Andy Sinton out to Buck the trend for part-timers

The Bucks and Dartford may have never played each other in a competitive match before tonight's game at Princes Park but they have at least one thing in common.

The two sides make up half of only four part-time clubs in the division and three of them were promoted to the level for this season, while Telford joined the year before.

One of the others, Woking, came to the New Bucks Head on Saturday and, despite going down to 10 men, put in a real shift to push Telford close in a 1-0 defeat.

A trip to Hyde awaits the Bucks in December but first comes the journey to the surprise package of the season so far with 25 points on the board.

Telford have 18 as they look to better last season's 20th-place finish which all of the part-time clubs would take in what is, essentially, a full-time league.

Sinton said: "You don't get the time on the training ground that this level needs and warrants. I get three hours a week with the players and it's tough.

"But that's where we are, although we have made unbelievable strides in the two years since I have been here.

"It's all happened quicker than anyone could have hoped and asked for. But Rome wasn't built in a day and we need to focus on the short, the medium and the long term.

"I remember being at Burton Albion under Nigel Clough and I was helping out when they went up, they survived on the last day of the season.

"I was in a room with him and the chairman afterwards and asking them what their aspirations for the next year where and they said 'we will take three points more.'

"I am not saying that's the target we are setting but I am realistic. I would like to be better than last season and I think we are."

The challenge for Dartford is whether they run out of steam after their impressive start, while Telford know what a long haul non-league is.

Fifteen former Football League clubs will come through the doors of both clubs between now and the end of the campaign, so Sinton agrees they have done well.

He said: "You never know what will happen when a team comes up, I remember last season when Braintree were top after about 10 games.

Sometimes you just get swept along and Dartford have got a bit of a momentum, so I am not really surprised by the start they have made.

"You have got to give them a bit of credit. Dartford are a good side and it's a tough place to go."

Good news for Sinton's depleted squad is that Luke Hubbins is expected to be involved again tonight having played on Saturday with a sickness bug.

Defender Ryan Valentine could also return following a back injury but Jake Reid, Luke Hubbins and Michael Briscoe are all injured while Kieron St Aimie is serving the last of a three-game ban.

Meanwhile, Dartford are expected to be unchanged from the side that put Grimsby to the sword on Saturday.

The Darts' 2-0 victory at Blundell Park was their eighth in 13 games and they are not expected to have any fresh injury problems tonight. Adam Birchall, who has joined on a one-month loan from League Two Gillingham, is expected to retain his place in the starting XI tonight after scoing his first goal for the club on Saturday.

Boss Tony Burman will receive the Blue Square Bet Premier League manager of the month award prior to the game after his side collected 16 points from a possible 21 in September.