Dartford begin a critical run of five straight games against fellow part-time clubs on Saturday when FC Halifax Town visit Princes Park.

Fixtures against Alfreton, Welling (twice) and Woking are next on the agenda for the Darts, who have lost their last seven games in Skrill Premier.

Sitting 23rd, they’re still in touch with the clubs immediately above them - but poor results over the next three weeks could leave them adrift.

And with Dartford experiencing just how hard life can be in a league dominated by former Football League clubs, manager Tony Burman knows the importance of the next five games.

He said: "We’re mixing with other teams in this run who are semi-professional. With all due respect to those clubs, we’re up against it when we play the pro sides, the full-time sides, so when we come up against clubs who are part-time, it’s more of an even playing field.

"Halifax are a tough side. We’ve played them at their place and they beat us 2-0 and we played them last year (in the FA Trophy).

"They’re a good side and it’s going to be tough but we’re at home and we’ve got to try to make our home games count."