DARTFORD secured the points necessary to confirm second place in the final Conference South table with a 1-0 victory at Sutton on Saturday to secure home advantage in the play-off lottery.

In his excellent programme notes, Sutton United manager Paul Doswell said: “We owe Dartford a good performance.”

What went on during the game was far from his expectations Sutton's verdant Gander Green Lane pitch was in excellent fettle but the play didn't match up to the surface.

With Lee Noble dropping back, Darts started with Ryan Hayes and Tony Garrod at numbers seven and 11 respectively.

Dartford created a couple of early openings with Lee Noble going close and Luke Wilkinson almost converting a corner.

Twice in the first half Sutton's Stefan Payne broke free for a one-on-one with Louis Wells, who thwarted him both times.

Apart from this, the home side didn't really come out of the starting blocks but they did have their occasional moments, although most of the time Sutton found it difficult to string passes together and made little progress.

The only goal of the game came just before the hour.

A Sutton attack was thwarted by a Ryan Hayes header which was cleared upfield and, two passes later, Tony Garrod tucked the ball past Kevin Scriven for the game's only goal.

Sutton had a golden opportunity soon afterwards when a Tom Bonner handball led to a penalty award. Up strode Harry Beautyman, who sliced his kick low, wide and non-too handsome of Wells' right post.

The Darts are at home to Boreham Wood on Saturday, kick-off 3pm.

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Dartford: Wells, Burns, Green, Bonner, Wilkinson, Noble, Hayes (Jones 72),Rogers (Graham 88), Erskine, Bradbrook, Garrod (Pallen 72). Subs not used: Goodacre, Champion. Att: 756.