A DOWNPOUR of tropical proportions prior to departure time cast doubt on the possibility of play for Dartford, but news from Canvey came through the referee was confident of a start on time.

And so it proved.

The pitch had assimilated the water well enough that play was firm on the wings, although a bit porridge like through the middle.

So Darts, defending the Seawall End, played it along the wings with Adam Gross feeding Danny Harris on the left and Ryan Hayes operating wide right.

For an hour the game was even, but once Darts got their noses in front there could only be one outcome.

The goal which swung it came when Adam Flanagan released an exquisite diagonal ball from just inside the home half on the right, which was met by a brave diving header from Jamie Coyle on 63 minutes.

This opened the floodgates to release the traditional rout of the Islanders, over whom Darts have the Indian sign.

There was little sign of such an occurrence in the first half which, to be fair, Canvey shaded.

Brockwell is one of those stadia where playing to the Seawall End is the better option, the ball tending to hold up against it running on a bit in the other direction.

Certainly Canvey had a hat-full of corners in the first half, keeping Darts’ defence on its toes.

When Darts attacked they were incisive and a flowing move in the 25th minute was rounded off with a crisp goal from Lee Burns who converted a Ryan Hayes cross.

Six minutes later it was 1-1 when Craig Davidson placed a spot-kick past Andrew Young despite the Darts keeper going the right way.

Eight minutes after the Coyle go-ahead goal, Rob Haworth added Darts’ third with a poke-home after a goalmouth scramble – a just reward for a tireless evening’s work.

There followed a trio of Canvey substitutions spread over two minutes which did little to stem the tide.

Goals four and five came in rapid succession, Danny Harris heading home on 75 minutes and the nap hand completed when Lee Burns converted a loose ball.

Adam Burchell and Joao Carlos replaced White and Hayes eight minutes from time and James Rowe got a tap-in for Canvey with two minutes left on the clock.

Darts enter the New Year with 56 league goals, one less than amassed in last season’s campaign.

Oh, and with a nice 11 point advantage at the top of the table.

Dartford: Young, Beales, Gross, Flanagan, Coyle, Johnson, Hayes (Carlos 82), White (Burchell 82), Haworth, Burns, Harris. Subs not used: Crouch, Burgess, Kessell. Att: 442.