CRAY'S spirited comeback almost earned a point after top-of-the-table Dartford seemed to be cruising to a comfortable win.

Wands keeper Jack Smelt had to punch away a testing cross from Ryan Hayes early on, and then came near misses by Lee Burns and Rob Haworth on 15 and 26 minutes.

Danny Harris was a constant threat from the left, but Smelt held his low shot and Cray skipper Mark Willy did enough to prevent Burns getting in a shot from the visitors' next attack.

A goal was coming and it was Burns who confidently netted it from Harris's rolled pass in the 32nd minute.

Darts doubled their lead four minutes later when Smelt's punch-out from a long throw dropped to James White on the edge of the box and he reacted quickly to hook the ball high into the empty net.

It could have been game over if Burns had converted two chances after the restart, but he shot wide after a weaving run past three Cray defenders and then his point-blank header was superbly tipped over by Smelt.

Dartford keeper Andy Young made a blinding save from Leigh Bremner as Cray suddenly got into the game.

Cray substitute Lewis Wood shot narrowly wide as the Wands began to pass their way through the visiting defence.

Tyrone Sterling's high ball into the goalmouth led to a penalty for Cray when Bremner was pushed over and Colin Luckett cracked the spot kick high into the top corner after 66 minutes.

Young had to dive full-length to clasp Jamie Wood's long-range piledriver, while George Porter's shot skimmed over the bar as Cray continued to press.

There was no luck for the Wands when a goalbound shot from Lewis Wood hit team mate Rob Quinn and didn't cross the line during a late goalmouth scramble.

Cray: Smelt, Aris (Graham 85), Luckett, Quinn, Willy, Guest, Goldsmith (L Wood 41), J Wood, Bremner, Porter, Sterling. Subs not used: Day, Brennan, Standen.

Dartford: Young, Coyle, Gross, Flanagan, Beakes, White, Hayes, Johnson, Haworth, Burns, Harris. Subs: Crouch, Kesell, Carlos, Burchell, Dafter.

Attendance: 688