DARTFORD proved too strong for Bromley at Hayes Lane on Easter Monday afternoon when two goals in four minutes midway through the first half put them on the way to a 2-1 derby victory.

On a wet pitch, the visitors totally outclassed and outplayed the hosts for the first 70 minutes and had not been for Lillywhites keeper Joe Welch, the game would have been over by half-time.

Welch did well to deny Elliott Bradbrook on 15 minutes before a deep cross from Adam Green had the home keeper struggling five minutes later.

Dartford went ahead midway through the half when a long pass forward from Luke Wilkerson found Danny Harris, who firmly volleyed across Welch into the far corner of the net.

The second was added four minutes later as Luke Wilkerson got behind Bromley’s defence to head home Lee Noble’s 40-yard free-kick from close range.

Tony Burman’s high-flying side looked dangerous every time they went forward and Jamie Rogers might have made it three when he flashed a shot across the face of the goal after Ali Fuseini had lost possession in the centre circle.

A few moments later Bradbrook was denied again by Welch before Noble and Jacob Erskine both shot wide when well placed.

Bromley’s only shot on target came in the 44th minute when, following a throw in, the ball came to Danny Waldren who promptly let fly, only to see his effort come back off the bottom of the upright.

Two half-time changes initially had little effect for Bromley, as Dartford continued their dominance with Bradbrook and Harris both going close.

Bromley’s afternoon was summed up around the hour mark when Gareth Williams put Hakeem Araba in on goal and with only the keeper to beat, he slipped over on the greasy surface at the crucial moment.

Bradbrook put a header wide from five yards following Noble’s free-kick before Welch did well to tip Bradbrook’s volley over the bar. Welch was again in action from the resultant corner, diving to push away Bradbrook’s header. Bromley suddenly awoke from their slumbers and pulled a goal back on 76 minutes when substitute Michael Malcolm squeezed a 25-yard free-kick into the corner of the net.

Williams had an effort cleared off the line our minutes later by Tom Bonner and Albert Jarrett’s penetrating 82nd minute cross was turned around the post by a defender. Anthony Thomas and Fuseini shot over when well placed and in injury time Waldren and Pierre Joseph-Dubois combined to set up Fuseini, who fired a 25 yard volley, which Wells acrobatically tipped around the post.

If Bromley had shown the same passion and effort they did in the final 20 minutes, it might have been a different story.

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Bromley: Welch, Henriques (Thomas 46), Patterson, Fuseini, Swaibu, Harwood, Joseph-Dubois, Waldren, Araba (Jarrett 72), Williams, Rhule (Malcolm 46). Subs not used) Jones, Ibrahima.

Dartford: Wells, Burns, Green, Bonner, Wilkinson, Champion, Noble, Rogers, Erskine (Garrod 71), Bradbrook, Harris. Subs not used: Hayes, Monger, Porter, Graham. Att: 676.