Dartford manager Steve King insists his players are not lacking confidence ahead of their FA Trophy clash with Weymouth.

The Darts host National League opponents looking to progress to the last 16, but on the back of a run which has seen them fail to win in their last four league games.

Dartford were held 1-1 by Dulwich last Saturday but King felt their lack of quality in the final third wasn’t down to a lack of belief.

“It’s just a little bit of luck,” he said. “Dulwich are a good team, they’re in the top seven and we’ve got no divine right to beat them.

“I do believe someone is going to get a hiding. I think it’s a matter of time.

“We’re not playing bad, it’s not terrible, it’s the odd goal here or there. We just need to get a win and build on that.

“I don’t even think it’s confidence. It’s just that little bit of quality, that final ball, that final decision, we were snatching at things that earlier in the season came freely when the conditions were different.

“I knock them when I need to knock them but on Saturday they gave everything to the cause and I felt with that little bit more we would have won the game.”

King defended forwards Jake Robinson and Ade Azeez and admitted the service needs to be better from wide areas.

“I just don’t think we’re giving enough to the forwards,” he added. “Kalvin (Kalala) got in some unbelievable positions, he was outstanding to get there, but the final ball was poor.

“We’re giving Jake and Ade scraps. I can’t even blame them as forwards as they’re waiting for chances. Jake’s started eight games and scored eight goals, he’s a goal-a-game man but we need to give him and Ade more chances.”

Darts will fancy their chances of progressing in the FA Trophy against a Weymouth side in the bottom three of the National League.

Weymouth’s only win in their last eight matches was a 1-0 success at Hungerford in the previous round.

King said: “It’s the last 32, we’ve had them watched. It’s going to be a tough game as they’re in the league above but we want to progress.

“We’ll take it seriously and see if we can get into the last 16. We’ve got a strong squad so we can rotate and give people minutes but we’ll be going out to win the game.”

Danny Leonard should come into contention after a full week of training having recovered from Covid while Ronnie Vint (bruised toe) is also hoping to be back.