DARTFORD manager Tony Burman says the club's pre-season campaign is right on track after last night's comfortable 4-0 success at East Thurrock.

Burman arrived back from holiday yesterday and headed straight to Essex to catch the second half of his side's victory.

Dartford were already 3-0 up at the interval and the returning boss was on hand to witness Richard Ketchell complete the rout with goal number four.

Burman admits he still has some tough decisions with the trialists to make before deciding on who will make his final squad for the season, but so far everything is running to schedule.

He explained: "The new players are settling in well and we've got about 22 at the moment.

"This will have to come down slightly and I've got some tough choices ahead.

"There is no pressure on me to make them yet because we are exactly where I expected us to be in our pre-season and everything is going very well.

"The players all know what is happening and all of them still wanted to be here at this stage."

Although away for last week's creditable displays against Charlton and Crystal Palace, Burman was in regular contact with assistant manager Paul Sawyer and was delighted with what he was being told.

He said: "The Charlton match was only our fourth training session of the summer, so to only lose in the last minute against professionals who are much fitter is no bad thing.

"Friday's game against Crystal Palace probably came one day too early because we could have maybe done with another day's rest and played it on the Saturday.

"However, I was told everyone did well again and all the players got another 45 minutes under their belts."

Next up in Dartford's build-up to the big kick-off at Hendon on August 16 is this Saturday's friendly game at Whitstable.

A large travelling contingent are expected to follow the Darts across Kent and Burman hopes the game will prove a useful exercise for both parties.

He said: "We picked this game because we knew it would be a hard one for us and I know their manager is looking at it the same way.

"It will be a good test for them as well as us and this is what you need in pre-season games."

Alex O'Brien (tendonitis), Steve Norman (groin) and Eddie McClements (work commitments) will all miss the Whitstable match.