DARTFORD went down to a shock defeat at Boreham Wood on Saturday.

Boreham Wood is England's answer to Hollywood and just like in a Hitchcock movie, all of the mayhem takes place in broad daylight in surroundings which, at first sight, appear normal.

The nicely-grassed pitch looked normal but as the game wore on, the camber became more noticeable and a feeling of reverse gravity became more pronounced. How else could the home side’s opener be described?

Within seconds of the kick off, new signing Chez Isaacs fired in an exorcet missile from the left touchline, which dipped past Andrew Young to put Wood one up.

Unfazed, Darts struck back within four minutes when Elliot Bradbrook levelled matters with a goal from close range in as Tony Burman’s side responded positively.

Returning home keeper Elvijs Putnins then made a series of smart saves to prevent the Darts adding to the score.

On 17 minutes David Bryant set up Michael Thalassitis to restore Wood’s lead with a shot which bobbled on its way into Young’s net.

Playing down the slope in the second half, the home side scored what proved to be the winner.

Nathan Koranteng was released along the left on 56 minutes and the winger did enough to pop a shot past Young.

Darts responded immediately with the introduction of Danny Harris for Lee Noble and Ryan Hayes for Jon Wallis on the hour.

Hayes’ arrival had an immediate impact on the game but, sadly, luck went against Darts, particularly when his left-footer beat Putnins, struck the inside of the post and bounced along the goal-line before being scrambled away to safety.

It was one of those days, epitomised when a home defender handled the ball in the goalmouth with all the finesse of Michael Jordan, only for the penalty appeal to be turned down, presumably being interpreted as ball to hand rather than hand to ball.

Darts’ miserable fortune at Boreham Wood continues, with the only consolation being the rest of the top six didn't win either.

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Dartford: Young, Bonner, Green, Champion, Goodacre, Burns, Noble (Harris 59), Wallis (Hayes 59), Sheringahm, Bradbrook, Graham (Rogers 66). Subs not used: Pallen, Ibrahim. Att: 441.