Dartford have been forced to withdraw from this season's Kent Senior Cup due to an increased fixture backlog.

The Darts' success in the FA Trophy and the bad weather experienced in the winter months meant their outstanding second-round tie at Margate has yet to be played.

The Darts host Stockport this Tuesday and then Wrexham in a televised match next Friday but the Kent FA wanted them to play the Margate game by March 5 as well with Thamesmead already waiting to host Charlton in the semi-final section on the other side of the draw.

The Kent FA asked Dartford to play the game on Wednesday, March 6, but three games in four days was clearly unacceptable to Tony Burman's men and they have decided to withdraw from the cup instead.

Kent FA chief executive Paul Dolan said: "“We have other teams at the semi-final stage in the Senior Cup and the final is scheduled for early May, so we are duty-bound to progress the competition at this stage.

"We understand that clubs at Senior Cup level have other commitments and we never stand in the way of clubs chasing league promotion or progressing in national FA competitions, but with over three months since the original play-by-date we have to move the competition forward."

It means Margate will now host Ebbsfleet United in the quarter-final of the competition with the winners at home to Tonbridge Angels in the last four.