“We are ready – we are ready whatever happens!” The words of Dartford boss Ady Pennock as the fight for the Isthmian League title literally goes down the final whistle of the final round of matches on Saturday with the Darts at the very heart of the fight. 

Dartford find themselves locked on 84 Premier Division points with Billericay Town and Horsham, but after their 2-2 draw at Flamingo Park on Monday, the Darts have slipped from favourites to outsiders for the title as both their rivals have better goal differences. 

So going into the weekend’s final home game of the season against Carshalton Athletic, Pennock knows that not even three points would guarantee his side the title and an immediate return to the National League.

But the Darts boss has nothing but praise for his squad, as to be even in this position going into the final day is remarkable for a squad that Pennock and his number two, Roland Edge – assembled almost from scratch in the summer.  

“We’re building for the future and to be this close already is amazing,” Pennock told us very proudly.

“We had to rebuild the whole squad in the summer – not just a team, but a whole squad, and everyone (including people behind the scenes) have put in really good shifts all season and have come together after the Club was relegated last season, and that wasn’t there last year.”

“Everyone – the supporters – everyone has been involved in all we have done and what the boys are achieving and the feeling at the club from top to bottom has been amazing.” 

The Darts went into Easter with a narrow lead, but after “only” drawing at Flamingo Park on Monday, the advantage now sits with the Essex side.

Pennock though reflected, “I think we could have had 1,300 or 1,400 fans at Cray on Monday in a two thousand crowd. That support was incredible, and I was humbled really as some were saying some really nice stuff, even after the game when we had skipped to third.”

“Heads were down a little maybe as the game felt like a loss as Billericay and Horsham both won, but we have had a really hard run-in – I think it’s been the hardest – but we didn’t lose at Cray on Monday and to now go into the last game of the League season level on points scrapping for the title where you don’t know what is going to happen is amazing.”  

“How could I be disappointed with the draw on Monday – I am so proud of these players,” Pennock told us. “The word disappointing certainly isn’t the right word to use. I was unbelievably proud of the boys at Cray – we could have scored eight or nine, but from start to finish we played every so well!” 

“I do feel that we are building something special no matter what happens on Saturday or next week in the Play Offs… We just must keep building and building – the season isn’t over yet, and I am very proud of everyone involved from the very top to the very bottom.” 

“Already with the so-called “big” games that we have had especially in the last month, with local derbies etc., we have lost TWO games in our last twenty-seven!”

“That is incredible and the boys have grown up so quickly – there is an unbelievable togetherness in our dressing room; the whole squad is together, and I think these big games – such as happens in the Play Offs – we are ready, we are ready!”

“But then post-season games can become a bit of a lottery we all know that, but we are ready whatever happens!”