DARTFORD were beaten 1-0 by Gillingham at Princes Park this afternoon.

Gillingham’s starting XI included Connor Essam, who played seven times for the Darts during a loan spell at Princes Park last season.

Jacob Erskine rose high to meet James Rogers’ second minute cross but placed his header harmlessly behind.

Louis Wells had to tip over Lewis Montrose’s ninth minute curling 20 yard shot and then made a much easier save to gather Dean Morgan’s effort from the resultant corner.

Chris Whelpdale fired a 17th minute volley over the bar, while Darts had a penalty appeal ignored seven minutes later when Danny Harris claimed he was tripped while being shackled in the area by Barry Fuller and Andy Frampton.

Harris beat the offside trap on 32 minutes but just failed to pick out Nathan Collier inside the box moments before Lee Burns’ powerful shot flew over.

Adam Green’s shot took a deflection before going behind for a corner as Darts again went close but both sides went in at the break without finding the target.

Essam saw an early second half header fly over when he rose high to meet a corner before Burns unleashed a 25 yard shot at the other end which was never going to trouble Gills keeper Stuart Nelson.

Nelson made a simple stop to keep out Tom Bonner’s 53rd minute header before Rogers glanced a header just wide from Erskine’s delivery.

Wells got down low to deal with Danny Kedwell’s 56th minute shot from just outside of the area.

Gillingham changed their entire team on the hour and the ‘new’ team went close on 67 minutes as Adam Birchall tested Wells with a powerful shot.

Gillingham finally broke the deadlock in the 73rd minute when Birchall’s cross was glanced on by the head of Matt Fish to Ben Strevens, who was ideally placed to tap home from close range.

Danny Jackman’s 84th minute 20 yard shot went well wide after good build up play from the visitors.

Although they will be disappointed to lose the game, Dartford acquitted themselves well against Football League opposition and manager Tony Burman will take plenty of positives from a useful fitness exercise.

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Dartford: Wells (Sutton 88), Burns (Muggeridge 73), Green (Porter 83), Bonner, Sinclair (Hayes 46), Champion (Champion 88), Collier (Church 46), Rogers (Monger 88), Erskine (Simmonds 46), Bradbrook (Wallis 60), Harris (Daly 46). Att: 1,049.