DARTFORD picked up their first win of the season last night with a convinving success over Bishop's Stortford at Princes Park.

There was little indication in the opening minutes Darts were about to return to the encouraging form shown during the pre-season.

The game started off with the standard Blue Square end-to-end probing at an electric pace and both defences were given a work over before matters settled down.

Bishop's Stortford just shaded this period, having the advantage of a swirly tailwind.

In a singularly incisive break, Darts took the lead when a deep Billy Burgess throw in was flicked on by Lee Burns to Danny Harris, who slotted home past the gigantic visiting keeper just under the 20 minute mark.

A minute later came the turning point in the game.

Bishop's Stortford were awarded a penalty but Andy Young made an outstanding save, the highlight of a faultless display which led to him being pronounced sponsors’ man of the match.

Now we began to see the expansive passing game so prominent in the pre-season displays and it was just about justice when Darts doubled their advantage with a second goal on 43 minutes.

A Charlie Sheringham flick set Ryan Hayes free down the right and his cross was turned home by Sheringham.

The second half saw the full range of the intuitive, inventive, inspirational football this side is capable of.

Dartford completed the scoring when the visiting keeper spilled a fierce drive, allowing Carl Rook to silence his army of critics with a crisp finish from just inside the six-yard box.

Dartford: Young, Burgess (Gross 87), Bonner, Bruce, Goodacre, Shinn, Hayes, Champion, Sherringham (Noble 83), Burns (Rook 78), Harris. Subs not used: Berquez, Ibrahim. Att 882