DARTFORD began the new campaign in style with a convincing win at Weston-super-Mare.

Former Darts manager John Still had a match rating system – win your matches, keep clean sheets and play good football.

Two out of three was considered satisfactory, but Darts achieved all three at Weston-super-Mare on opening day in a comfortable dissecting of the hosts.

The game started at 2:58 pm under a heavy sky and on a verdant carpet precisely mown, with Darts defending the Bulmer's Stand End.

Weston looked slick in the opening phases but were up against a defence nicely honed in the pre-season campaign.

The first attempt on goal came from Weston's Kane Ingram, his effort being wide of the mark.

On the quarter-hour Darts won their first corner and Richard Graham's left-side kick was met by Ellott Bradbrook, who beat Lloyd Irish from close in.

Weston created a couple of half chances but, in essence, Darts had too much nous for the home side.

With just over half an hour gone Charlie Sheringham robbed Lloyd Irish on the edge of the penalty area but contrived to put the ball wide of the upright.

As half-time approached Ryan Hayes found Tom Bonner with a right-side corner, the recipient making no mistake from a couple of feet.

Two goals in four minutes from Sheringham just after the hour mark allowed the Darts to pocket the points.

The first of his brace came from a typical Hayes cross-field pass and the second was courtesy of a Matt Jones cross, which Sheringham adroitly controlled before slipping a shot past Irish.

Darts brought on Danny Harris and Lee Noble for Hayes and Bradbrook respectively and academician Billy Eves replaced Jon Wallis for a nine-minute senior blooding.

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Dartford: Young ,Jones, Green, Bonner, Goodacre, Champion, Hayes (Harris 72), Wallis (Eves 81), Sheringham, Bradbrook (Noble 72), Graham. Subs not used: Cooper, Ibrahim. Att: 477.