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Dartford manager Tony Burman's reaction to the 2-1 defeat by Chelmsford in National League South

Dartford manager Tony Burman said his players lacked intelligence on Saturday.

The Darts conceded two goals in the last four minutes to lose 2-1 to Chelmsford in National League South.

“When you’ve got to manage the game and have a bit of intelligence in your players, they just start to lose it,” said Burman.

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Duane Ofori-Acheampong in action for Darts against Chelmsford. Picture: Andy Payton
Duane Ofori-Acheampong in action for Darts against Chelmsford. Picture: Andy Payton

“It’s a funny game football and it kicks you up the backside when you don’t notice it.

“We’ve come away with nothing and it’s really disappointing.”

Even though it was a shocking decision by referee Jack Packman to award the penalty, Burman was less than impressed with how the ball got into Darts’ area.

“The penalty started with us taking a throw-in near their corner flag,” he fumed. “We’ve lost possession and I’ve got the wrong people trying to get the ball there.

“All the good things we were doing for 80 minutes just went.

“The penalty looks very harsh. It gave them the initiative and the bounce to come back into the game.”

As for the winner, which came two minutes into stoppage time, Burman was angered by scorer Ryan Hayes gifting Chelmsford the corner, and then keeper Deren Ibrahim’s howler in goal.

“How we’ve given them the corner is disappointing but it’s a nothing corner,” added Burman. “It’s a mistake, a massive mistake. Deren has been brilliant for us but that’s a massive mistake.

“That’s what you get (with Ryan). You get the goal like that, and then what he was doing when he gave the corner away I do not know. You get the brilliance and the unbelievable.”

Darts started with Duane Ofori-Acheampong and Danny Mills up front and Burman had no problem with his team selection this week.

“It’s a big battle when you play Chelmsford,” he said. “Sooner or later I had to give Duane a start and I went with Millsy as I wanted two guys up front who had big body strength.

“I’ve got no problems with what we’ve done in that respect because for 80 minutes it was fine. I took Duane off at the end, not because of his knee, but to manage his fitness.

“It’s so disappointing to come away with losing the game.”

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