WHEN referee Declan Ford drew proceedings to a close on Saturday at the excellent New Bucks Head stadium, Dartford had attained their survival at the highest level of English football outside the Football League.

Still to be secured is the position as the highest-placed part-time club in the nation.

Already-doomed Telford had the edge in the early exchanges, but it was a false dawn as

Darts' first attack of note saw Charlie Sheringham find the unmarked Jason Prior who beat home keeper Ryan Young from 10-yards.

Darts had their own agenda, though, of improving a dismal record of results against the Conference’s struggling teams in recent months.

With this in mind, it was no wonder the visitors concentrated on the result rather than the method of it being attained.

Altogether the game was a scruffy affair, a typical end-of-season encounter when it was as important to get through the 90 minutes without injury.

There were the customary flashes of class from Darts with the odd Ryan Hayes cross and some neat play from Prior.

But on a typical end-of-season pitch, risk taking from either side was at a premium.

There was little for either group of supporters to get excited about and when Prior became provider and Sheringham finisher four minutes after the interval, it was game, set and match Dartford.

Prior’s neat pass allowed Sheringham to run into the Bucks’ penalty area and hit home a crisp shot from around 15 yards.

Telford’s misery was compounded when defender Michael Bristow was stretchered off following an innocuous collision with Prior 15 minutes from time.

This was only Dartford's fourth victory at Bucks Head, old or new, in 19 attempts.

It certainly won’t be remembered as a classic.

Dartford now face a busy week of action at Princes Park, hosting Grimsby tomorrow evening and Braintree on Thursday (both at 7.45pm).

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