretaker manager Tony Burman admits the pressure was on Dartford as they earned a much-needed derby win at Dover on Saturday.

The Darts collected their first National League South success since Burman temporarily replaced ex-boss Alan Dowson last month, beating bottom side Whites 2-1 through captain Luke Coulson’s late penalty and a goal on his first league start for Academy product Olly Box in the first period.

It was a result which ended a five-game losing league run for Dartford and saw them claim a first win since Boxing Day.

Burman said: “I’m just pleased for all the supporters and the players.

“The pressure was really on them today, with the defeats that we have had in recent games.

“But we kept telling them that we have played reasonably well in those games and just been punished for the mistakes that happened, and we have got to get out of the rut we were in.

“It would have been nice to keep a clean sheet - that wasn’t to be - but we kept going and, fortunately for us, we won.”

Report: Dover 1-2 Dartford

A deflected goal from teenage midfielder Box was enough to ensure the Darts were ahead at the interval.

“I’d have been delighted with two - but I thought we did play well in the first half,” reflected Burman, who gave King’s Lynn loanee defender Tom Clifford his debut in place of the sidelined Sam Odaudu.

“I felt we didn’t press them enough in the second half, which caused us some problems, and that allowed their wide players in.

“That’s something I feel we need to stop.

“Having said that, they hit the crossbar in the second half and we had some crosses, which we should have had someone on the end of.

“I’m just absolutely delighted for everyone involved in the club.”

The result means Dartford are now eight