BRENDON Cass saved Dartford's blushes with an equalising goal to earn Dartford a point at Bury Town on Saturday.
There was an end-to-end wind more in keeping with the approach of winter and, despite earlier rain, a rock-hard pitch rendered ball control difficult.
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Darts preferred Yohance Lewis to Tom Bradbrook in the starting line-up and had to face the elements in the first half.
The Blues set off at a bit of a lick with the midfield pumping the ball forward to their nippy front runners trying to unsettle Darts' back four, but only succeeded in floundering on the best rearguard in the division.
Coyle, Guest, Flanagan and Norman were in their customary unforgiving mode and just in front, skipper Alex O'Brien was inspirational.
Sadly home tactics and prevailing conditions dictated the afternoon's pattern and few chances were created.
In fact, Tony Kessell was called on only once to tip a Sam Reed 20-yarder over the bar.
Elsewhere, Ryan Hayes had too much high ball to contend with while it is true to say Jay May and Eddie McClements, who were suspended and injured respectively, were sorely missed.
The second half was much of the same with Kessell called only once to deal with a one-on-one with Lee Smith forcing the Bury player to hurry his lobbed attempt on goal.
Gradually Darts got forward on a more regular basis, calling the experienced Dean Greygoose into action.
With 20 minutes to go, Bury took the lead when Bugg and Smith worked a move along the right and fed the ball inside for the unmarked Michael Steward to prod home.
Dartford, as usual, hit back.
Room was found for some attacking approach work and seven minutes later, an astute through ball into the Blues' penalty area was flicked past Greygoose by Cass to restore parity.
Within two minutes Cass might have added a second, but the wily Greygoose forced him to fire over.
Dartford: Kessell, Coyle, Norman, Flanagan, Guest, O'Brien, Hayes, Kadi, Cass, Lewis (Bradbrook 71), Williams (Green 59). Subs not used: Moore, Osborne, Ibrahim. Att: 511
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