DARTFORD’S run of three successive wins came to an abrupt end at Princes Park when, on a sunbathed afternoon, the home side were asked to attack what is humorously known as the Deep End.

Opening skirmishes appeared positive but, strangely enough, the visitors had the first attempts on goal – both being skewered wide of Andrew Young’s left post.

Billericay arrived with a plan and it worked.

The tall, athletic Simon Thomas, who had returned to the Blues after a spell with Colchester United, pressed up on Darts’ two central defenders for the whole of the game until he was deservedly subbed with two minutes on the clock.

Elsewhere, the visitors chased and harried, also to a set plan.

Around the midway point in the first half, Darts took the lead. James White delivered a pass into the area where a deft nod on was applied and Lee Burns added the final touch to head firmly home.

The advantage lasted momentarily as, from a free-kick, Dave Wareham ran onto the box and slipped a shot under Young.

Billaricay caught Darts napping twice early in the second half with goals from Wareham and Billy Bricknell on 47 and 50 minutes respectively.

There was plenty of time for Darts to hit back and the introduction of Ryan Hayes for James White was encouraging.

A couple of typical ‘Ryno’ gambits followed, but thereafter he was left to plough a lone furrow.

The afternoon ended with the lanky Chris Wild being red-carded and substitute Danny Charge tapping home number four.

But the final score was an unfair slight on Andrew Young, who pulled off at least three high class saves on the day.

It was, overall, one of those occasions akin to taking your car for a service and finding out just in time the mechanic had forgotten to tighten up your wheel nuts.

A rare occurrence for Darts and quite inexplicable.

Dartford: Young, Burgess, Gross, Coyle, Beales, Johnson, Harris (Noble 78), White (Hayes 60), Rook (Haworth 78), Burns, Bradbrook. Subs not used: Dafter, Tait. Att: 1,155.