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Dartford boss Tony Burman admitted individual mistakes cost his team as they lost 4-2 at home to Chester FC

Dartford manager Tony Burman Picture: Keith Gillard
Dartford manager Tony Burman Picture: Keith Gillard

Dartford boss Tony Burman admitted his team self-destructed against Chester on Tuesday night.

Burman's side threw away a 2-0 lead at Princes Park, eventually losing 4-2.

"We did ever so well in the first half," Burman said. "We took the lead and had great start to the second half but unfortunately we then pressed the self-destruct button.

"Certain players, experienced players, made schoolboy errors, it’s as simple as that, and we’ve been punished for it.

"People have got to hold their hands up – and they have. They know they’ve made mistakes and the mistakes have cost us. It isn’t about bad play; individual mistakes have cost us for their first three goals."

Elliot Bradbrook scored Dartford's second goal just 60 seconds into the second half but it was his ill-judged pass inside his own penalty area which gifted Craig Mahon a goal back for Chester.

Burman said: "A player’s made a decision and it was the wrong one. Five minutes earlier, he’s gone and scored us a goal. He’s come back and he could have put it anywhere but he’s tried to do something and he’s made a mistake.

Tom Bradbrook goes close for Dartford with this header against Chester Picture: Steve Crispe
Tom Bradbrook goes close for Dartford with this header against Chester Picture: Steve Crispe

"The second goal, we had two players on the halfway line who haven’t attacked the ball from a header. From a little scramble, they’ve gone off and scored.

"The third goal, from a goal kick, I’ve got two players who should been attacking the ball – and for 55 minutes they had been attacking the ball - but they made a bad decision and the confidence went once they got back to 2-2.

"It wasn't just disappointing, it was kamikaze.

"They’ve played at a high tempo, our players, they’ve had to do that to stop Chester playing their passing game. It’s worked a treat but when the two goals have gone in through our own mistakes – not what Chester have done – they’ve been drained of confidence and energy. Instead of getting on with the game, they’ve let it get them down.

"That’s probably why they’ve gone on and scored the other two goals."

He added: "They know what they’ve done. They know that in the second half, they’ve gone under."

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