Manager Ady Pennock says critics who dismiss Dartford’s National League South survival chances do so at their peril

Dartford manager Ady Pennock has warned people not to write his team off.

The Darts picked up their first clean sheet since Boxing Day as they moved out of the National League South relegation zone with a goalless draw away to Truro on Tuesday night.

While the teams immediately above and below Dartford - Truro and Taunton - have games in hand, they face a busy schedule to fit their matches in.

Pennock can see improvements in his own team but knows they need to start winning sooner rather than later, starting with their Easter fixtures. The Darts travel to second-place Chelmsford on Friday before hosting third-bottom Eastbourne on Monday (both 3pm).

“Easter is massive for us and it effectively started for us on Tuesday at Truro,” said Pennock.

“It’s important we get some positive results, I’m talking about winning games, and picking up points.

“We need to keep our tally ticking over and it will be huge for us where we are in the table.

“We want to drag people in to us as well. If we can get that win then it will bring teams closer. It’s still tight down there.

“A lot of people have written us off already but I know there’s a lot of football to be played.

“We’ve still got teams around us to play so we need a bit of luck with other results going our way but, more importantly, we’ve got to get those three points.

“I know what people say, that we’ve got no chance but we’ve got a great chance of staying in this league. I’ve only been here three weeks but I’ve got a great bond with everybody here already.

“Obviously, the supporters can hopefully see that we’re improving but we’ve got to stay in this league by hook or by crook and then rebuild for next year.

“It’s going to be a tall order. I knew the situation when I took over,