DARTFORD suffered their second successive home defeat when Boreham Wood prevailed at Princes Park last night.

The visitors’ lively opening saw a Leon Hunter cross go begging and this set the tone for much of the half as Wood tried to turn possession into goals.

Darts countered, mainly through the lively Ryan Hayes, who varied his approached intelligently.

It was Hayes who first tested Tony Tucker in the visiting goal with a fierce drive, resulting in a corner which was scrambled clear.

Dartford grew as the half went on with the experienced Tucker being called into action often.

It was a surprise, therefore, when the visitors took the lead in the third of the two minutes added on for stoppages.

A finely directly right flank corner found Roger Mogan, who powered his header just inside Andrew Young’s left post.

With sleeves metaphorically turned up, Darts went after the visitors in the second half and Tucker was immediately called on to make a scrambling save.

Just short of the hour, Lee Burns smashed home from inside the six-yard box to put Darts level to the obvious delight of his colleagues.

Hayes hit a curving, ground level free-kick minutes later which was half-saved by Tucker and Burns delivered his shot into the back of the net.

However, Darts’ obvious delight was negated by a linesman’s flag for offside.

This appeared to have a deflationary effect on the home side and the visitors regained the lead when Greg Morgan scored Wood’s second.

Darts, to their credit, went out for a leveller and twice in quick succession forced fine saves from Tucker, but in the end it was not to be.

Fortunately, most of the pursuing clubs again failed to take advantage of the situation, so not too much damage was done to Tony Burman’s title dream.

Dartford: Young, Burgess, Gross (Rook 78), Beales, Johnson, White (Harris), Hayes, Dafter, Haworth (Tait 66), Burns, Bradbrook. Subs not used: Coyle, Noble. Att: 726.