BOTH Dartford and Welling United entered this north west Kent derby hoping to claim all three points, albeit for different reasons, in front of a bumper crowd of 1,394.

Defences dominated the first half with few chances for either side.

Joe Bruce and Paul Goodacre’s central defensive partnership with Tom Champion playing just in front gave Dartford goalkeeper Deren Ibrahim plenty of protection.

At the other end new Welling goalkeeper Tom Lovelock played behind a back three with ex-Dart Jamie Coyle flanked by Anthony Acheampong and Graeme Andrews.

Lovelock was the first custodian called into action pushing wide a shot from Jon Main as Dartford started strongly.

Despite an early flurry of corners, only one from Elliot Bradbrook caused any sort of worry to the Welling defence.

It was proving equally difficult for Welling to make inroads before Andy Pugh found a good shooting chance but his effort was blocked bravely by Billy Burgess.

Main almost reached a long Danny Harris cross but Welling came closest to breaking the deadlock shortly before the interval.

Goodacre’s robust challenge on Jack Parkinson earned him a yellow card and Jamie Day’s free kick flew just wide.

Wing backs combined to come close to putting Welling ahead immediately after half time when Liam Bellamy met Loui Fazakerley’s cross but headed beyond the far post with Ibrahim beaten.

Tom Bonner’s long throw was half cleared but fell to Main who failed to hit the target before Ibrahim was almost embarrassed by Luis Cumbers as he struggled with a long cross.

Day, making his first return since leaving Princes Park last season became the second entry in the referee’s notebook before he collected Acheampong’s header forward and played in Pugh. The Welling striker spun and shot but saw the effort well turned away by Ibrahim.

On 66 minutes Welling went ahead when Parkinson jumped highest to head home Day’s corner.

Dartford struggled to get back into the game and made a double substitution on 73 minutes, replacing Harris and Carl Rook with Lee Burns and Ryan Hayes.

Still unable to make any inroads, Dartford made their final change five minutes later replacing Burgess with Matt Jones.

The Darts got an unlikey equaliser in the 84th minute.

Fazakerley committed a foul wide on the right and Hayes’ free kick had sufficient power and swerve to catch Lovelock out and fly into the net.

After referee Paul Harris had got in the way of an intricate Welling move, Lee Clarke’s frustration got the better of him and his tackle on Bradbrook could have seen him sent off. He escaped with a caution and the scuffle that followed saw Bonner and Bellamy booked as well.

Welling came close to claiming the three points in injury time.

Substitute Loick Pires made a strong run down the left, despite being held back by Bruce, and won a corner. Day’s delivery found Pugh but his header was headed off the line by Lee Noble.

Dartford : Ibrahim, Burgess (Jones 78), Bonner, Bruce, Goodacre, Champion, Harris (Hayes 73), Noble, Rook (Burns 73), Main, Bradbrook. Unused substitutes: Foster, Whitehouse.

Welling United: Lovelock, Coyle, Acheampong, Day, Andrews, Parkinson, Fazakerley, Clarke, Cumbers (Pires 89), Pugh, Bellamy. Unused substitutes Sambrook, Johnson, Farrell.