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Dartford ready to host Skrill Premier leaders Luton Town in front of a bumper crowd at Princes Park

Princes Park will be heaving when Dartford take on Skrill Premier champions elect Luton Town tonight.

Luton have sold almost 2,000 tickets for the game, which will impact both ends of the table as the season enters its final month.

The Hatters are closing in on the title, while Dartford desperately need points in their bid to pull off the Great Escape and survive relegation.

And their biggest crowd of the season will have the stadium rocking by kick-off.

Tony Burman Picture: Andy Payton
Tony Burman Picture: Andy Payton

Dartford manager Tony Burman said: "When this place is full, it’s fantastic. I know there’s going to be 1,500 Luton supporters but if our 1,500 or 1,000 or 2,000, whatever it might be, can get behind the lads, the atmosphere will be brilliant. That’s why we want to stay in this league.

"It's a massive game and no-one outside Dartford’s going to give us a chance. We're up against it, we know that - but we like that sometimes.

"We’ll give it our all and see what happens."

Luton, managed by former Dartford boss John Still, are 13 points clear of Cambridge United in the title race. Still was Burman's manager 30 years ago when the Darts won the Southern League and the pair remain good friends.

But Burman said: "He’ll know that he’s going to have a hard game coming here.

"John’s been fantastically good to us this season, to me personally, trying to help us out with the loan situation. And we’re helping the players by getting them games.

"But for 90 minutes on Tuesday, he’ll be disappointed if we’re not having a go at each other, trying to win the game. I know what to expect from John. They’re going to be coming out all guns firing."

Luton suffered only their fourth defeat of the season on Saturday, 2-0 at Halifax, while Dartford were beating Macclesfield 2-1 at Princes Park.

But they'll have to cope tonight without Luton loanees Alex Wall and Jim Stevenson, whose deals don't allow them to play against their parent club.

Alex Wall (left) Picture: Andy Payton
Alex Wall (left) Picture: Andy Payton

Burman said: "We’re playing the big boys and the favourites to go up. We’re going to be on the end of a reaction, that’s for sure. Having said that, we feel we can beat the bigger teams.

"It’s going to be really tough and we lose two of Luton’s players as well. It’s going to be really hard, but who knows? Football’s a funny game."

Kick-off is at 7.45pm.

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